One of the many joys of Steampunk fashion is the ability to take advantage of cool modern – or even futuristic looks – with the elegance of the Victorian era. Steampunk sunglasses are a perfect example of that since sunglasses were rare in the 19th Century and came in very traditional spectacle or pince-nez styles, whereas today Steampunks are free to experiment with a whole variety of sunglass styles.

Of course most of the Steampunk aesthetic relies on Steampunk goggles – something very distant from its Victorian origins but a hard statement of sci-fi and adventure. But goggles aren’t for everyone, while Steampunk sunglasses are a great alternative.

When Were Sunglasses Invented?

Sunglasses were invented in 1752 when James Ayscough began experimenting with tinted lenses. While we don’t think of sunglasses as having much of a place in the Victorian and Georgian eras, Ayscough believed that blue-or green-tinted glass could potentially correct vision impairments.

Protection from the sun’s rays was not a concern at this time, probably because of the widespread wearing of hats. Exposing one’s self to the sun and tanning didn’t become popular until the 1920s – when rouge makeup was used to create a sun-kissed look all year round. Also very few people in society could travel to sunny countries as we enjoy doing today thanks to budget travel.

Like Steampunk goggles, tinted glasses were intended more for very functional uses as opposed to sun protection. With…