I feel like an idiot when wearing sunglasses

[3luckystars]

I love sunglasses on everyone else and think they look SO cool, but I have tried some but always feel so stupid that I have to whip them off so nobody sees me!
I don't own a pair but wish I was brave enough to wear them, I saw loads of people today with them on and they looked great.

Does anyone else feel embarrassed in sunglasses? Do you just get over it after a few minutes, should I buy a pair?

Vixx I agree that they can look pretentious when they aren't necessary, but in bright sunlight they aren't at all. IMO they are very necessary. I have crap eyesight and do everything I can to minimise further damage to my eyes, which means protecting them from the sun.

I'm with you op.
I feel utterly ridiculous wearing sunglasses.

I don't suit hats either. I wear glasses. A hat just makes my head look too cluttered. Although I do wear hats in cold weather, and gloves and scarves. I hate being cold.

Ok, I am definitely going to get a pair this week! I actually am very sensitive to light too but never really thought of them as safety gear. Thanks very much for all the replies, I will report back.

This is something people worry about? Sunglasses are just like watches, or gloves, or any other normal, bog standard accessory. You don't have to pass some sort of coolness test to wear them.

I used to wear a pair in winter because my walk to work was down a long street with the blinding sun dead centre in my line of view like the eye of Sauron. No shame.

I cant go without them, I wear them in the winter too.
The mearest hint of brightness and my eyes are streaming and screwed up.

I delight in buying deliberately weird sunglasses - extreme cats eyes, or John Lennon reflective ones, or flip up lenses - the dafter, the better. I hope some people realise I am wearing them ironically (cough), but mostly I think they think I look daft ;) I feel strangely protected when my eyes are hidden.

Love sunglasses.

They make me look thinner

I like my sunglasses normally - but always take them off when I get to work (school) as I'm worried the pupils will laugh at me! So I do know what you mean OP.

I felt like you until last year I found the perfect pair, now I can't wait for the sun to come out.

I wear them all the time, can't do without them. I am very light-sensitive after having laser eye surgery so I need them even when it's not sunny. In fact cloudy days when it's white cloud are worse for me than sunny days. I've been known to wear them in the rain too. Couldn't care less if I look a twat, it's painful if the light is too bright.
I have very many cheapo pairs so I'm never without one (one in car, one in bag, one in pockets etc).

I'm the same!!
I won't wear a scarf either, or gloves, or even jewellery!

Because you're afraid people will look at you and say, 'Oh, look at Miss Hoity-Toity in her scarf and earrings!' or 'She must really think she's someone because she's wearing woolly gloves and a necklace!' ???

i have so so many pairs

I even had my last pair of reading specs made as reactions lenses so that i can sit out and still read stuff, it's a bit of a nuisance as I tend to keep them on my head, so dashing from the car to tesco means they go dark and then I am squinting at labels through the dark lenses, but they lighten up soon enough.
I wear mine when it is bright, could not give a cuss if it is summer/winter/snowing...brightness means sunnies are on!

If you are a driver look for polarising lenses, or even if you are sensitive to glare....they deal with scattered reflected light much better than an ordinary tint and UV

Also check out different colours of tint, some people prefer browns or greys, it really is just a personal preference. Raybans always used to use a gorgeous dark green but in glass lenses so they can be heavy...not sure of their current ranges/lenses.

How old are you OP? Not being provocative, just interested to know!

I have no problem wearing them on holiday but feel a bit odd wearing them here (UK), I need to have a word with myself and stop the squinting.

I know what you mean. My Mum is always telling me off for squinting in the sun, I just feel daft in sunglasses though. Same with lipstick, I feel so conspicuous wearing it.

Nothing wrong with wearing sunglasses when it's sunny. I do think wearing them on The Underground, indoors, or when it's dark is a bit silly though. Each to their own though.

I am 38. I am shortsighted so wear actual glasses all the time, so I dont know why I am so afraid of being laughed in the sunglasses! This thread has made me cop on a bit, I am going to get a pair now and just get on with it.

I've been told to wear sunglasses as much as possible as I have a cataract starting and I am just starting to stop feeling silly in them.

I won't wear a scarf either, or gloves, or even jewellery!

Me too. I've been looking at the photos on wearing scarves on the wrinkly neck thread and there is no way I could wear them. They would irritate me so much I would tear them off in minutes. I really think I am missing a vital part of the female DNA!!

Sorry wrinkly neck thread is on Gransnet of course. I forgot I was on Mumsnet. I am both (Mum and Gran)!!

I asked because I used to feel really self conscious in shades when I was in my 20's. I certainly never noticed other people sniggering behind heir hands and giggling at people in sunglasses, so I figured - who gives a shit? Its so very unpractical not to wear them, so who gives a toss???

I have never seen anyone pointing and laughing at people in sunglasses either. By now I couldn't care less if people looked at me and thought I looked silly.

I am surprised at the ignorance of sun safety as far as eyes are concerned though. Also, screwing up your eyes in the sun is a fast way to get lines round your eyes.

I would never have thought that anyone agonised over wearing sunglasses until this thread
I wear sunglasses all year round, especially driving.

However, scarves, hats and other accessories always feel too 'done' to me - even though I think they look great on everyone else (I feel like I'm pretending to be a grown up with accessories, even though I'm 41...).

I really don't know why I can't wear them, I love sunglasses, scarves etc. On other people but feel silly for wearing them myself. It's ridiculous! (Need to get over it )

I gave up on giving a shit about how they looked a couple of years ago. Glad to be without the headaches from squinting all day!
Embrace the shades