Sunglasses : Designer Sunglasses: The Creation of Popular Sunglasses: The Mirrorshades

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The Creation of Popular Sunglasses: The Mirrorshades

It looks like every time you see a movie or TV show where police officers are involved, they seem to be wearing big sunglasses with mirrors on the exterior. What are these sunglasses and how did they come to be what they are today? The truth is that Mirrorshades, as the sunglasses are called, are often affiliated with law enforcement and government officials for a valid reason.

Mirrorshades are sunglasses with a reflective optic application on the outside of the lenses to make them look like small mirrors. The mirror application can decrease anywhere from 10%-60% of the light that passes through and makes contact with your eyes. Mirrorshades are excellent sunglasses for anyone that spends much of their time outdoors, perhaps even on a cycle or in a automobile for 8 or more hours per day.

Nevertheless, Mirrorshades serve a bigger purpose than merely shielding the eye. These shades keep another person from making eye contact with the wearer. The mirrors are made so that an onlooker will only meet his own reflection when attempting to gaze into the eyes behind a pair of Mirrorshades.

It’s for this reason that Mirrorshades have become popular sunglasses for officers of law enforcement and armed forces. Their popularity with police officers in the USA has earned them the nickname “cop shades”. Much like an interrogation room, a suspect is unsettled by looking into a window and being unable to see who or what is looking back at him. It’s also for this reason that Mirrorshades are often favored by competitive poker players.

Mirrorshades are available in various different designs. The shades most frequently worn by police and military are Aviators. This style received its name around the 1940’s and 1950’s when they were popular sunglasses for military pilots. In the 1930’s, Ray Ban created this design and sold it to the U.S. Military. The armed forces issued the sunglasses to their pilots to protect them while they flew. From there, a standard among sunglass styles was created.

Another especially popular style of Mirrorshades is called the Wraparound. This style of sunglasses comprises of either one or two smooth, semi-circular lenses that cover the eyes and resemble the build of protective goggles. Wraparound shades are quite popular in the world of extreme sports. They’re often particularly associated with snow sports, like skiing and snowboarding.

The Mirrorshades are made with a coating on the outside of the lenses of the shades. The application can range from a very uncomplicated form made up of a single layer of very thin film all the way to a thicker, more reflective form. The flimsier layer of film can be very likely to scratch with minimal pressure, and is sensitive to salt water. These dark glasses should be treated with the maximum care.

The more modernistic reflective coatings on Mirrorshades commonly have several layers making them more durable and less likely to become scratched up. Although these shades may be more expensive, you frequently get what you pay for when purchasing sunglasses. Pick out wisely and educate yourself on sunglasses before determining which ones to buy. Mirrorshades will prove good to your eyes and your style.