All those celebrities in oversized sunglasses might be doing more than shielding themselves from the paparazzi: Large lenses, especially those that fit the contours of the face, provide better protection from the sun's rays.
But those big, round frames come with a different sort of risk, albeit a minor one: The wearer might be mistaken for a fly, bee or other bug-eyed creature.
"The oversized bug eye is a trend that started in Hollywood," says Rene Soltis, an optician and director of education and training for the Vision Council. "A lot of trends start in celebrity land and then middle-class America tries to imitate and emulate. It appeared the more waifish the person was, the bigger the glasses. That's one of the things we're still scratching our heads over."
Not that questions about the look, which largely can be traced to Jackie Onassis and revived by starlets such as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, have ever hampered its popularity.
And, says Eden Wexler, spokeswoman for manufacturer Safilo USA, the bug-eye glasses are probably here to stay as technology has improved to allow for curved frames and the public becomes more interested in getting shade from their shades.
Safilo holds the licenses for Giorgio Armani, Marc Jacobs and Christian Dior, among others, and owns the Solstice chain of stores.
The Dior Glossy frames kicked off the trend with fans including Lindsay Lohan and Katie Holmes, Wexler says, while the newer Dior Mixt frame keeps the large lenses but has a squarer shape.
The roundest of all might come from the debut Balenciaga collection, which emphasizes its circular shape with curved arms that dip right at the temple. For old-school glamour, there's a new oversized cat-eye from Jimmy Choo.
