about pale skin?

[Thurlow]

I'm down south, so it's going to be baking today. I'm not wearing tights, which is perfectly acceptable in our office.

Now I'm as pale as they come, especially my legs. I just don't tan at all.

I have had TWO comments already today from people - "blimey, you're brave, getting your legs out when they are so white!" Both from colleagues who were wearing dresses with no tights themselves, so it wasn't even a subtle dig at that. One then started a conversation about whether or not I'd considered fake tan.

Why is pale skin seen as so bad? Why shouldn't pale people wear skirts and dresses the same? Why should we go through all the faff and cost of fake tanning?

First world problem, I know, but it's really irritated me not already grumpy with the heat and crappy air conditioning

I'm pale and proud and if anyone passes remarks (very Irish saying) I stress my Irish heritage and basically challenge them to apply a double standard.

Quite important to do this noticeably in big cities where pale skin is less usual.

Sadly mine is far from perfect but I dress well and anyone who has a go at me about age gets what's coming to them as well

*Far from perfect and not young!

That Humanae thing is amazing! Absolutely gorgeous. I can't stop scrolling through it. Thanks for links.

After years of covering up because I was so self concious of my pale skin I've only just this year decided I don't care, I have had comments (not nasty but not complimentary) about how pale my legs are and suggestions of fake tan, I just smile and nod. I look like I'm being beamed up by aliens in this photo, I'd been in Australia for 6 weeks at this point . Sorry about bizarre blurred out faces, such an old photo doubt people would recognize me anyway, I certainly don't wear bikinis any more, yet another body hang up I need to get over - post 3 children belly!

You look awesome Wimba

I was the same after three weeks in a very hot country. On the plane out we were all various shades of white, on the way home everyone else was dark brown and I was exactly the same very pale colour. No change at all. Even I was slightly at myself.

You've got it right OP. As the mother of a child with albinism it pisses me off that people need to comment. 'Oh you're so pale, etc, etc.'
To paraphrase a well-used comment here, your skin, your choice.

Another English Rose/milk bottle/mozzarella here :D Yes it's annoying how many people take it upon themselves to let me know exactly how pale I am and what steps I could take to change it. 'Just go out a bit'. Thanks, didn't think of that one yet. Just as a side note, I'm thinking of having a spray tan this summer, never had one before. Anyone got any good recommendations? Apart from 'Don't do it'.

Am very pale and i was never that bothered by a tan - but i have become very bothered about Vit D and now i sunbathe when i can safely. Vit D is hugely important for overall health not just bones and fortunately pale skins absorb it more efficiently than darker sikns but we still need to build up suppiles for winter especially when we live in such a sun deprived country.

Fake tan just looks fake and muddy.

I do think very tanned skin is going out of fashion. Partly because the generation that like that look are now old enough to be mothers of teenage girls. And what teenage girls want to look the Same as their mother? The pale celebs help too.

That said, I'm in Liverpool and it's only the goths who are pale (and a few people like me who can't be bothered with the faff of fake tan, not to mention the biscuit/dog's paw smell)

I'm trying to work out what pantone colour I am.

Ooh, hard to tell in this light on my screen, but 7020-C seems to be the closest to my arms. My body and throat are paler, though.

I've had 2 melanomas, one at 26 and the second at 52. I never, ever try to tan, but even with that warning I find my arms and face freckle and get a hint of colour despite use of factor 50. Shoulders/chest/tummy always covered. Yet my legs, which I do expose despite hairs, freckles, scabs from gardening etc etc etc never ever pick up a hint of colour. seems weird!

I've been called Casper but I love being fair skinned. After years of trying and failing to tan naturally (I just burn) and experimenting with fake tan (never again, I'd rather be pale than patchy) I've finally embraced my fair complexion. If it was good enough for Marilyn Monroe....

In my younger days I left a gym and never went back (to that one) after two random women who had at least 20 years on me (so should have known better) started blatantly making fun of my pale legs in shorts I'm a bit more ballsy since having DD so wouldn't put up with that nowadays

Oh, and I always make sure I rent a cabana or stay in the shade whenever I'm on hols, and wear factor 50 religiously, even on a warm-ish day in this country

Be pale and proud! It used to be a sign of aristocracy as you would not av been out in the sun lol. Strawberries and cream skin very bit as sexy as bronze. It's like ginger hair. V in now. What is not in is excessive sun exposure or sun beds and cancer!

"It used to be a sign of aristocracy"

Yep, only the farmers and commoners toiling in the undergrowth had ruddy faced tans. Then the jet set elite started going to Bognor Regis and so the trend for tanned flesh and oversized sunnies began.

I'm pale too and have had endless comments about how pale I am, but I don't care. I'm my natural colour, and find it weird when people fry themselves to get some colour. That's what you do with chips not people! I also find it weird that people find it unacceptable to see me with my natural skin colour. There are endless (great) campaigns about accepting who you are yet it's still the norm to dye your skin from head to toe! I don't get it, but I don't want to either!

DD1 (15) is white as a sheet and stunning year round, DD2 (3) is already a gorgeous golden colour, and I'm always paper white, unless I'm in the sun where I go lobster red for two days and then look like the arctic snow again! I think pale skin can be beautiful, DD1 has clear, beautiful pale skin and deep brown hair, and absolutely looks amazing! In regards to men's skin tanning, DH walks out in the snow to put the bins out and then comes back in looking like Peter Andre so by the end of August when he's resembling a woodstain tanline from his sandals I think I've got a slight advantage

I think we can blame Coco Chanel.

Are we all still pale and interesting today?

toffeeboffin, you know, it's actually hit the point where I think the Tube might be cooler than my usual 20 min power walk in the beating sunshine at 5.30!

I'm so white I've been signed up by a washing powder company. They're looking to replicate my dazzling bluey-whiteness.

I'm just like Wimba. When I went to Australia as a young girl, I went red in the sun, with protection, then back to white again. Although, when I got home, I must have looked slightly darker than my milky siblings, who crowded round me like a freak show exhibit. So there must have been a little tan. Sadly, all back to normal in about a week

People say things like "Ooh haven't you been out in the sun?" Well, yes, but smothered in factor 50.

Removal of abnormal moles and very pale skin has taken away any desire to try and tan. I don't like the fake stuff it usually looks just that, have never tried it.

It makes me laugh to think that the Orange are so deluded they think they are in a position to judge the Pale

my children are dual heritage and have the most glorious golden brown colour. Whereas I am pale, apart from where I am pink and freckly.

Ah well I love myself regardless - absolutely no point in disliking the way you are born.

I have got my milk bottles out today for the first time ever.
And it's because of this thread.

I'm also wearing a black 'office' style dress and black gladiator sandals.

So I'm a Zebra with ginger hair!

I haven't had any comments yet.

I did bring some moisturiser in my handbag to apply when I feel they need a bit of a sprucing up though.

Thanks for the encouragement.
Time to embrace the pale

I'd just laugh and say 'I like being pale thanks, and no I hadn't really considered fake tan (laugh) I'm not really a fan of the Nineties look! Orange is on the way out apparently and I can see why to be honest - I'd much rather be pale skinned I have to say'