Oh Jackie O’, how you inspire me so! That’s probably how an ode to Jacqueline Onassis would start were I to write one. She has indeed set innumberable trends in her day and acted as a pioneer for sunglasses fashion, eventually having many claim her namesake. Her oversize shaped torstoise shell sunglasses were first seen somewhere in the 1960s when the paparazzi was constantly hounding her. Soon, she became keen to their antics and sported some chic oversize shaped sunglasses to shield the glare of their flashes. What started out as devices to protect her eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun, quickly transformed into armor for her doe eyes against the evil and curious probing cameras.
Most of us probably can’t declare the paparazzi camera bulbs as a veritable defense but we can dare to dream. We can pretend to be famous as we shield our faces, put our Tom Ford oversized shades over our oh-so sensitive eyes and warily walk down 5th Avenue as if a hoard of people is following us. As apparent, because of its celebrity roots, oversize shaped sunglasses have now become associated with all that is glamour and chic. Independent of Jackie’s physical presence, these "Jackie O’-inspired" oversize shaped sunglasses have flown above and beyond the former First Lady’s personage and into a shallow effigy–all that remains is a style remnant of someone who once had it.
