Gabrielle Bonheur is mostly known for designs that endured the “in and outs” of fashion trends and the infamous fashion brand Chanel.
Bonheur, better known as Coco Chanel, is immediately associated with fashion, but another association with this name that is seldom heard of is with tanning.
Coco Chanel was accidentally the trendsetter for what we now call “tanning.”
I say accidentally as her sun burn was not meant to be a fashion statement, but people saw it, liked and wanted it.
Josephine Baker was another major trendsetter of tanning. People admired her “caramel skin tone.”
They completely changed the perception of tanning from the former negative view to a positive one: one that viewed tanning as fashionable and healthy.
Centuries ago, tanning was viewed negatively as an indication of a low status in society.
The reason behind this is that the people who were tanned were peasants who worked out doors for long periods of time.
Princesses and members of the upper class used protective gear, like umbrellas, to shield them from the sun, during the rare times that they went out into the sun.
To be pale rather than tanned was considered beautiful, until lack of Vitamin D emerged as a major issue and problems of arsenic being used to lighten skin arose.
We cannot forget the impact Coco Chanel and Ms. Baker made in making tanning fashionable.
Surprisingly, only a small number or people who tan actually know about the history of tanning.
Out of seven people interviewed at UT, only two knew about this history.
Similar up and down shifts have occurred, even since tanning became fully popularized.
Tanning in the sun for long periods of time and without adequate protection was said to increase the risk of skin cancer, according to the US Public Health Services, which stated that UV radiation is known to be a human carcinogen.
Nonetheless, new methods lead to new, “safer” ways of tanning, such as tanning beds, sun lamps, tan sprays, etc.
There is a misconception that tanning has is a dying trend, as everything fashionable soon goes out of style, but is this really the case?
You decide.
Seven out of seven people interviewed about tanning all agreed that tanning is still in.
A more shocking fact, however is that tanning is becoming more popular with men.
I walked into a tanning salon, and peered at the long line of people waiting to tan, I noticed most of the people waiting to tan were guys.
Well-tanned Felipe Manzo, a junior at UT, admitted to tanning, but not intentionally.
He stated that, as a swimmer, he is exposed to the sun for long periods.
He is also Argentinian.
Shawn McCleary, another junior at UT, said that he tanned to even out his skin tone after swimming.
Despite the fact that he did not think tanning as a good trend, due to health risks.
Brad Hines, a freshman, expressed that the reason that more guys are tanning, is that some guys believe that girls are attracted to tanned guys.
Nonetheless, he believes that tanning should be left for girls.
Katelyn Bentley, a sophomore, agreed that tanned guys are more attractive because they tan.
Some like Felipe and Brad believe guys should not go out to tan.
They stated that they only tan in the sun and would not go out to tanning salons or use tanning sprays, or other means.
Tanning is being revolutionized; it may soon just be a guy thing.
Camilla Chebet can be reached at cchebet@spartans.ut.edu.