What do you wear in the summer if you have bluey white skin and freckles?

[SarfEasticatedMumma]

Fake tan looks ridiculous on me, as they are all too dark. I can't wear shorts, dresses or skirts, so spend the summer wearing crop trousers and Breton tops. are there any other styles I could try where I wouldn't blind passers by with too much skin?

Similar colouring here. After many years I have now accepted light. (Patterned ) trousers and a sleeved top.
Sorry.

I have learnt to embrace my whiteness after years of covering up and sweating in long sleeves and trousers.

Last summer I felt liberated and had a much more enjoyable time, no one recoiled .

I think the trick is to stick to colours that suit you. I would look awful in a white cotton sundress but look okay in a navy blue one.

A hat, sunblock and whatever the hell else I feel like wearing. If people don't like the glare coming from my legs when I wear shorts then I respectfully suggest they invest in better sunglasses.

I find the level of sunblock I need to wear adds an even deeper white to my complexion! I will see if I can manage to unleash the pearly white flesh without small children crying. Thanks ladies :)

I'm with Patatas. My skin is very white and that's the way it is. I refuse to be ashamed of it or to cover it up (other than for sun protection obvs). Most people have sunglasses on in summer anyway.

(I do have one pure white sundress and I have probably given more than a few people snowblindness when wearing it but them's the breaks.)

Think about it. If you knew someone with, say, severe psoriasis on their legs, would you think they should cover up to avoid offending people? I don't think they should have to. Be kind to yourself, your body and your skin are just as acceptable as anyone else's!

Well, I know Mumsnet hates this, but I wear dresses over (slightly) cropped leggings.

I can accept my startlingly white arms out, within reason, no strappy dresses, but not legs. Luckily, I live in Scotland, so it's never really too warm for this ensemble.

Alright, you've convinced me, I'll give it a go. Oh the sun's gone in!

St Tropez

Linen trousers - if you get the right cut (not mumsy) they look amazing but are cool.

yay, once you get used to it, hopefully you will feel liberated too. I now have quite a collection of lovely summer skirts and dresses that I only used to glance at with envy in the shops.

Just watch exposed shoulders!

I still cannot expose my pale skin to the sun so its gradual tan for me - nothing orange - just to take the almost dead hue off my skin. I wear a lot of maxi dresses when really hot.

I like navy and yellow in the summer. I have a few things that are cream (not white) that seem to compliment my blueish tinge (and red hair). I also do green sometimes but not as easy to find summer clothes in green (unless you want pastel shades).

Re: sun cream. I use p20 oil (NOT the new spray on version- I got badly burnt when I tried it) I don't burn with it on (oil cersion) and it eliminates the extra white tone given by other sun creams.

I occasionally use a gradual building self tanner - dove or Nivea. As I find it's a bit more natural than proper fake tans. Even then it's mostly on my legs to take away the super white look of them. I'm not fussed with my arms as I find the freckles add a bit of colour.

Linen trousers here. I just can't be bothered with all the sunblock application. I wear a light kimono if my top doesn't have sleeves. I wear a hat too. Since having my colours done I no longer wear white on my top half but I love my white linen trousers too much to give up white completely.

Do you all not find those gradual tanners as yellow as the straight fake tan? It has been a few years since I tried one.

I wear knee length skirts and t shirts, maxis and silk, sleeved blouses. I don't mind being white but the redness on my upper arms - which is not sunburn, just my skin- really gets me down.

Piz buin allergy doesnt make me any whiter.

I wear sunscreen .

I live in a place where summers get hot and humid so covering up isn't an option as I would boil to death. I wear t-shirts or tops with sleeves that end just above my elbow, and well-cut shorts that end just above my knee, not baggy, granny shorts, but nicely tailored ones that do something for my rear end. Or skirts that go to just above my knee, with a top.

Maxi skirts have been in for a few years but I feel they are a bit more of a youthful trend than I am willing to risk. If I were two inches taller than 5'6" I would be able to find a skirt that would actually fit me and I might be tempted to give them a bash but with hemming and all that factored in it seems a bit of a palaver.

I have a sleeveless tan linen sheath dress for normal wear, and one in black in a linen mix if I have to go anywhere. I have two linen shirt/jackets (Nehru style) one in cream and one in white that go over any of my shorts, and a few light cotton cardigans that are necessary for trips to the supermarket where arctic conditions are maintained in the refrigerated aisles.

I never wear tank tops or spaghetti straps as it seems there is no sunscreen made that prevents my shoulders being burnt.

I wear a rash top for swimming, over boy shorts or board shorts (burnt butt cheeks are not pleasant, I have found).

Long dresses. Cool and easy to wear and no blinding white legs on show and they can be hairy as you like as well.

Long dresses and maxi skirts.

Maxi dresses and jumpsuits. I have also given up on fake tanning, shaving is about as much as I do now!

Same colouring.
Maxi shift or 7/8 ankle grazers.

Slight colour from Dove or Nivea on chest and arms.

Maxi skirts.

And I got some fab khaki silky cargo trousers in M&S which are light and airy and cover a multitude. I also got the black ones!

Not sure if it's available where you are (I'm in Aus) but Neutrogena sp factor 50 spray on sun cream is soooooo good. I found it last year - it sprays on and is not oily and non whitening and I do not burn at all (a first!) and am not left in a greasy mess all day after cream goes on - also lasts a good 4 hours.

Yy to the Neutrogena clear factor 50 spray. No more chalky whiteness.

I wear maxi dresses a lot in summer, or knee length dresses. Shorts and shorter dresses arent my style anyway.

I do fake tan, to be fair, but I use Clinique Self Sun Light. Its not orange on me and just takes the white glow off my legs. But if I cant be arsed, I just let the white shine through and front it out .

God bless Irish colouring, eh!

Rimmel Fair Sunshimmer is a very light, wash off, sunless tanner. It won't turn you brown, it'll just take the luminous away. You can't mess it up, if you don't like it, rinse it off. Costs about £6. The Light shade is a lovely golden colour but if you're very pale I'd go with the Fair.

'Can't mess it up' heh Kimmel - I'll try and let you know! Thanks for all the advice everyone - I think I'm going to try brazening it out, as linen trousers and I don't get on sadly.
Interesting to see how many of you wear tan (I thought it too dark) and don't wear white (I thought it was the only colour that suited us paleies). I may have to have my colours done :)

I think white and pale colours can make a pale person look even whiter. Try some brights –hot pink, bright/deep blue ...). You may be pleasantly surprised!