# Why are sunglasses cool? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953 "2017-11-28T14:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/21 "2017-11-28T23:18:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Mirrored sunglasses are the coolest. They don’t merely turn the windows to the soul into black holes, they reflect your own soul back into your head. > > [The coolest of the cool mirrored sunglasses from Cool Hand Luke.](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/05/39/0d/05390d85e28d3723a4cedf089e830c64.jpg) “Taking 'em off, Boss!” “Damn, putting 'em back on, Boss!” Dennis ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/22 "2017-11-29T00:05:16Z")
Because companies like Ray Ban sell (useless) ones for a hundred bucks, which commoners cannot afford. Also, there is the thing about wearing them so the papparazzi doesn’t recognize you, you want to be left alone and not conspicuous. Hey, don’t look at me, Im wearing shades. I noticed that minor league baseball players have the reflective ones that they wear on their caps, late in night games after it has gotten dark. They sparkle nice in the stadium lights. Cool, Minor League baseball players get paid less their their little sisters who work at BK. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/23 "2017-11-29T00:29:13Z")
So, to answer the OP–they’re cool because of who wears them. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/24 "2017-11-29T03:26:00Z")
Sunglasses have been a part of my outdoor attire since I was a kid. Not to be cool, but because my dad always had a pair of Ray Ban Aviators on. These days, if the sun is out, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ll see me wearing my rose lens Maui Jim Typhoons (sadly discontinued in 2011 :() ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/25 "2017-11-29T04:37:46Z")
Unlike white glasses or safety goggles, they’re identified with vacations, weekends, time off. Even for something as simple as driving to and from work, the hours people work and the way weather works in many places means that often those of us who wear scrips will wear our whites when driving to work and our sunglasses when driving from work. Publicity simply harps on that association, reinforcing it. That the association is unconscious for most people doesn’t make it less strong, but does make it more manipulable. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/26 "2017-11-29T12:18:22Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Because companies like Ray Ban sell (useless) ones for a hundred bucks, which commoners cannot afford. All kinda wrong here. [ol] [li]Where are you finding new Ray Bans for $100? Knockoffs?[/li][li]Useless? All of mine have polarized lenses that reduce glare. Again, knockoffs?[/li][li]Unaffordable? Mine were all purchased used. They are so well made that there is a resale market.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/27 "2017-11-29T21:29:37Z")
“Commoners”? ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/28 "2017-11-30T00:55:33Z")
I saw an ASL interpreter on TV wearing sunglasses and you couldn’t see her whole face to be able to "read ’ her expressions while interpreting . She was the only one wearing sunglasses too , this didn’t look cool to me . She was interpreting for the mayor of Boston Ma. outside. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/29 "2017-11-30T05:42:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > All kinda wrong here. > > [ol] > [li]Where are you finding new Ray Bans for $100? Knockoffs?[/li][li]Useless? All of mine have polarized lenses that reduce glare. Again, knockoffs?[/li][li]Unaffordable? Mine were all purchased used. They are so well made that there is a resale market.[/li][/ol] Sorry,dating myself. $100 RayBans could be bought back when sunglasses started getting cool. That was a lot of money then. There are some on Amazon for $77. Then you could buy polarized lenses for 79c a pair at any Rexall store. Polarization alone does not make good sun glasses. Talk to your ophthalmologist sometime about that. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/30 "2017-11-30T07:59:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Au contraire mon frère. I love those frames!! And I’m the epitome of cool. > > Actually, my [Ray Ban Clubmasters](https://assets.ray-ban.com/is/image/RayBan/8053672069303_shad_fr?$440$) are my current favorites. > > ETA: to answer the OP, sunglasses _just are_ cool. Long time Ray-Ban fan. Currently wear Clubmaster prescription eyeglasses and Wayfarer prescription sunglasses. Always wore Costa Del Mar sunglasses (and Guy Harvey t-shirts) when fishing, however. At least the fish thought I looked cool. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/31 "2017-11-30T10:07:47Z")
An interesting YT video: [What makes things creepy?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEikGKDVsCc) Not exactly what the OP is talking about, but there are a lot of parallels. Especially when the narrator starts talking about “The uncanny valley”. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/32 "2017-11-30T11:17:19Z")
I dunno. Those folks who wore huge ruffled and starched collars in the 1600’s thought they were cool as shit too. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/33 "2017-11-30T11:47:09Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Then you could buy polarized lenses for 79c a pair at any Rexall store. Polarization alone does not make good sun glasses. Talk to your ophthalmologist sometime about that. Can you wear your 79 cent sunglasses every day for a decade, then resell them for 79 cents? I do not have an ophthalmologist. ETA: I vaguely recall “Rexall” as an oldfashioney drugstore chain. Looks like there are still a few around. Not thriving by any means. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/34 "2017-11-30T15:35:22Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > Long time Ray-Ban fan. My Rx sunglasses are in Ray-Ban frames as well as my usual clear lenses. Of what you can find these days they just look better on me (imho) than the usual “standard” frame. ---
**Author:** ![Virginia\_Ruth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Virginia\_Ruth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Virginia_Ruth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/35 "2017-11-30T17:39:37Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > A bit unusual, in that anyone who wants can don a pair. But yet, they still have a “cool” aura. > > What’s in it? Because James Dean. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/36 "2017-11-30T19:46:22Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Sorry,dating myself. $100 RayBans could be bought back when sunglasses started getting cool. That was a lot of money then. There are some on Amazon for $77. > > Then you could buy polarized lenses for 79c a pair at any Rexall store. Polarization alone does not make good sun glasses. Talk to your ophthalmologist sometime about that. I _have_ talked to my ophthalmologist about types of sunglasses and lenses. I have light sensitivity due to a neurological issue, and need particular wavelengths filtered. Guess which sunglasses manufacturers do that well: Maui Jim and Ray Ban. I prefer Maui Jim myself. There is a concrete difference in quality that you are paying for in these brands. ---
**Author:** ![Clothes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Clothes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothes)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/37 "2017-12-01T02:02:57Z")
Movie stars wear 'em, so they won’t be recognized. It doesn’t really work, but they know that too. _Foster Grant’s 1960s and 1970s sunglasses ad campaign “Who’s that behind those Foster Grants?”, included celebrities Peter Sellers, Louis Jourdan, Carroll Baker, Claudia Cardinale, Elke Sommer, Anita Ekberg, Vittorio Gassman, Anthony Quinn, Mia Farrow, Robert Goulet, Julie Christie, Woody Allen, OJ Simpson, Raquel Welch, Terence Stamp, Clayton Moore, and Vanessa Redgrave._ (from Wikipedia) (Some of these names may no longer be so cool.) [https://s7.postimg.org/52nqqw5mj/mad115backprintid.jpg](https://s7.postimg.org/52nqqw5mj/mad115backprintid.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953/38 "2017-12-01T02:38:17Z")
> [@Clothes](#): > > Foster Grant’s 1960s and 1970s sunglasses ad campaign “Who’s that behind those Foster Grants?”, included celebrities Peter Sellers, Louis Jourdan, Carroll Baker… Mad Magazine did a great parody: “[Isn’t that Yul Brynner behind those Finster Glints?](https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mbw8p3Lj6cfxmmTo2)” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sunglasses-cool/802953.md?page=1)