Non-dorky UPF clothing? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Non-dorky UPF clothing?

Anna

Hi, everyone, I've got a problem I hope you can help me with. My daily walk is part of my mental health routine and I've been piling on the sunblock like a pale person should, but washing it off at the end of the day (even with a moisturizing body wash) has dried my skin out to such an extent that I may have to consider covering myself in UPF clothing instead. Covering my forearms and calves means I have to go full-body, and I'd prefer not to look like an idiot any more than I already do. Can anyone help me out with a UPF outfit that won't look actively bad or weird when I'm out and about?

Thanks so much!

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Echo

Helena

Veteran

Anna, have you looked at the Airism items at Uniqlo? They are great for coverage without getting too hot. I'm not sure what bottoms they have, but I have a few very polished-looking hoodies from the line, and I believe forum member Zaeobi has vouched for the cardigans.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I don’t really know about UPF clothinng brands, but if it helps...

My BF golfs a lot, and he has the same skin issues you describe from sunscreen (he was wearing a lot of it). So he started buying white-colored UPF sleeves from Target (not sure if they’re in the Men’s section or the sporting goods) and he wears them with his assorted short sleeve golf shirts. They have worked really well for him, and they don’t look dorky to my eye.

As far as “moisturizing body washes” go, I find a lot of those make my skin feel itchy and tight, with ashy skin later. I use Dr. Bronner’s peppermint or lavender soap, and I mix Burt’s Bees Mama Bee body oil into whatever lotion I’m using, and it really helps keep my skin calm and moisturized.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Good for you for taking care of yourself & not letting gear get in the way! I second Dr Bronner’s for calming irritated skin, especially peppermint.

I don’t know you or your style well enough to know what counts as dorky in your book. What do you think of this jumpsuit, with one of the LS button-front shirts as a lightweight jacket? https://www.orvis.com/womens-c.....#038;sz=48

REI carries Athleta, Royal Robbin, and Kühl, all of which I think are worth a look. Here are their sun-protective items. https://www.rei.com/c/womens-t.....38;r=c%3Bf

Surfers are cool by definition, right? Roxy’s ls swim shirts have sun protection. You might want to check Quicksilver & other Australian surf brands to see if they have clothes that have UPF. https://www.roxy.com/search?q=Sun+protect

I just came across this list, which won’t filter out “dork” but maybe you’ll recognize some brands you like https://www.skincancer.org/recommended-products/ it includes Lands End, which is on my dork list, but also Columbia, which is not.

PS I have & like the Airism leggings Helena mentions, but idk if they offer protection from the sun. Generally dark, tightly woven (or knit) fabrics worn loosely offer the best protection.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

This is a challenge, I agree! I've been walking in the morning in AZ so I can relate. So far, I've found a few items I like at Coolibar, including a long-sleeved zippered top and a fabulous baseball cap. My next purchase might be a gaiter to wear around my neck and pull up over my face. It looks a bit strange, but it would be easier than slathering on sunscreen. Columbia also has a lot of UPF items and Lands End too. Let us know what you find!

rachylou

Veteran

I think the real trouble with UPF clothing, is people often wear it baggy and then top it off with the ice blue curtain hat with contrast grey trim without matching it with anything else in the outfit. It’s like a uniform that stands out. Break the formula!

... or not! It kinda makes people adorable in a certain way, the mismatched hat

Runcarla

Veteran

Seconding Lands’ End for clothing, and Tilley for a hat. I’m still slathering with SPF 60, but I love my Tilley hat and considering another for variety. I also have a straw hat, but the Tilley is super light and easy to wear.

View Info

View Info

JAileen

Veteran

We went to Las Vegas a month ago and spent all day outdoors, for several days. I used sunscreen (spf 100), and stood in the shade where I could. It seemed too hot for long sleeves. I wore a Tilley hat, too. The miracle was, I didn’t get sunburned!

A couple years ago we took a road trip through the Southwest. In Tucson, at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, I saw a few people wearing long sleeves and long pants. In retrospect, maybe they did that to avoid slathering sunscreen all over? One guy was wearing one of those nylon Columbia shirts, in white.

April

Veteran

I too like to use covered-up clothing instead of sunscreen and have also found much of the clothing not my cup of tea.

This year, now that I have added "walking safely with crutches" to "staying out of the sun" on my list of priorities, I have adopted a big straw hat and either leather driving gloves or leather fingerless gloves so my hands don't slip off the crutch handle. It's kind of a "Julia Roberts at the Kentucky Derby" look (add long sleeves) and might be overly glam for you but I doubt you'd call it dorky.

I was also gifted, a few years ago, with an authentic, beautifully-made, hand-painted Chinese parasol, which does a fine job of creating shade. Can't carry it with two crutches but can use it when I'm seated in the deep shade with my hat and sunglasses on already, just for the fabness of it.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Echo

Veteran

This may not help much, as I'm loud with my workout gear, but I just went for a 6 mile walk and wore this. I cannot afford the sun damage to my skin, so while I still have to wear sunscreen on my face and neck and hands, this is fairly cool and covers me neck to ankle.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

Banana Republic and Athleta!

elpgal

Veteran

This is a topic near and dear to me because I don’t enjoy the texture and feel of sunscreen.

Rachy per usual nailed it! I did have the ice-blue hoodie from Coolibar but have since switched to a darker blue one.

My usual attire is big hat, sunglasses, Sports bra with Coolibar sweatshirt, fingerless gloves, long wicking leggings and shoes. I used to walk around with a parasol but but people visibly slow down to gape at me and I felt self-consious.

elpgal

Veteran

Echo, I know you have linked to the leggings before. Where is the top from?

Sloper

Veteran

Another vote for Coolibar.

I have their mitts and sleeves.

And with love and kindness (and as a fellow Scorpio) - work on that low self-esteem. I suffer also.

elpgal

Veteran

Another thought, consider taking a look at modest-dressing blogs for inspiration. Some are experts at the fashionable head to toe covered look. My friend manages to look awesome with long-sleeved belted maxi dresses from Target and hijabs but I can’t pull them off.

Echo

Veteran

The tops I use are just random Amazon purchases, but they are very effective. I have been on two hour walks in full sun, and while the sunscreen on my face and neck did not fully protect me, the top did. From my collarbone to my waist and wrists, no sun.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod.....#038;psc=1

elpgal

Veteran

Thanks Echo! I am going to copycat you. Between the sun and ticks, I hardly get to wear any normal clothing anymore.

missvee

Veteran

Have you checked out your local golf shops and golf courses for protective clothing? I really like the long sleeved tops from IBKul and Sans Soleil. They have a mesh panel along the underside of the arms to allow for airflow. They come in a lot of different colours too, both plain and patterned.

You may also like simple arm protectors. They’re just knit tubes of sun protecting fabric that you can pull on with short sleeved shirts. I have some from Nike but I’m sure there are other brands.

I can’t help you with bottoms though as I just slather on the sunscreen.

Echo

Veteran

Oh, and in case it is a concern, the temperatures here have been ridiculous for June, at over 32* C, and I am still comfortable wearing the tops, long sleeves and all! They do fit slightly close - not a full size small or anything, but if you want them looser, I'd order a size up.