You may unintentionally be offending people with this common fashion accessory

(NEXSTAR) – You may have been acting rude all summer and not even realized it.

Etiquette experts say the way you wear your sunglasses can subtly communicate a sense of aloofness or disinterest to the people around you.

"Even though you might not mean it that way, covering your eyes can feel like you’re creating a barrier," said Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette. "It could give the impression that you’re hiding something or are not fully engaged in the conversation."

This is especially true when meeting someone for the first time or interacting with strangers. Meier suggests always removing sunglasses when you're introducing yourself to someone or if you're having a direct, one-on-one conversation. This could be when you run into someone out in public, when you're buying something, or while making conversation at an outdoor event.

Diane Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas, agrees. "Any time you are meeting someone in public, such as inside a home, a retail store, an office building, or a restaurant, you should give the person across from you your undivided attention and respect by taking your shades off," she told Who What Wear.

There are a few exceptions, according to Meier. If it's a casual event, like a beach day or a sports game, keeping your sunglasses on may be OK. When you're walking side-by-side with someone, it's also probably OK to slip the shades back on. But anytime you're having an extended, face-to-face conversation, it's more polite to remove them.

When you do take them off – now that you know it's polite – Meier has one more tip: "Try not to place your sunglasses on your head during conversations. It can feel a bit too casual. Instead, store them away when not in use. I always say when glasses aren't on your face, they go in your case."