If you don’t have contacts, then wearing sunglasses on top of your prescription glasses may not only look embarassing but they are both actually quite difficult to have on at the same time. I should know - I used to have that problem. Also, if you think you are any cooler because you have prescription glasses that come with clip on sun-lenses circa "A Different World", you are not.

At trying times like these, you will find that investing in prescription sunglasses may be the best option yet. With the market full of near and far-sighted people, there has been a demand for more versatility in function and form. Prescription sunglasses are available for vitually any kind of lens description–tear-drops, wrap around, oversized, etc. They can also come in bifocal form if you would like to have one segment for near vision on the bottom of the lens and one for far vision all around.

Just as with non-prescription sunglasses, your primary concern when searching for sunglasses is to find one that blocks 100% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Since prescription sunglasses have both the task of protecting your eyes from the sun in addition to adding the corrective clear vision that you need, they are a jack of all trades. Most of them if not all have your safety and comfort in mind. In addition, even though they are designed to have excellent functionality, they don’t have to suffer in the aesthetics department. You will find frames of all styles and sizes, some as nice as Ray Ban or Vogue styles. There is no doubt that you will absolutely be able to find the prescription sunglasses of your choice.

It’s been reported that people are generally less inclined to spend money on luxury items during these harsh economic times. It only makes sense that they have other pressing financial priorities to tend to first. But let me tell you - it’s really difficult to be constantly lured through the too-clear shop windows with all that glitter and gold.Recently, when I thought I had sworn off coveting things I couldn’t afford for good, I discovered this gem of a web site called Sunglasses Online.

I felt guilty that I was even web surfing but I figured that working overtime merited at least a little bit of indulgence. I wasn’t even intending on buying anything but as I was clicking through all the discount sunglasses, I realized, "Hey, I can actually afford this!" They have quite of bit of sunglasses that are on sale for a lower retail price–sometimes even half off. The best part is that they have a rather great selection of designer sunglasses including two of my favorites: Vogue sunglasses and D&G eyewear. In fact, I found some fantastic Vogue wrap around discount sunglasses. Alot of people often try to avoid saying the words "cheap" or "discount" because they think they are implying something has faulty quality or is just plain old ugly but these negative associations are not always founded on reality. In fact, the discount sunglasses from Sunglasses Online prove otherwise. "Discount" here does not mean ignoring excellent standards in crafting impeccable sunglasses; no, it means quite the opposite. The lightweight but sturdy pair that I bought have are 100% UVA and UVB protection and are beautiful to boot!

It is often a misconception that only high-maintenance girls with updos and stilettos can buy designer sunglasses. It implies to some degree that men aren’t as particular about the quality of accessories they purchase. This is not true; men today are not only up to par with women in terms of fashion consciousness, but they are also equally concerned about the long-lasting durability and an impeccable calibur of craft.

Perhaps even men don’t know that it’s OK for them to wear designer sunglasses, such as Prada or Fendi sunglasses or  since it has been imprinted into their minds that it isn’t socially acceptable. Well I am here, as a champion for gender rights, to stand up and say "It’s Finer with Designer!" With the growing demand for designer accessories and clothing for men, a market has definitely sprouted up to accomodate their needs. Men are becoming more aware of keeping their appearances tidy and dapper. In wearing the best designer sunglasses, they are proving the idea that they do care about how they come across to not only their wives but also the public at large. By exhibiting a generally fashion-forward style through mens designer sunglasses, they are showing women that not only girls just want to have fun.

I received the best present for Christmas this year: Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses! I was completely oblivious to the fact that my boyfriend had gone behind my back and purchased them. I never really told him that the pair he got me were the exact same ones I’ve been staring at woefully in the display window for the past couple of months. Never being able to afford them, all I could do was to long for them. Maybe he saw me one of the many times I did that and picked up a hint. In either case, I am really lucky to own my own pair of D&G sunglasses now.

Contrary to what many may think but Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses just aren’t about fashion and following the newest trend. They are so much more than that. The way in which they are carefully crafted and constructed show every bit of labor and worth. I’m not one to like things just because they land on the glossy pages of Elle Magazine; I have a predilection towards D&G sunglasses because I have had a good experience with them. My last pair lasted me a solid 6 years! The only reason they didn’t hold in for longer is because I accidentally ran them over after they fell in the line of fire known as the wheels of my car.

The pair that my boyfriend bought for me were the chic round Havana colored frames that large brown lenses. They are really perfect for any face shape. For those of you who care about the label being displayed, the gold script D&G logo is prominently featured on the sides of the thin arms. They are really just so elegant! I’m glad my boyfriend has good taste in designer sunglasses.

I read somewhere that Roberto Cavalli intended for his diffusion brand "Just Cavalli" to be quintessentially like the original Roberto Cavalli line but simply geared towards the younger crowd. And it’s true — everything in this line exudes pure glamour, rock & roll. This inevitably means alot of leather and vibrant colors. His designs are sexy and fresh while maintaining that luxurious sophistication. Of course, to attain vast exposure, the more contemporary younger sister brand has to also extend to all facets of fashion including menswear and accessories. My pair of Just Cavalli mens sunglasses are a staple for all of my outfits and I just love how versatile they are! I will bust them out and wear them with my work suits during the weekday or wear them when I go out on the weekends.

I am always getting countless compliments on how great I look but they just can’t place the precise reason why. I’m convinced that they are referring to my Just Cavalli sunglasses because these are unique accessories that add an extra dramatic flair to anything that I wear. Another important benefit of the Just Cavalli sunglasses collection is their dependability. My scratch-resistant, wrap around sunglasses are designed with sturdy acetate frames and distinguished with a double cross-stitch detail on the temples. Shading my eyes was never so stylish as they are with Just Cavalli sunglasses.

This weekend, my friends and I are heading up to Lake Tahoe to do some quality skiing. We rented a nice cabin and have everything planned out. I’m excited to see everyone up on the slopes but secretly, I am even more elated about getting to try out my new Anarchy polarized sunglasses. Last year, we had a good friend who had his cornea scratched when some debris flew into his eye and dragged across his eyeball. According to him it was incredibly painful and since then, we have all made sure that we have a good pair of performance sunglasses on when we’re skiing.

When I went out to buy my new polarized sunglasses, I knew that I had to find one that not only had the optimal protection against the harsh UV and UB rays of the sun, I had to get a pair that was sturdy enough to not scratch. Of course, if it looked cool, that would be an excellent plus. A friend told me that Sunglasses Online was the place to find a great selection of Anarchy sunglasses of all shapes and sizes. I followed his tip and their easily navigational web site helped me find the exact sunglasses I needed and wanted. They are shiny black polarized sunglasses. The lenses are a smoke polarized color and the streamlined design is unbelievable cool. With an 8 Base Sola Polycarbonate Polarized Lens and nylon base injection molded frame, I knew that they would be able to last a long time. I can already imagine sailing along the slopes in my new polarized sunglasses and feeling absolutely carefree. Soon, this will become reality!

I have it figured out completely. I know what people like Nicole Richie have on their minds when they put on their oversized Gucci sunglasses. Some might call them unconfirmed "theories" but I have much evidence to back up my claims. 

First of all, we all know that in 2005, oversized sunglasses were "the" accessory to have. If you didn’t walk outside looking like you were a human bug with eyes as big as paper plates, you probably were not cool. Who defines cool? Innovative people who invent fashion trends and then have it trickle down and fed through the mass media machine. The celebrities who imitate and follow these style choices are usually wearing these things on the belief that they are the first to spot and attach to the bandwagon. The trend maynot have originated from them but they certainly will act like it did. 

First seen around the 1970s, oversize sunglasses grew to become the perfect funky pieces to add to the already outlandish outfits. Socialites like Jacki O’ were seen wearing them often along the streets of New York and that inspired women everywhere to go out and buy their own pair. If only to appear the consummate urban sophisticate, women felt like they needed to have these accessories. The reason this history is relevant now is because all the Nicole Richies in the world find the special vintage appeal in oversized sunglasses absolutely fashionable. If it was popular back then, surely, the same standards must hold today.

Beyond the aesthetics of this trend–which can be construed by different people as either gawdy or fashionable–celebrities have a rather unique case. Because they are constantly being photographed and hounded by the paparazzi, they feel as if they have to shield as much of their face from the public as possible. The image of Mary Kate Olsen walking down Rodeo Drive with huge Chanel sunglasses covering half of her small visage is a symbol that encompasses much of our impression of her. She’s that vulnerable and mysterious girl whosimply can’t bear the harshness of the flashing bulbs. Oversized sunglasses help put up a less obvious wall of protection for their wearers.

Even if you aren’t a celebrity, you may like the attention of being one. You will don your oversized designer sunglasses and walk down your neighborhood, pretending that you do indeed have some secrets you have to conceal from those spies hoping to take your picture. Perhaps you just partied too hard the night before and want to hide those unsightly bags. Of course, everyone has their own individual reasons for wearing oversized sunglasses but hopefully, I was able to expose some of them correctly.

This Halloween, I was determined that I would come as Elton John. He’s a great music maker and I admire his unique ability to remain as creative as any in a career that spans forty years. In my efforts to transform myself into this awesome man, I decided that I would have to focus on one era of his life. He had so many stages and fashion phases that if I wasn’t specific, I would end up looking like a schizophrenic version of the singer. No, I knew that if I was going to be Elton, I would have to do it right.I ultimately chose to reproduce his mid 70s era glamour. This part of his life was most evident by the outlandish costumes he wore onstage. He wasn’t opposed to wearing ostrich feathers or $5,000 novelty sunglasses that spelled out his name in lights. In fact, I think that kind of flamboyance was the very thing that attracted people to his concerts. He was the consummate showman and I wanted to imitate at least a portion of that glow.

The first thing I chose to buy was his glittery pant suit that he wore when he famously sang "Benny and the Jets" on stage. Of course because I couldn’t get my hands on the real deal, I simply found a white jumpsuit at a thrift store and decorated it with studs and glitter. It actually turned out rather true to form. The next thing I got was a wig to match his reddish locks. Finally, my search was complete when I arrived at a store that carried the pink novelty sunglasses that Elton John wore to alot of his shows. Of course, they were discount designer style sunglasses that were replicas, but I’d only be wearing them to a few parties for that one occasion anyway. Apparently, I was such a dead ringer that night that people didn’t even recognize me! Once they did, they gave me heaps of compliments on my outfit but what they liked the most were the novelty sunglasses.

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.

I recently received my copy of Harper’s Bazaar in the mail and was surprised at how many celebrities were wearing Ray Ban’s Wayfarer sunglasses. All of them, apart of what I call "Generation Y for Young". These denizens of the technology-age dictate what is considered "cool" and hip. Needless to say, I was not as shocked to see, a mere week later in the Lifestyle section of New York Magazine that Ray Ban sunglasses (specifically Wayfarers) are the established new trend. Now I am not normally one to jump on any bandwagon, let alone one rooted in fashion, but I simply couldn’t let this revival escape me.

Contrary to popular belief, the wickedly chic Ray Ban Wayfarers weren’t born in front of some hipster’s vanity. They were created in 1937 by Bausch and Lomb, on commission of the US Air Force, to help the pilots combat the harsh rays of the sun. Somewhere along the line, Hollywood picked them up, placed them atop Audrey Hepburn’s dainty nose and watched as it sailed into superstardom. Later on, Tom Cruise and Madonna only cemented its popularity when they wore it on screen and on stage, respectively.

There is an element of classic originality I see in Wayfarers that I rarely see in other trends. If it has stood for almost a century as a staple to the fashionable and practical, I don’t see it dying out any time soon. The thing I like most about Ray Ban designer sunglasses is its no-fuss design and qualities. It’s simple and practical in most every way. I don’t care that Sienna Miller was seen wearing them along the gold-paved roads of Rodeo or that Kanye West was performing with them at a concert. For me, when I inadvertently follow a trend, my main concern is permanence. Are they something that has the staying power of Elizabeth Tayor without the gawdy history? Can I see myself wearing this with my black essentials 20 years from now? If I answer positively to the above questions, I will succumb to the devices of the media and purchase myself a ticket to trendville–in this case, a red pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers.