Will I look an utter wally if I buy and use a UV parasol this summer? I am 42 and sturdily-built, not an eccentric elderly lady or a frail Victorian duchess

[HepburnKNotA]

I burn even with Factor 50 if I stay out in the midday sun and with the usual ghastliness of school sports days/family garden parties etc occuring this summer, I can't just stay indoors at midday (or guarantee shade in small urban gardens or sports fields)

I have a LOT of freckles/moles, incredibly pale skin and need to be careful.

A hat (in which I always feels ridiculous) is OK for some shade over the face, but in the height of the sun it never gives enough shade, plus there's all the other bits to think about, shoulders, chest etc.

I have seen this online and think it's rather fetching.

www.umbrellaheaven.com/product/ezpeleta-patterned-ladies-uv-parasol/

But will I look utterly ridiculous if eg I rock up to sports day with this (when everyone else seems to be in vest tops, no hats and Factor Zero, the kind of blithe Summer People who think i'm a party pooper with my pale skin and my 14 different varities of sun-screen).

Or will I set a fabulous new fashion and be the envy of all who survey me?

I used to live somewhere where the umbrellas were graded on the levels of UV they blocked. So this seems perfectly sensible to me.

I wouldn’t judge the way it looks but... don’t you need your hands free?

My neighbour who is originally from India uses a parasol. She says the sun (we are in Ireland!) Is too intense. I think she makes it look cool so I will be joining the parasol trend this summer too.