Sun Protective Clothing is your best protection while out in the sun because it won’t wash or wear off, it’s easy to slip on and it provides fail proof coverage. Our customer service team knows that good coverage starts with great style & fit to become your go to UPF 50+ wardrobe staple and we want to help you find your perfect match.
So, which item will work best? Consider these 3 things when selecting the perfect Coolibar garment: Fabric, Style and Size.
Fabric: At Coolibar, we have several different types of fabric to choose from to match your activity and personal preference. Like the feel of cotton? Go with our ZnO SUNTECT® fabric. Prefer lightweight moisture wicking properties for a workout in the sun? Try our 3D dri SUNTECT® fabric. Our aqua SUNTECT® is chlorine and saltwater resistant and is great for both water use and activewear. Read about our entire family of UPF 50+ SUNTECT® fabrics.
Style: Would you describe yourself as sporty, sophisticated or outdoorsy? We’ve got something to match your style that will keep you wearing your Coolibar time and time again. With handy details like hidden zip pockets, rash guard gripper elastic or button down shirts that can be worn alone or layered over a t-shirt, Coolibar’s got you covered.
Size: Clothing sizes can vary from brand to brand, so it makes good sense to check with the size charts available for the item you are interested in. Generally, Coolibar clothing is made to fit comfortably. So whatever size you normally order is the size you would order with Coolibar. The Coolibar size charts are available at our website.
Please call our Customer Service team if you have specific questions regarding fit, we are happy to help! We can be reached at 1-800-926-6509, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm CST.
Have you ever wanted to meet the creative mind behind Coolibar’s beautiful UPF50+ designs? Would you like to have an opportunity to tell her what you’re looking for and ask for styling advice?
Now’s your chance! Coolibar proudly presents Olga Mashkova, Coolibar Design Director of Women & Children’s for a face to face chat, live on Coolibar’s facebook wall. Olga will be standing by to answer all your burning (pun intended) questions on Coolibar fashion, sun protection and travel. To participate, just click onto the Coolibar facebook page and post away. Everyone is welcome.
Since 2002, Style Expert Bridgette Raes has transformed wardrobes for hundreds of clients. She is president of the Bridgette Raes Style Group in New York and author of the book “Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want”. Bridgette is also Coolibar’s go-to stylist. Each week, she features one closet staple on her style blog and pairs it with five different outfits for her segment: One Item, Five Fashionable Ways. In honor of New York Fashion Week, we asked Bridgette to use her expert eye and style the Coolibar Vera Coastal Wrap.
For this week’s One Item, Five Fashionable Ways, sun protection clothing company Coolibar asked me if I was interested in featuring one of their pieces for this post. The choice was mine as to which item I would showcase and I instantly picked their Vera Coastal Wrap. I own this cardigan and love it because it is not just easy and figure flattering, but it is soft, SO soft, in their modal/spandex SUNTECT® fabric. I’m not kidding when I say it may be the softest, most comfortable fabric I have ever had on my body.
Cardigans are no-brainer pieces that every wardrobe should have as functional outfit finishers. On a cool night they give you warmth. Feel shy showing your arms, they offer shy arms security and for a professional-work environment, they replace a jacket.
To get the most out of a cardigan, I like to make sure I have an ample supply of neutral colored ones which is why I chose to style the Vera Wrap Cardigan in Coolibar’s taupe shade– a versatile layering piece in a versatile color. Check out the five ways I style this cardigan for some outfit inspiration and tips on how to incorporate a cardigan into your wardrobe
Five Coolibar Cardigan Outfits
Look #1
When an outfit is based entirely in neutrals, like this cardigan look with khaki pants by Vince Camuto and a boat neck top by Modcloth, you have free range to bring in pops in any colors you like. Because it’s so trendy and popular at the moment, and because these colors go so well with taupe, I decided to go with pink and tangerine and chose these two-tone Sperry ballerinas and necklace by Stella & Dot. To complete the look, and for some sunny brightness, I chose an orange Fossil handbag and flowery studs also from Stella & Dot.
Look #2
If you’re are going to buy and wear colored casual pants this fall, investing in a neutral colored cardigan is a great idea as it will work with all of the colored bottoms you purchase. Here I chose to pair Coolibar’s cardigan with an eggplant pair of Boden skinny pants and layered an Anthropologie printed tank underneath. The look is finished with a versatile pair of grey rhinestone ballerinas by Sperry, a purple pair of statement earrings by Blu Bijoux and, for a third punch of color, a grey and yellow handbag from R+J Handbags to make the whole look casually colorblocked for fall.
Look #3
To bring your summer tanks into fall, a cardigan is a great choice. Plus, remember, all Coolibar clothing offers 50+ UVA and UVB sun protection. With their Vera Coastal Wrap you can give yourself some coverage while still wearing a flimsier top, like this one by Zara. Once Labor Day arrives, don’t assume that you don’t need sun protection. The sun is still shining and you should still be thinking about shielding yourself from the rays of the sun when necessary.
This cardigan works well with a pair of jeans, like this boyfriend style by Levi’s. Pop the look with a bright shoe, like coral wedges by Seychelles, to pull in the colors of the print, along with Furla’s navy handbag and Privileged Gold coral earrings.
Look #4
A cardigan is a great way to bring a summer dress into fall or to layer some warmth at the office. This flattering print dress by Eliza J. has tones of the taupe right in the print, along with coral. Wanting to maximize all the items used in this post, I chose the same coral wedges and earrings from the previous look. The last component is an off white handbag by Melie Bianco.
Look #5
This cardigan is easy with a pair of camel pants, like these cotton trousers from Ann Taylor. I layered Modcloth’s pink top underneath and used the handbag and shoes from previous looks in this outfit as well. The outfit is finished with a Trina Turk disc necklace, Michael Kors studs and Cole Haan skinny metallic belt.
Finding stylish protection can prove challenging. Additionally, many sun hats on the market today do not protect your neck, cheeks, nose, and mouth areas from the sun’s UV rays. Devra Wathen (pictured left) is the founder and CEO of Escaping the Sun In Style™, an innovative hat company based out of Hawaii. ETSIS hats offer a smart and sophisticated option for those looking for ultimate sun protection, while staying in style. We decided to find out more about Devra and her company that’s changing the way people view sun protection.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m a born and bred Midwest girl who moved to Colorado to “find my fortune”. I enjoyed a great active, outdoorsy lifestyle there and eventually started a successful leasing company, which is how I met my husband Chuck, a real estate developer. After we got married, Chuck landed some projects in Honolulu, Hawaii and we jumped at the chance to move here (who wouldn’t!). The glorious sun and paradise were perfect. Needless to say, I spent my days drinking in the golden sunlight, driving back and forth in my convertible to work, being super outdoorsy, enjoying the fabulous beaches. We’ve been here since then. I am semi-retired but came out of it when I began my work in Sun Protection with ETSIS.
ETSIS Day Escape Hat
How long has ESTIS been in business? What inspired you to start this company?
ETSIS started three years ago, but has only started to really gain its legs this year. Being a sun protection company, it was born from my own personal need for better sun protection.
About 7 years ago, I started noticing bad spots on the left side of my face and arms. I went to my derm and he told me it was basal cell carcinoma, and after removing it, he told me that I needed to be more wary of the sun if I didn’t want to end up with more aging, spots, or worst of all, melanoma! My derm told me all my days of being in the car and lying out in the sun had caught up with me and I needed to be super diligent with protecting myself—especially the left side of my face and arms, with all the time spent in the car. A long quest to find the perfect sun hat that protected my face and neck, looked good and worked whether I was driving, walking the dog or just out at the beach turned up fruitless. So I just started pinning towels and napkins into the brim of my favorite Coolibar sun hat to protect against the sun.
Um, this did not sit well with my husband, who said I looked like a bag lady trolling around the neighborhood, and would I please utilize my fashion sense and figure something else out? A girl CANNOT just let that slide! So, I got to work and ETSIS was born after some trial and error. My girl friends loved it, one of them introduced me to a representative of the world’s largest hat manufacturer and the rest is history (so to speak)!
ETSIS Dayescape Hat
What’s different about ESTIS hats versus other sun hats?
Where do I start?
ETSIS hats are like your traditional and fashion forward UPF sun hats, with the twist that they can be worn five different ways. Our SunEscape Protection Panels are like luxuriously soft scarves that snap into the inner crown of each ETSIS Hat, allowing you to tie the hat four ways. If you want to protect yourself, wrap the panels around your face, back around your neck and tie in front…add a pair of fabulous sunglasses and you look like a 50s screen goddess! That’s called our Signature Wrap. You can also do an off the shoulder tie to keep your hands free for when you don’t need to wear your hat but don’t want to carry it. You can tie the panels behind your head in a cute knot to keep it from flying off your head in wind, too. Lastly, for our customers with medical conditions, you can pull the panels up and over your cheeks to cover your mouth and nose in a clinical wrap to protect you from airborne pollutants. If you don’t need the panels at all, snap them out of the hat, put them in your handbag and wear the hat as a basic sun hat.
The protection panels keep you warm in winter, but also wick away heat and moisture when it’s warm, so they can be worn year-round! And they’re rated UPF50+ so you get maximum UVA/UVB protection 365 days a year.
Basically, our hat takes a regular hat and transforms it into the ultimate accessory with sun protection built in! ETSIS hats are versatile, functional and fashion-forward options for all occasions and all types of activities. What sun hat can actually say that?
We’ve heard rumors that you’ve started working with SunAWARE. Is this true and if so how are you working together?
Yes, that’s true. SunAWARE approached me and asked me to write a feature article on the growing trend of sun protection, how it developed and where it’s going. I’m not sure if I can say more yet, but you’ll be the first to know when the project launches!
On a personal level, how do you style your ETSIS hat? Where do you wear it?
I personally wear the hat in our Signature Wrap style (shown in video below) the most. I love feeling glamorous like a 50s movie star. I usually wear it with a fantastic Coolibar UPF sun shirt or jacket, cute leggings and a cute little skirt, my signature bangles, and of course, a pair of fabulous sunglasses (gotta protect the eyes, too!).
I wear my hats EVERYWHERE. From running errands, going to the beach, walking the dog, going shopping. Anytime I go outside, I put on sun protection—I wear UPF clothing 365 days a year. Since our hats can be worn 5 different ways, I’m not trapped into only being able to wear my hat to some places, but I can wear it wherever I go. Except for black tie parties or fancy dinners – I like showing off my hairstyles for those.
Is there anything else you would like us to know?
Since the sun’s UV rays are responsible for 80% of our skin’s aging, ETSIS hats are truly an essential component of an anti-aging beauty routine. By protecting our skin, we can help prevent premature aging as well as skin cancer. Our hats are a stylish option for women who can’t always wear sunscreens, or for those who don’t want to have to reapply ever couple of hours.
And they’re soon available worldwide through Coolibar. Look for ETSIS next week at coolibar.com.
Look around and you’ll start seeing more parasols (a.k.a. umbrellas) on sunny days. That’s right, no rain, just in pure wonderful sunshine. Why? They’re not only a great addition to your outfit, but they help block the sun’s ultraviolet rays that can cause premature aging and skin cancer. What’s not to love?!
Tip: If beautiful skin is your prerogative, look for the following when choosing your perfect parasol:
Large arch. A parasol with a large arch will block more UV from the side.
Dark interior. The darker the color, the better the umbrella will absorb reflective UV rays.
Reflective or dark exterior. A reflective exterior will deflect more UV and keep you cooler. A dark material will absorb UV.
UPF 30 or higher ratings. Some parasols will provide a UPF rating. An umbrella rated UPF 50+ will block 98% or higher of direct UVA and UVB rays. Remember UV rays bounce off pavement, water, sand and other reflective surfaces. Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher, sun protective clothing and UV sunglasses will offer even greater sun protection.
Stay beautiful and on trend. Use sun protection and parasols.
Last week spring was in the air. With temperatures in the 70’s in New York City, it felt more like June than March. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and New Yorkers were out in masses soaking up the summer sun– grabbing their shades and leaving their jackets behind.
This was perfect weather to introduce Coolibar’s spring and summer line to fashion, health and beauty editors across the city. Carol Schuler (of Schuler Publicity) and I hit the Manhattan streets and hauled our oversized bag of Coolibar goodies to the “big books” at Hearst, Meredith and Conde Nast, in addition to meeting with some of our favorite bloggers.
The new line and fabrics were met with great enthusiasm. In fact, a new hat was called in immediately for consideration. We heard ooh’s and ah’s as editors felt the silk like texture of our aire SUNTECT® fabric and tried on fabulous hats with an 8” brim. “The big brims are glamorous and keep your shoulders protected too,” exclaimed on editor (she got to keep that hat). Look for Coolibar products in your favorite magazines this summer.
What does this all means for you, our dear customer? It means you are in for a real treat! Our new catalog hits homes next week and is bigger and better than ever with over 32 new styles to keep you cool and protected this summer. We’ve introduced new fabrics and fitness gear alongside our customer favorites.
So get out there and enjoy life in the sun, Coolibar will keep you safe!
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When recently browsing the web for a new story idea, I came across this site called ModelKarma, a website for aspiring models, pro models and modeling industry professionals started by the famous Thomas Zeumer, supermodel launcher. While clicking through some of their pages that provide advice for models, I was hoping to find plenty about protecting skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays. While somewhat disappointed by the small amount of information on this subject, I was relieved to see one post reminding models to protect their assets, meaning their looks or skin from ultraviolet radiation.
I think many of us know that over-exposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer down the road. However, the cosmetic damage the sun does to skin can also be significant. As you age, your skin will start to show spots and wrinkles even more so if you haven’t been properly protecting yourself from the sun. The writer of the article on ModelKarma dramatizes it even more by saying, “Basically, [the sun] makes you look fried well before your years, thus killing your career before you are done!”
The article goes into detail about protecting yourself from damaging rays by using sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection. It reiterates the Skin Cancer Foundation’s advice on how to properly use sunscreen to get the best result as well. While I agree that sunscreen is essential when choosing sun protection, the article failed to mention sun hats and sun protective clothing. It’s our hope at Coolibar that in the future sun protective clothing and hats will be talked about equal to sunscreen, as they’re an unbeatable match for keeping skin healthy and young looking.
I wish to add the other ways to “protect your assets” to their list, including wearing a hat with a three inch brim or greater that has a tight weave and a high UPF rating. Not only can you find hats that are glamorous in themselves, but they’ll protect your eyes, ears, nose and sometime even neck depending on the brim size. Also, wear sun protective clothing, especially when outdoors for extended periods of time. Remember, most summer clothing allows UV to penetrate right through the garment, so you’ll have to apply sunscreen underneath if you’re not wearing UPF clothing.
All of us at Coolibar are glad to see professionals in the modeling industry discussing the need for sun protection. Every time we see a new Marc Jacobs skin cancer prevention shirt or a fashion editor talking about the pale skin trend, we know we’ll start seeing a shift in the way many of us protect ourselves from the sun.
Whether you’re a fan of the Twilight series or not, in the next few weeks you’ll be hearing plenty about it as the fourth movie, Breaking Dawn Part 1, makes its way to theaters. I always enjoy the hype around this series, not only because I’m a “Twihard”, but because it makes me feel like I’m part of a movement that’s making pale skin more desirable, seeing that I have a naturally light skin tone.
Since the premier of the movie Twilight in 2008, beauty insiders have been crediting Twilight movie stars Kristen Stewart (pictured above), who plays Bella Swan, and Robert Pattinson, who plays vampire Edward Cullen, for bringing fair skin back in-style. Both stars show off their pale skin when in character and off the set. I wouldn’t go so far as to say these movie stars are the reason naturally pale skin tones seem to be more acceptable, but their stunning natural beauty and fair skin has definitely caught attention.
As more people take the stance that pale skin is “in” and tanning is “out”, my excitement grows for many reasons. Tanning is the skin’s natural defense against further damage from UV radiation. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, darker skin does offer more protection than light skin against sunburn and skin cancer. However, that applies only to people with naturally darker skin. The fact is that tans and sunburns attack the skin’s DNA, in turn producing genetic defects that may lead to skin cancer. Also, repeat unprotected UV exposure can cause premature skin aging associated with sun damage. Despite these warnings, much of the U.S. population continues to tan.
In a study published in the journal Archives of Dermatology, almost 36 percent of women and 12.2 percent of the men aged 18-24 surveyed tanned indoors. If skin cancer and wrinkles aren’t enough to keep teens and young adults away from the bronzing beds, why not use pop culture figures like the young Twilight actor and actress as role models to keep promoting fair skin tones as ideal. After all, Coco Chanel, an influential French fashion designer of the 20th century and cultural icon was credited for starting the tanning trend. It would only make sense to use current cultural icons to help change public perceptions of pale skin as being perceived as sickly, to fair skin being sexy and healthy! Of course, this is only my two-cents.
‘Leave a reply’ below, or comment on the Coolibar Facebook page and let me know if you’re all for the pale skin trend.
Take your favorite Coolibar pieces from summer to fall. Scroll through our album of hot looks for fall days that are so fabulous, they’ll blend flawlessly into your wardrobe. You may even see something new in our UPF 50+ line that you’re missing.
Coolibar designers have taken the time to pair customer favorites with hot trends for fall that you likely already have in your closet or jewelry box. Every collage below shows in detail how to create each unique look.
Style Idea 1: Coolibar Shirt Dress – Pair with a trendy fedora style hat, like the Coolibar Fairway Golf Hat. Add color with a multi-toned bracelet and a bright green necklace. Complete this ensemble with a pair of knee-high brown leather boots. Add some fun tights for a breezy fall stroll in the park.
Style Idea 2: Coolibar ZnO Sun Wrap – Layer over a tank, such as the Coolibar Basic Sun Shell, and wrap a belt around the undershirt to really flatter your mid-section. Intensify contrast with turquoise, gold jewelry or metallic sunglasses. Finally, lace-up some ankle wedges for look that commands attention from bystanders.
Style Idea 3: Coolibar ZnO Long Sleeve T-shirt – Add bold prints like a leopard scarf to give black a fierce look. Ruby red accessories and heels give your sharp assembly even more of an edge. At last, tuck your shirt into a skirt that falls just above your knees and sits at the waist, like the Coolibar Wrap Skirt. Just wait for the whistles of admiration to start once you walk out the door.
Style Idea 4: Coolibar Pin Tuck Blouse – Keep it simple and elegant with lustrous accents and pearls. Add even more shape to the waistline with a metallic skinny belt. Slip on your favorite pair of skinny pants, preferably a neutral tone; and to top it off, opt for a brimming hat, such as the Coolibar Montauk Sun Hat. Now you’re ready to hit the town in ultra feminine fashion.
Style Idea 5: Coolibar Essential Blouse – Light lilac and pink tops really shine when up against charcoal and grey compliments, such as grey business slacks. Take a piece of silver jewelry you’ve had put away forever and make it like new again while adding more polish to your look. This outfit is perfect for the office, but please feel free to take it out to lunch with a floppy hat, for instance, the Coolibar Packable Wide Brim Hat.
Lounging Lady 
Active Chic 
