Shades Day 2025
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The popularity of sunglasses here in the states gives rise to thoughts of wearing them myself.
I recall the old days in California where everyone had glasses and a separate set of shades. A popular model were the 'diamond shades' with multiangular lens borders. They were ususally seen on the 'tough girls' of the area who liked to flaunt such accessories. Shades Day happens in Great Britain under the asupices of the Family Holiday Association on the closest friday to International Day of the Family which happens on May 15th this year. That would put it on the following day, May 16th.
Protection of the eyes from the sun's rays can be dated back to prehistoric times with the use of flattened walrus ivory to shield the eyes from the sun. In 1752, an English optician one James Ayscough began designing spectacles with tinted lenses for the same reason. Protection from the sun was not a prime consideration at that point in time. In the very late 1800s the first company to produce sunglasses with UV protection was Rodenstock GmbH (LLC). Nowadays UV protection is the prime consideration and reason for donning sunglasses.
Ancient historical accounts indicate that some judges also wore them to hide their facial expressions while questioning witnesses in court. In Venice, glasses worn by women and children to protect their eyes from the glare reflected in the water of the canals were known as "Murano glasses".
So whip out those shades and style them around town so you may be that trendy type you always were.