SUNSATIONAL

It is that time of year again, when a little notice comes in the mail to remind me that my car needs a checkup. So I book an appointment for early in the morning, in hopes that my car will be returned to me by noon. I jump out of bed at 6:50am throw on some clothing, hop into the car and get it to the garage. Fortunately, the garage is only a 10 minute walk from my home, so instead of taking a taxi back, I opt for walking home.

The time is now 7:15 am and I am strolling through the streets of Raanana and enjoying the relative quiet on the roads. I begin to rub my arms and feel a burning feeling. Wondering what it could be, I look down and see nothing - not a bee, mosquito nor any bug in site. It is hard to believe but it is true, the burning feeling I am having at 7:15 in the morning is coming directly from the sun. Yes, while many of you have not even begun your day, I am already being fried. The sun is so hot and strong that I feel no amount of SPF will block the shining rays.

So it made me wonder:
How should we dress to protect ourselves from the sun and yet not feel too hot?

- Wear loose-fitting clothes that will allow perspiration (a whole other topic) to evaporate freely- muumuu like
- Cover as much of your body as possible
- Colors: the light colors reflect heat away from the body and keep you cool, but darker colors protect you better from UV rays: find a balance
- Wear a hat, one that provides shade to your face (preferably with a 2-3 inch brim)
- Make sure your sunglasses have UV protection
- Always wear sun cream


Yes, you may need to compromise a little on fashion for the next few weeks, but do not worry. With many companies starting fashion friendly /sun smart lines of clothes, it won’t be long before you will be looking SUNsational.