Have you ever noticed when watching an older movie that all the men seem to be wearing hats and suits? Mostly a thing of the past, you’ll see ball caps at a baseball game, but besides that the hat seems to have faded out of style. And yet, when you see a smartly-dressed man in a suit and hat, he gets your attention, because it’s clear this guy has some serious style.

Today, sunglasses are the new hat – you see them everywhere, on everyone, and the quality and style of each pair of shades speaks a lot to each person’s idea of self. While sunglasses may have been used primarily as a practical tool in the past, they today are a tool you can use to enhance and showcase your personality, and add personal style to all aspects of your wardrobe. Many eye doctors recommend wearing sunglasses at all times when you’re outside and the sun is shining, so why not take the time to pick out a high-quality pair of shades that you can wear all day?

Looking Sharp, Adding Flair

  As with everything, the design selection of wooden sunglasses started small when they first became a trend. But today they come in all colors and styles, and are made from a variety of woods. You can find shades with thick frames and tinted lenses, or more slender frames if you prefer. Different styles look better on different face shapes, and as long as you know which style to look for, you’ll find the pair just right for you.

Sunglasses made from wood can often have a retro feel, with their simple materials, and yet the modern technology used to create them adds a certain level of sophistication you won’t find with plastic sunglasses. This added flair and refinement will give you serious style points, not to even mention the potential for sensational Instagram posts. With plastic sunglasses still being more common than those made of wood, your style will be seen as more unique and rare, gaining you admiration from the crowd.

Protecting Your Eyes

Of course you’ll want to look good, but it’s important to protect your eyes, too. Sure, $10 shades may feel good to your wallet, but you need your eyes to be healthy and happy for your entire life. One of the best things you can do for your eyes, then, is to pick out the best quality shades for you. Here are some benefits of quality sunglasses:

• If you travel a lot, you’ll like to know that jet lag can be cut down a bit by sunglasses, as they give your eyes more of a chance to rest. When you’re already behind on sleep, you don’t want to make your eyes more tired!
• Since the shades provide a barrier between your eyes and the sun, your eyes won’t have to strain as hard to see clearly, and this can help cut down on headaches.
• With your eyes not having to work so hard, they’ll be more able to retain moisture and stay better rested.
• And of course, it’s important to find shades with high quality UVA/UVB protection – good shades will protect your eyes from those nasty UV rays.

With this in mind, in order to get the best benefit out of your sunglasses, it’s important to pick frames that stay as close to your eyes as possible while also being comfortable. This will help ensure less light comes through to your eyes. So while there may be that one style that you think makes you look like a million bucks, if it doesn’t fully protect the area around your eyes, it’s worth it in the long run to pick that other style that does. But don’t worry – with all the styles available now, you’re bound to find the one that’s right for you.

Style Highlight: Wayfarers

While we’re on the topic of sunglasses style and designs, let’s take a moment to highlight a classy style that found its origin back in the 1950s: Wayfarers. This style is today both vintage and modern, and available in wood. If you’re wondering where you saw these shades so much, it’s probably from the 1981 movie Blues Brothers that raised the Wayfarers’ visibility so much that sales grew after the movie’s release. They’ve also been in over 60 films, making this style a classic that speaks to style and refinement. And great news for you – the six designs available at EarthShade are currently based on this very same design. A bit more stylish than the emeralds Nero would place in front of his eyes to watch his gladiators while protecting his eyes, these shades will help you look as good in the middle of traffic on your morning commute as at a summer wedding in southern California.