There is its traditional and very important purpose - to protect your eyes from the sun.
Then there are the other uses.
A hard night of partying? Your shades will hide the telltale red eyes.
Crying because the stock markets rattled your bank account? Your shades will conceal those puffy eyes.
Avoiding an ex? The glasses double as a shield.
And feeling over-botoxed? Wear your shades until you get your facial expressions back.
Although sunglass trends don't change as quickly as that of bags and dresses, there are key trends for the year.
Right now, oversized sunglasses are still hot, although their popularity is waning.
Growing in popularity though is the '70s inspired look with plastic frames. The large, thick frames will make you the trendiest nerd around.
Faux tortoiseshell frames are also hot, as are gradient lenses (those that are tinted darker on top and fade to a lighter tint at the bottom).
I love big frames because they fit all face shapes and you just feel instantly fabulous. Find one that makes you feel gorgeous and buy it immediately!
Some people are happy to pay for designer sunglasses but you can find trendy ones at lower prices.
I spent major dough on a pair of designer sunnies. Barely a week later, the metal-plate logo popped out. And it popped out again right after I took it back for repairs.
On the other hand, my pair of $150 Ray-Ban shades are only starting to give way after a couple of years of heavy use.
Now, if only I can find a place to get my Ray-Ban fixed. Any suggestions?
SHADES OF STYLE
Charles & Keith ($46.90): Here is a pair of trendy shades you can buy for under $50. There is a touch of movie-star glamour in this pair of large sunnies that comes in black, brown and pink. Choose the pink for something startling and very Lolita-like. You can find them at all Charles & Keith boutiques.
Levi's ($79.90): If you want aviators but still want a plastic frame, the Levi's is for you. With pink-tinted lenses, everything will look rosier. And isn't that the best way to see the world? You'll like the price too. You'll find the sunglasses at Levi's stores at The Heeren, Raffles City and Vivocity.
Shanghai Tang ($365): This pair with big frame in tortoise shell is from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection. It's available at the Shanghai Tang boutique at Ngee Ann City.
Contrast by dVb ($440): Victoria Beckham is the creative director of the brand dVb, which has a fabulous range of sunglasses embraced by young Hollywood. This pair, called Contrast, has so much character that you'll need a massive dose of personality to carry it off. For sure, you'll be the centre of attention. Available at On Pedder, Ngee Ann City.
Cartier ($565): These are sunglasses for the tai tai-nistas. From accompanying your kids to ballet lessons to meeting the girls for tea at Cova, these are perfect. The grey shades compliment the cherry frames, making them very understatedly chic. Available at Cartier boutiques at Ngee Ann City and the Hilton.
This article was first published in The New Paper on OCt 19, 2008.
