I got a thing for corny high school TV shows. I know they are ridiculous but sometimes it is nice to just relax and watch something simple. After an intensive Gossip Girl marathon last spring I decided to change from the East to the West coast and started to watch 90210.
During the first episodes I was quite shocked how incredibly skinny and unnaturally tanned everybody was. My friend Gianna could not understand my reaction and we started a long discussion about whether being tanned is still cool and sexy or cheap and soo 80s.
I have the feeling that more and more people actually prefer a natural skin tone. In particular solarium tanning is not considered as a status symbol anymore as it was during the 1980s when it was new and only few people could afford it.
Another aspect that influenced the image of tanned skin is the whole discussion about skin cancer. I think people have become more careful and avoid for instance the midday sun.
However, I have to admit, the situation might be a little bit different in Sweden. As soon as it is getting warmer, people are lying in the sun. I am not sure if this is just about being suntanned or if it is a reaction to the harsh and long winter – probably both.
Personally I like pale porcelain skin but I don’t mind when I am a little bit tanned during summer. Don’t misunderstand me. If somebody naturally has a more exotic skin tone I think it looks very beautiful but going to the solarium three times a week with the result that the skin tone becomes orange will definitely look cheap.
Well, I haven’t always thought like that. When I was in high school I loved tanned skin. I was one of these girls who went to the solarium three times a week and used self-bronzer to darken my skin as much as possible. When I see old pictures I think I look terrible with my super tanned, kind of orange, skin…like a Barbie.
I am curious what you think about tanned skin. Cool and sexy or cheap and sooo 80s?
2001 and 2010.
