dear asking for a friend,
is it rude to talk to someone with your sunglasses on if they don’t have sunglasses on, or they take theirs off?
signed, specs
dear specs,
in her
cool shades: the history and meaning of sunglasses
book, vanessa brown, senior lecturer of art and design at
nottingham trent university
explains that in the 1920s, sunglasses were first used by pilots and athletes involved in water and snow sports. about two decades later, the accessory was adopted by movie stars as a way to shield themselves from the intrusive lenses of the paparazzi.
not only do they block out camera flashes,
uva and uvb rays
, sunglasses also cover up your imperfections and, apparently, make you better looking.
in her book, brown suggests that wearing shades adds symmetry to your face, which according to
science
, makes you desirable and more attractive. she also reveals that sunglasses add mystery and amplify your presence – when you shield your eyes, you cover up your
emotional expression
, which leaves people guessing about who you are and what you might be up to. according to
research
, an air of mystery increases sexual desire and draws more people to you.
but just because sunglasses can help improve your physical appearance, that doesn’t mean they should be permanently planted on your face.
“when having a conversation of any substance or depth, it is recommended to take off sunglasses so you can make eye contact with the person you are speaking to,” explains
myka meier
, etiquette expert, founder of
beaumont etiquette
in new york city, and author of
modern etiquette made easy: a five step method to mastering etiquette
book.” “if you are having a casual conversation outside in the sun and you are both wearing sunglasses, it is okay to keep them on. if one person takes sunglasses off, it may be considered impolite for only one person to keep them on and can be frustrating for the person trying to make eye contact.”