On half of the face, some ridiculous round, chameleons, elegant cat, completely impenetrable - all this is about sunglasses. Today, dark glasses are not a luxury, but the need, not only for residents of the metropolis. Athletes and farmers, rescuers and cosmonauts, welders and polar explosions have long made this fashion accessory part of their professional uniform. Nevertheless, for us, sunglasses remain an element of an individual style, especially in demand in clear summer days. Tell the exciting story of this fashionable image detail, which turns out to have thousands of years!
The first devices designed not so much for beauty, how much to protect the eyes from the scoring rays were found in the cradle of human civilization, on the territory of modern Egypt. In the famous Pyramids of Pharaoh Tutankhamon, archaeologists have discovered curious - and very expensive! - invention. Two filigree cut emerald stones are styled so thin that through them it was possible to see what was happening around, they were neatly interconnected by a thin bronze "thread" on the manner of modern rim. Researchers have no doubt: there were protochoes in front of them, which, obviously, enjoyed Egyptian to know. Palle yourself with elegant and luxurious emerald accessories loved in ancient Rome. The historical evidence was preserved that the famous emperor Nero loved to watch the gladiator battles through a kind of greenish lorennet, who absorbed a part of the world and allowed the Arena without pain with a pain.
Chinese craftsmen also used "green" glasses, the truth is not emerald, and quartz. Nevertheless, the invention still had no shelter. Only the highest ranks could afford the luxury, in particular the judges. Moreover, such shores were used not so much to protect the view, as in order to hide from the defendants to the expression of the face. And thanks to the traveler, Marco Polo is a favorite accessory of Chinese officials and in Europe. Citizens simply used umbrellas and hats to hide from rays - the time of centuries, Chinese ladies believed that sunlight destroys the real color of the eyes, leads to his fading. They were afraid of girls and early wrinkles, and, as we know today, this fear was quite justified.
However, protection against ultraviolet was required not only in the tropics. The ancestors of the residents of the Far North, Eskimos, the stamps of precious stones could not boast, so they came up with their way to hide eyes from the sun. They used the bones of animals, on which they hunted, sawing molding out of them. Where modern models are located glass, Eskimos cut through two thin slots. Of course, such a design just limited the destructive effect of sun rays, and not completely neutralized it.
In general, the prototypes of modern sunglasses found a lot. But the production was put in Europe in Europe, during the late Middle Ages. Craftsmen came up with the use of intertwined precious stones - so their consumption was significantly reduced, but, alas, simple citizens still could not afford the glasses from the emerald, sapphire or ruby crumb. Soon the mirrors of the masters were intercepted by the initiative at jewelers: the glasses were covered with a translucent paint layer. Interestingly, green, originally the most popular from manufacturers of points, coped with their task, just say, not the best way. The fact is that the green palette does not know how to "intercept" the brightest (read dangerous) rays of the spectrum. The blue gamma is much more versatile, but in medieval Europe, this color was associated with occult sciences and black magic. Even a few centuries later, in 1752, London Optic James Esque (which is considered to be the inventor of modern points) was able to sell only a few "blue" couples. The breakdown of "solar" production at one time sanctioned Napoleon Bonaparte, who supplied his army to the Egyptian campaign with a whole batch of sunglasses. But at some point something went wrong: the soldiers regularly complained that adaptations designed to defend their eyes, made them almost blind.
Sun and Stars
When did sunglasses from the discharge of the wonderful luxury moved to the list of necessary accessories? Fashionable historians call the exact date: It happened in 1891, when the famous Aviators model was received on the counter, intended for motorcyclists and cyclists. They resembled glasses for pilots: huge, closing half of the face, painted in light yellow or orange tone. Of course, it was only the prototype of the current "aviators", but the general features are guessed unconditionally. By 1911, the so-called Auto-Glass was already sold in optics stores, glass for newly minted motorists.
Fashion on sunglasses (as well as many new items) introduced stars of cinema. Actresses and actors of a silent movie began to appear everywhere in tremendous glasses with dark glasses, attracting public attention. Points have become one of the attributes of a healthy lifestyle. And, of course, it was not without the influence of Coco Chanel, which enthusiastically began to popularize a fashion accessory in his collections. In the thirties, the twentieth century, the glass was experiencing a real revolution and began to most like the models that we wear today. We are talking about the invention of Edfine Land. He found a way to produce the so-called polaroid filter, which protects the eyes not only from the sun, but also from the glare. So the story of Bausch & Lomb and Polaroid brands began. The final conquest of the market occurred after the US Air Force ordered this manufacturers a whole batch of "pilot" points.
After the Second World War, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn hid dark glasses. Points have become an integral part of the wardrobe Superstar, and the reason for this was not so much unwillingness to communicate with the paparazzi, how much the need to hide from the public ... Red, inflamed eyes. The fact is that lighting devices on the shooting sites (the irony of fate!) Light the UV rays, burning and skin, and retina. Buntari Thunder Sixties turned dark glasses in a real rock fetish. It is enough to remember the images of the Ringo Starr, Andy Warhol with his Museum Edid Sedgevik, Lou Reed, Ozzy Osborne and John Lennon with Yoko. The latter wore a recognizable round frame with impenetrable black glass in mourning on his spouse.
Amazingly the legendary Aviators and to this day remain the most popular model that all fashion brands are reproduced, from Polaroid to Max Mara and Dolce & Gabbana. But these massive glasses, contrary to popular belief, go far from everyone. So, boldly wear your "pilots" if you have a massive oval face, a square or rectangular shape of cheekbones. But lucky with an ideal oval is better to choose no less relevant Waifera. Fashionable round glasses go far from all - so when choosing a rim, focus on the experience of Lennon and it. To bear the rim of a la "Harry Potter", you must have a narrow, elongated face with subtle features.