Nigella's Burquini - good idea or horrible mistake?

[sieglinde]

On Bondi Beach, apparently. Basically a long-sleeved dress and trousers for the surf. I've put in a link but possibly not available except for Times subscribers. www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/fashion/article2991370.ece

Some of the comments are pretty vicious.

also in the daily hate

Good call from Nigella, I think. Don't see a problem with it at all.

Considering the level of corsetry (I assume) she wears most of the time I think it's probably the only way she could appear on a public beach without being slated for her body. Also, I'm pretty sure she values the milky whiteness of her skin, she'd probably colour up even with heavy duty sunscreen...

It looks utterly ridiculous, if she is so concerned about sun damage she could use sunblock and a sunhat and keep in the shade. A few minutes sun whilst having a swim never killed anyone.

Meh, I'm sure there would have been plenty of unsavory comments about her figure if she appeared in normal swimwear, she's clearly a very different shape under that than she is <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/nigella2203G_468x714.jpg&imgrefurl=www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-542274/Nigella-gets-trainer-lick-shape.html&usg=__gXiE7DfZFhk3BkkI26EH4X-kY9c=&h=714&w=468&sz=43&hl=nl&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Pgy6Jr5XJWEeHM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=84&ei=KpCtTam2BsjA4ga9uNDCCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnigella%2Blawson%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dnl%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D578%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=244&vpy=200&dur=2584&hovh=277&hovw=182&tx=148&ty=229&oei=KpCtTam2BsjA4ga9uNDCCw&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here. Good on her.

All good publicity, I've not seen her in the papers for a while.

As someone who burns terribly easily, if I wanted to go to the beach, esp in Oz, I'd be wearing a long sleeved UV shirt, UV protection hat with neck flap and UV shorts (to knee) - that way I could have fun in the water and not turn lobster. And I guess bad tan lines would be a problem for her, plus I'm sure she's more concerned about skin cancers than many

I think it's fine. The press would of ripped her to pieces had she been in a skimpy bikini.

Exactly, if she was in a swim suit the article would be either be 'ooh she's a bit fat' or 'well done you' depending on where it was published. Maybe she wore it for a bet or joke. And she does have fabulous skin .

I think it's pretty sensible. Ok, there are more flattering beach styles out there, but if you want to swim then it seems a practical option - pretty brave of her if you think about it. She looks thinner than in other recent photos?

apple99, have you ever been out in full Australian sun? My dd got scarlet-burnt in 45 minutes once, and that was in March, though at midday; she forgot to reapply suncream after a swim. That said, I think most are right about the reason because she could have got a sunshirt, which would have protected her skin far better. But they are very clingy. She has freckles, so she would need to be VERY careful; my dd is fairish, but her burns turn to a tan in hours.

I'm more of the opinion that she's dressed that way so that photographers can't sit it out waiting for an unflattering photo of her in a swimsuit once she jumps in the waves/has to hoik her swimsuit out of her bottom/bends over a little. Good on her - why be fodder for the tabloids in this way?

Good for her!

There have been countless photographs of various non-stick-thin celebs/minor celebs splashed across the tabloids emerging from the sea and revealing more than they had intended. At least this way there isn't anything hanging at an odd angle.

DH is very very fair. He doesn't tan he just burns. When we go to the sea he covers up as much as he can. People need to accept that if you do burn quickly you must either constantly top with sun block or wear something to prevent getting burnt.

sieglinde No I have not been to Australia. I am very fair skinned and freckled myself I think I would rather not go to the beach than have to wear what she is wearing in those photo's and my figure is worse than her's.

Looks very hot! I am sure she could get a good corsety type one piece swimsuit......

I think a long-sleeved rash vest and some comfy board shorts would have been a better idea fashion-wise, but she's fine to wear whatever the hell she likes to the beach.

apple, if you do ever go to Oz, buy a sun shirt. They actually look quite nice and they block the sun, which her burqini probably doesn't; the sun's rays can actually burn THROUGH normal clothing in Oz. Virtually everyone in Oz wears them EXCEPT the tourists! Dunno why, but the sun is much much more severe than say Spain or Greece. Mrs Snow, your dh should get one too; they are brilliant, especially for dcs.

I'm with HappyAsIAm on this...it's deliberate. To annoy the Paps. A shot of Nigella looking like a Whale on Bondi would be woth some coin!

I'm white as milk and spent a year in Adelaide...(hotter than Sydney)...I wore a hatand a shirt over a bikini and hardly ever wnt to the beach.

I'm hoping this catches on. I don't tan so find beaches a pain

I would not wear it but each to their own...
I agree with covering up in the sun though - a nice pair of board shorts, a long sleeve T in lighter colours, a big hat and sunblock would have been my choice though.

I'd find the headgear annoying but it looks practical and comfortable and she's VERY white. I'm similar skin colour (but without the lovely dark hair) and would be paranoid about sunburn if I was in a swimsuit somewhere so hot, good on her I say, she looks as if she's having fun!

Skin cancer rates in Australia have dropped amongst the Australian born population. The problem is those who emigrate there from places like the UK and have no respect for the sun.

I'd imagine Nigella is being bloody careful given her family history and the fact that she probably carries high risk genes.

If you've ever had skin cancer - a dodgy mole/thing removed - you're advised not to go outside without at least spf15 on in the UK all year round.

It stops any unflattering pics in a bikini, and given her family history, probably sensible.

I think she's actually being sensible and a lot of people would do well to take a (slightly shorter) leaf from her book and pay less attention to fashion and more to sensible sun protection. Sunburn on fair skin increases the risk of skin cancer after all. The daily mail seems to hate women sometimes and is just being OTT as usual.

She's lost a husband and her mother to cancer before they hit 50, and a sister to cancer before she hit 35. She was in Queensland, which has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

I agree with the Wail for once - I think she looks utterly ridiculous and is probably just desperate for some publicity. If she's that concerned about the sun, perhaps she should just stay well clear of Bondi Beach?