Right, I’m sick of hiding from the sun. Will a UV umbrella make me look like a wally?

[ShadesOfPemberley]

My skin is ludicrously pale. I can wear all the factor 50 I like but if I go out in the full sun between 12 and about 3 I can literally feel my skin singeing. I hate hats, they just make me hotter. I am sick and tired of scurrying about between patches of shade on my way to places, or even worse barely going out to avoid the sun.

ive always quite fancied a UV umbrella but have never seen anyone else with one… until now! People must be as sick of the heatwave as I am because in the last 3-4 days I’ve seen roughly half a dozen sunshade carriers! A couple of them even looked completely fabulous (the others looked totally fine, albeit not fabulous as such)

I am quite a self conscious person though. I am also a hot sweaty miserable-in-summer person. Will a UV brolly just make me look silly, ridiculous or anything else that will enhance my already peak self-consciousness?!?

I am 50, in case that gives helpful brolly/wally ratio context.

Any advice on type/style/brands also appreciated. Don’t think I can pull off the bridal/Little Miss Muffet look. But I’m sure there are good alternatives out there? Wish I’d asked the two fabulous carriers now but I was driving past them (would have been walking but I was avoiding the sodding sun!)

I don't think you'd look like a wally at all. And surely that's preferable to hiding away like a vampire 😂 I get it, I'm pale myself but I'd hate to stay in when it's hot if there was a viable option instead.

Why do you think it will make you look silly? Do you agonise this much about using an umbrella if it is raining?

I wouldn't mind one but like you I'd worry that I look silly

saying that, I did the school run in a floppy sun hat this week one day and thought F it because it's hot

You do you OP

I use a large UV umbrella when playing golf, and have used it quite a lot recently off the course. Mainly because I'm staying inside out of the sun but need to pop to tesco and don't want to slather my arms with suncream for the walk from carpark to store. It is HUGE tho!

I’ve never heard of a specifically UV umbrella. However in other countries (e.g. India, Thailand) I’ve often seen people using umbrellas as parasols, and recently, while waiting at the bus stop in my SE UK home town, I saw two people using umbrellas as parasols! Very sensible - I dare say we’ll see it more and more.

I want one too. Sick of hiding!

Do it, lots of people using normal umbrellas to shade themselves so you'll look more stylish than them.

I'm deathly pale, wear a wide brimmed hat and loose pale clothing plus spf, I find this enough.

It at all. Have a look at solbari.

I just bought a cream one from uniqlo it's lovely. They're common now in London.

I've been walking round with a normal, rain umbrella for shade and I've not noticed anyone laughing and pointing 🙂

Right thanks everyone! This feels like the permission I need! (Plus the pp who pointed out that vampire is a less good look than wally is quite right.)

im off to google!

I got one this year. It really helps in terms of overheating and sun protection. No idea if I look stupid but these days I don't care.

I live in East Asia during termtime so I give no fucks about what people think of me doing this in the UK. Everyone over there uses them at the slightest hint of sun. Just buy an SPF50+ umbrella online. Any cheapie brand will do as long as it's a UV protection brolly. Mine's a pale green block colour.

A proper one is reflective on the outside and black on the inside, to reduce reflected rays bouncing around and landing on your skin. Solbari do one but it's not cheap.

Uniqlo have a UV umbrella that looks like a normal compact umbrella. About £19 I think. It lets quite a lot of light through, so I don't know how much heat it holds back.

Fulton do a UV umbrella too, but the measurement across the diameter is smaller than a normal umbrella, so is I suspect it's ok for shielding your face but not your arms. Haven't seen one in real life.

If looking online beware dodgy websites. I found a seemingly good UV umbrella on what appeared to be an Australian company website (has Sydney in the title) but it turned out to be a Chinese trans-shipping shop with poor reviews.

I'm seeing quite a few people using umbrellas in London, a few obviously solar umbrellas but mostly normal rain umbrellas.

I've seen people staring to use umbrellas and I've got one on order! I wear a sun visor usually. I also used to feel self conscious about it, but the reality is I prefer the visor more than I worry about mean people being judgemental!

I've been using my big black umbrella as a parasol for years and nobody has ever said anything or looked at me funny! I've noticed a lot of people doing it this year.

Definitely use one! I've used these in S Asia and they are brilliant - much better than a sweaty sun hat that gives you terrible helmet hair.

I’ve never really seen them before this summer but have seen quite a few around now. Lots of people are using normal umbrellas which which not be very effective. I’m definitely going to invest, I do wear a hat but I feel this will give a whole puddle of shade. I thought the uv ones are silvery inside?

I live in the SH and people use umbrellas for shade when walking in the sun all the time.

Not even UV ones which I didn't even know where a thing until now. But a great idea.

It's a very normal thing to use in other parts of the world.

Recently at RHS Wisley and there were quite a few people using hand held sun parasols. Brolliesgalore have some lovely one's.

I have one and love it !

I have to go up my mums house du ring the day (carer and 15 mins walk )
It has been a game changer.

A hat protects your head and face.
Cream protects your skin .
The umbrella protects your sanity !!

Obvs exaggerating!
But it does make me feel in a better mood when I arrive !

I have a cream one .
Black on the inside .

Glad you've decided to go for it. I don't have a UV one but use a light colour ordinary brolly when it's really hot like it is now. Realise it's not a "proper" one but it helps. I don't like hats and look seriously weird in them. Besides a brolly provides more cover.

I remember first using one over ten years ago and having to walk past a bunch of lairy-looking young men. I was fully expecting sniggering and wisecracks but instead one of them called out, "Hey, that's a really good idea. I'd never thought of doing that." Pretty sure it wasn't meant sarcastically...

Fulton's own website has quite a range, and you can search for UV

I love mine. Couldn’t care less what anyone thinks. I burn in minutes and this stops it. Less hot than a hat too and they do double duty as an umbrella when it rains

I was at an RHS show on Saturday and saw lots of them, some very pretty ones. Not sure how effective they were but they looked great.
I thought I should look some up.