When it comes to fashion, sunglasses are “hot!”  What can be hotter than George Clooney as Danny Ocean wearing designer sunglasses in the Oceans movies?   Paris Hilton or the Olsen twins can be seen, just about anywhere in Hollywood, day or night, wearing the latest in designer sunglasses.  When they walk the red carpet and they are asked, “What are you wearing?” they might lower their sunglasses down on their noses and peer over the rims and drop designer names like Vera Wang, Dior, Valentino, Gucci and Armani.

As an attention-getting accessory or fashion statement, designer or custom sunglasses are nothing new.  Trendsetters like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Elton John sported designer and custom sunglasses as part of their “look” or star status.  Some have worn sunglasses to hide behind, cover their drug-affected eyes, or make a statement.  Pictures of Elvis Presley reveal that he had sunglasses custom-made for him with his initials or the letters TCB (Taking Care of Business) built right into the nose bridge.

Stars like Sophia Loren, Donald Trump, and Britney Spears have their own name brand sunglasses on the market while others may be wearing Marc Jacobs or Armani sunglasses for a classy look or Baby Phat for punk style.  The mood for the day might be for the blast-to-the-past 1950′s look of Fossil sunglasses.

The same clothing designer may also be the designer of the sunglasses that you choose to accessorize your brand-name clothing.   For instance, the smart Tommy dresser can add to the look of a Tommy Hilfiger clothing ensemble with Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses.  For casual wear, Kate Spade sunglasses might do nicely.   Carrera is known for a sporty look.  For a sensual mood, Valentino  frames that have smooth round edges and Swarovsky crystals might just put you (or whoever is looking at you) in the mood.

Designer sunglasses, if you can afford them, are a status symbol showing everyone that you have the cash (or credit card) to buy them.  However, in order to be fashionable in sunglasses, you do not have to give up quality.  Sunglasses, not being just fashionable accessories, are used to protect your eyes from damage caused by the sun’s UV (ultra-violet) rays.  Designer prescription sunglasses can improve vision, and reduce eyestrain, just like ordinary glasses.

Name-brand and designer sunglasses can be polarized to reduce the glare of the sunlight reflecting off surfaces like the highway, cars, water or snow.  Polarized sunglasses work by blocking off the horizontal light reflections and only let in vertical light reflections.  The polarization of designer sunglasses makes them fashionable in other areas of lifestyle like golfing, boating, biking, swimming, fishing and aircraft flying.

Marketers of designer sunglasses aim toward children who enjoy the same hot styles and brand-names as their parents and their idols.  Children’s designer sunglasses can also be polarized.  Sunglasses should be part of children’s daily wear as they play outside and engage in outdoor sports and activities.  Sunglasses can prevent them from the long-term affects of sun damage to their eyes.

Sunglasses in any shade, shape or size, by any name may be a “hot” fashion item for trend-setting stars, men, women and children, but the importance of protecting the eyes from damage far outweighs the importance of looking cool.

You are probably fairly familiar with the basic science behind sunglasses. They filter out harmful light rays and protect your eyes from intense light. However, the technology behind sunglasses and creating new designs may have a few more tricks up its sleeves. Even in 2007, sunglasses are reaching new heights of science and creativity.

If you are a corrective lens wearer, you will love this feature for sunglasses. No one likes having to change out glasses every time they move from indoors to outdoors. Additionally, you have to worry about losing your sunglasses while you wear your prescriptions, or vice versa.

Photo Chromic lenses are typical prescription strength glasses while you are inside. However, when you step outside into the light, they morph into sunglasses. The technology of the Photo Chromic lens is as sensitive to light as your eyes are. Unlike your eyes, however, these sunglasses will adjust in accordance with the magnitude of light to provide the necessary protection.

Sunglasses with lenses that transform automatically from clear to dark may not be particularly brand new information to everyone. They have been on the market for several years, and have now been revolutionized yet again. New sunglasses currently in development will change not only from clear to dark but also to shades of yellow, green and purple.

Not only will the transition occur much faster with these sunglasses, but they will offer many more options as well. They will be able to improve visual contrast, as well as brightening low-light conditions. Unlike traditional color changing lenses, these sunglasses will be controllable by the wearer. A small dial on the arm can take you through a spectrum of shades and tints.

The lens material will be made from a plastic can change its color and transparency when the sunglasses receive an electrical charge. The lens contains a gel-like solution in between the layers that helps transport charged particles. A watch battery delivers the charge. When the electricity is transmitted, the molecules change from transparent to a variety of shades and tints in seconds or less and your glasses become your sunglasses!

Visual effects are not the only advances made for sunglasses in recent years. Many product developers are beginning to see the need to further integrate technology and communication into everyday life. For this reason, you can now purchase sunglasses that are also your mobile phone. Since the advent of the headset, it is a common need for one that does not get in the way of your sunglasses. This new phone turned eyewear is an obvious solution to the problem.

Another extremely popular tech toy today is the MP3 player. Long gone are the days of the Walkman or even the Discman. The computer age has taken over all facets of our existence, including the music we listen to. Few individuals today are without an MP3 player. Heaven forbid we are caught anywhere without ever song we own to keep us company!

Following the desperate need we have to be surrounded by our music, sunglasses have been developed to accommodate us. Sunglasses with built-in speakers can be plugged into your MP3 player in the same way your ear buds could. If this is not hi-tech enough for you, pick up a pair of sunglasses that actually ARE the MP3 player. Simply download your tunes onto your sunglasses and take off down the road.

Science is constantly changing and developing exciting new inventions. Twenty years ago you never would have believed someone if they told you that you may be listening to music on your sunglasses. New developments are happening all the time, so don’t be left behind. Pay attention to see what they come up with next.

Everyone should be familiar with the primary reason sunglasses are worn.  Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, warding off long term effects of the sun’s damage.  However, what are some other reasons to wear sunglasses.  Everyone has their own reasons, aside from the protection benefits, for wearing sunglasses.

Sunglasses, especially darker ones, help to create an air of mystery surrounding their owners.  It is often difficult to carry on a conversation with a person wearing opaque shades.  This mysterious, often intimidating look is a favorite for investigators, poker players, and police officers.  When someone cannot see your eyes, it is difficult for them to tell what you are thinking.

Sunglasses are a fashion statement all their own.  They are often the first thing that a person sees when they look at you.  The shades you wear make a statement about you, so choose wisely.  The sunglasses you pick out could mean the difference between telling the world that you are a fashion force to be reckoned with, or someone whose mom still picks out his clothes.

On a more somber note is a situation most of us ourselves in.  Sooner or later, everyone loses someone in their life and there is a funeral to attend.  Vanity should not be your first priority in this case, but there are certain measures you can take to help grieve with a little dignity.  A carefully selected, tasteful pair of dark sunglasses will help mask the red and puffy eyes you may experience while crying.  Remember when deciding which pair to wear for this particular occasion that elegance and taste are extremely important.

Whether it is allergy season or you pulled an all-nighter studying for finals, you don’t have to cry to achieve the red, puffy-eyed look.  Let’s face it, everyone has stayed out a little too late the night before and awakened the next morning to see Frankenstein starring back at them in the mirror.  Sunglasses come in handy for these reasons as well.  They may be a telltale sign of a one-too-many night if you wear them in the office, so this would not be recommended.  However, the sudden sensitivity to light you may feel when you step into the day for the first time can be cushioned with a good pair of sunglasses.

Athletes often find themselves playing their particular sport outside on a hot, sunny day.  Unfortunately, there are no allowances in the rules for a baseball player that misses a fly ball because the sun blinded him.  To help with athletic performance, certain sunglasses are made specifically for athletes.  An aerodynamic design and wraparound shape hug the face and ensure the player sees every ball coming his way.  The important detail for these sunglasses is size.  They have to fit perfectly; otherwise they’ll fall off while running, if too big, or cut off circulation in your face if they’re too small.

One use for sunglasses has only recently been discovered.  The next time you are flying overseas and want to avoid the taxing effects of jet lag, try putting a pair of sunglasses.  Scientists have recently discovered that sunglasses help fool the body through the use of light.  Your biological clock (which-as it turns out-is a real thing) consists of about 20,000 nerve cells that respond differently to light and dark.  By wearing sunglasses for certain amounts of time during a long trip, you can lessen the effects of jet lag.

You see that there are many reasons to wear sunglasses.  These reasons should not, however, overshadow the primary benefit.  Sunglasses are protection for your eyes.  They will help ensure you keep seeing the world the way it was intended.  That is the best reason of all to pick up a pair today.