Summer Shade Style

Sunglasses started as a tool, not a fashion statement. The earliest versions date back to ancient China, where judges wore smoky quartz lenses to conceal their eye expressions during court. In the Arctic, Inuit people used flattened walrus ivory with narrow slits to shield their eyes from snow blindness. These were rudimentary but effective — the beginning of form meeting function.

By the 18th century, tinted lenses appeared in Europe, often for medical reasons like light sensitivity. But the real shift came in the 20th century. In the 1930s, American pilots needed protection at high altitudes, leading to the birth of aviator sunglasses. Soon, Hollywood caught on. Stars wore them on and off the screen, not just to block the sun, but to cultivate mystery and cool. By the 1950s, sunglasses were cemented as both practical gear and fashion iconography.

The duality continues today. Polarized lenses reduce glare; UV coatings protect our eyes. But style never took a backseat. From Jackie O’s oversized frames to Kanye’s shutter shades, sunglasses are shields, signatures, and statements — all at once.

From arctic survival to red carpet accessory, sunglasses prove that utility and glamor can coexist — and look damn good doing it.