What should I wear to a pool party?

A pool party is great fun in the summer months. You will probably want to wear a bathing suit (that flatters your figure), a coverup, sun hat, and sandals. Bring a beach bag, towel and plenty of sun screen. Some ways to create style are wearing a “t” shirt or swim shirt over a two piece suit or wrap a skirt or sarong around a one piece swimsuit. If you don’t feel comfortable parading around in a bathing suit you can wear light weight shorts or pants, a maxi dress or keep your cover up on at the pool party. Think about SPF protective clothing when you plan summer outings. SPF clothing is available in swim shirts, cover ups, swimwear and will protect you from the sun.

Fresh Beachwear Trends
Fresh beachwear trends to update your look! If you are in the market for a new swimsuit a high-waisted bikini / two piece is the hottest style this summer.  There are styles out there like suits with skirt overlays that provide more coverup than traditional bikini bottom styles. Plus they are so much more practical to wear than a one piece bathing suit.

What is sun protective clothing?
Sun protective clothing is made with fabrics that shield your skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. When looking for fashions that help protect you from damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays look for the UPF number. UPF is similar to SPF (Sun Protection Factor), the rating system used for sunscreen products. The higher the UPF number the greater degree of UV protection the garment will give you. A UPF of 15 is good but 50+ is excellent. Sun protective clothing is constructed with denser fabrics, specific types of dyes plus some are treated with other chemicals that can boost a garment’s UPF rating. Polyester does an excellent job at disrupting UV light, nylon is good, wool and silk are moderately effective, cotton, rayon, flax and hemp fabrics score low without added treatments. Unbleached or naturally colored cotton protects better than bleached cotton. Summer weather means more exposure to the sun. This is a good time to do an Internet search and add some sun protective clothing to your wardrobe. Learn more about Sun Protection Clothing Basics at REI.