The Right Polarized Sunglasses Will Make You Look Like a Movie Star

Let's speak candidly here: Contrary to popular belief, the primary purpose of a pair of sunglasses is not, in fact, to shield your eyes from the sun. It's not even to protect them from extensive UV ray exposure. No, most sunglasses should serve one purpose and one purpose only: They should help you look cool. Sure, the shielding and the protection might be nice byproducts of throwing on a pair, but if you don't feel like you're a heartthrob trying to stay one step ahead of those pesky paps every time you wear yours, you my friend, are wearing 'em wrong.

I've got a pair of tinted shades I scooped from a small vintage spot near my place that offer literally no sun protection at all but I still suck it up and wear them as often as humanly possible. (To be honest, they also work wonders when it comes to hiding a particularly bloodshot pair of peepers.) That's commitment, people.

Sometimes, though, being married to the game has its downsides. Occasionally you will actually want to rock shades that offer more than pure, unadulterated sex appeal, even if those rare instances are the exception. That's where polarized sunglasses come in. See, sunglasses that have polarized lenses have been specially treated to help minimize glare via an extra layer of protection that also fights against reflective light and those harmful UV rays.

Turns out, more than a few of them pack a whole lot of appeal all their own. Go figure. You learn something new every day, huh? From here on out, think of polarized sunglasses as offering the best of both worlds—all the glitz and glamour of your favorite Old Hollywood stars combined with the always-in-style move that is treating your eyes right. Here's looking at you, kid.