Aviators are one of the coolest styles of sunglasses. They are always popular and never seem to go out of style. So popular are they that Made in Design decided to make a self-adhesive aviator mirror.

Consisting of two mirrors that can be stuck to any surface to resemble over-sized sunglasses the aviator mirror will let you check yourself out without obstructing someone else’s vision. However, they won’t help block the sun from getting in your eyes.

Like so many fashion trends, oversized sunglasses have been recycled more than once by the fashionable set. Originally hot in the 1950s, they’ve been back in vogue now for a few years, and will probably be current for a long time. If you decide to try oversized on for size, make sure you think about HOW you wear your big sunglasses. Done right, they can become part of a dressed-down ensemble—the slouchy socialite look—or the finishing touch on a sharp hipster vibe. Done wrong, enormous sunglasses can look a little bit 1970s bingo parlor or a tad too Mary Tyler Moore. Part of the problem is that big, big sunglasses draw attention to your face even as they hide a lot of it. Your nose, forehead, and chin become focal points—seeing as how they’re the only parts of your face left exposed—and if you’re not happy about the shape of your nose, or happen to have a particularly horrible pimple on your chin this week, you probably will not want to pop on a face-swamping pair of big round sunnies.

The shape of your face also matters. Angular or oval faces benefit from oversized shades; softer, rounder faces will simply be made to look more round and more soft, which might not be the desired effect. Frame shapes, whether round or oval, cat’s eye or square, can also clash with your face’s bone structure, making you look like you’re a six year old who’s stolen Grandma’s glasses (this happens to the Olsen Twins a lot) instead of a savvy, fashionable woman on the go (think Jackie Kennedy, the late First Lady). You can safely test the oversized trend with designer knockoffs from a cheap accessories shop. Try out different shapes, colors, embellishments, and sizes—and take them out of the store to get a good idea. What seems like the right shape under florescent store lights with a tag hanging off the bridge might not work out in day-to-day life. If you decide the trend works for you, go ahead and upgrade to a designer statement pair. If you like the retro look (think leading ladies of Italian Cinema).  The big impact on your personal style could make oversized sunglasses well worth it.

Do you want to upgrade your office attire with just one purchase? There’s an accessory you can buy that will instantly add elegance to your ensemble, no matter what your job title. You can choose it to emphasize your analytical skills, or give yourself a sort of sexy, come-hither librarian look. We’re talking about eyeglasses. They’re not just for nearsighted girls anymore—geek chic is being embraced by women now as well as men. But we’d hardly call these designer specs “geeky” (chic certainly applies). Made with the best materials and by the best designers, eyeglasses pull your look together effortlessly. Decide what look suits you best and read these suggestions for shapes, designers, and models to try.

Front Office: The ladies at the front desk know where all the best supplies are kept and where all the skeletons are buried. In addition to hot phone skills, the front office set is the conduit for hot gossip. And as the first stop for clients and customers, they’ll need to set the tone. For the buttoned-up firm, choose sober squared-off eyeglasses like the Alain Mikli AO786 eyeglasses frame. Front-line forces at hipper organizations should let it hang out a little more: pretty much any pair from Alain Mikli’s should do it.

The Analyst: Back office number crunchers need a pair of glasses as smart as they are. Whether it’s financial projections or opposition research that’s keeping you chained to your desk, you’ll want serious, straight lines to emphasize your logical skills. Face a Face makes just the right eyeglasses for you, in jewel-like finishes that don’t sacrifice fashion for function.

The Art Director: Creative types have all the fun. In addition to arranging photo shoots and spreads, you get to have a little more flair in your choice of attire, and that includes everything from your shoes to your face furniture. Colors, textures, and shapes are pretty much yours for the picking. Boz Eyewear eyeglass frames give you an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

The Chief Executive: As the top of the organization, you set the tone for your company. Will it be super serious and focused for a board meeting? Gold & Wood Eyewear. Or do you need to be dynamic and innovative for a brainstorming session with your engineers? Mykita Eyewear, Otherwise, choose whatever you want: after all, you’re the boss.

Sports eyewear serves two functions — to improve vision and to protect against eye injuries. Any eyeglass wearer who regularly participates in a sport should wear protective eyeglasses with unbreakable, scratch-resistant lenses. Frames made of polycarbonate or a similar impact-resistant material also screen out the potentially damaging ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. Sports frames usually have rubber padding around the nose area and the sides where they come in contact with the head.

Young athletes need protective sports eyewear. Most of the 100,000 eye injuries that occur in this country every year happen to school-age athletes, and a large percentage of them could be prevented with appropriate eyewear, says the National Society to Prevent Blindness.

In fact, to protect their eyes from injury, all athletes — even those who do not need corrective lenses — should wear sports eyeglasses. Contoured, wrap-around goggles for such sports as biking, skiing, sailing and hang-gliding are available for either prescription or nonprescription lenses. It’s important that sports eyewear fits properly, especially for children. Cost-conscious parents sometimes buy goggles that are too large for a child, on the theory that the child can grow into them. But when the eyeglass frames are too loose, the frames lose their effectiveness and a flying ball or puck can cause eye damage. Frames that are too tight are not only uncomfortable but also obstruct peripheral vision.

When selecting ski goggles, look for features that offer protection as well as good outdoor vision.

• Ski goggles often have frames made of soft, flexible material, such as rubber, nylon and propionate, that holds its shape in cold weather and does little or no damage if the wearer falls or has a high-speed impact.
• These frames can be held in place by a thick strap that is flexible enough to avoid slippage.
• Side shields, some of them detachable, can keep windblown snow out of the eyes.
• Lenses usually are larger than normal to provide good peripheral vision.
• The impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses commonly used to meet industry safety standards often have yellow-orange “blue-blocker” lenses that enhance contrast by blocking the hazy, blue end of the spectrum. Rose-colored lenses also enhance contrast.
• Ski lenses may also be polarized to filter out light reflected off snow and ice and the resulting glare.
• Skiers who do not want to give up their normal prescription eyewear can use large goggles that accommodate those eyeglasses.

Shooting and hunting also call for specialized eyewear, because the recoil of a shoulder-held shotgun or rifle can damage the eyes. Also, dust, sunlight and wind can present other hazards for the hunter or shooter. The kind of nonprescription goggles used in skiing or other sports are appropriate for hunting and shooting. Other features to consider are the following:

• a rounded frame — eliminates sharp corners that can jab the face
• a sweat bar — running the width of the frame above the nose, to add stability
• spring hinges — on the temples of hunting glasses to allow the frame to flex, not break, under the impact of a recoil
• adjustable nose pads — made of soft material such as silicone to assure a comfortable, protective fit
• break-resistant frame material — such as titanium or polycarbonate
• polycarbonate lenses — offer protection against ultraviolet light, can be polarized, and can be yellow or orange “blue-blockers” for improved contrast
• lens color
• light purple or vermilion lenses — give the hunter better views of light-colored targets against a dark background of trees
• gray lenses — effective in bright sunlight but not in the wood