Attitude To Sun Tans

Suntans have been the ultimate fashion accessory since the 1930s and the advent of Hollywood glamour. Since the early twentieth century, having golden skin has been synonymous with wealth and luxury as for many people, suntans were a sign that you had been abroad. And not just abroad but somewhere hot and exotic. Nowadays suntans are still associated with amazing holidays abroad, summer and healthiness but for different reasons. For many figure conscious young women, having a suntan is a quick-fix way to look instantly slimmer and glowing, despite feeling pasty and chubbier during the wet Winter months of the UK.

Despite the instant sexiness and healthiness that comes with a radiating suntan, more and more women are opting to stay their natural skin colour as the hazards of skin damage and even cancer are becoming more and more obvious to dermatologists. Nowadays dark tans (and white tan-lines!) also often look cheap as people whisk themselves away on budget holidays to Spain and Portugal to get as brown as possible in a short space of time. Even fake alternatives are problematic as they can leave people looking streaky and, in worst case scenarios, orange!

Porcelain beauties Girls Aloud's Nicola Roberts and Nicole Kidman are currently pioneering the trend for natural skin colours and are showing how classy, edgy and stylish white skin can look. Although a light tan will always be in fashion, it seems times are changing and parasols might be the most stylish summer fashion accessory of 09!