This Decathlon swimsuit proves that you can protect your skin this summer and much more.
It’s hard to escape: from year to year, the sun hits harder, earlier in the season, and for longer. As a result, our relationship with UV rays changes a little more each summer. Not so long ago, protective t-shirts and other full wetsuits were the virtual monopoly of experienced surfers or children who were smeared with cream between two sandcastles. Today, awareness affects everyone, whether we are trying to preserve our youthful capital, to protect a still fresh tattoo from the sun’s attacks, or simply to spare ourselves the chore of sunburn on the back.
The problem is that between protection and appearance, we had to choose for a long time. Anyone who has ever tried to find effective textile protection knows how big the aesthetic challenge is, as the offer is often reduced to purely technical pieces, a bit austere and devoid of the slightest sense of style. This is precisely where the nice surprise of the season comes into play: we have spotted a model that stands out from the crowd and shakes up the codes, by combining a real fashion proposition and serious technicality.
And in this register, this model from Decathlon ticks a lot of boxes: the Dani one-piece long-sleeved surf swimsuit, beige, which reinvents the summer silhouette with a particularly successful leopard-style animal print. This flattering model, available from 36 to 46 and priced at a reasonable 35 euros, proves that you can arm yourself against UV rays while remaining stylish on the sand, and the brand also offers it in other designs for those who prefer to vary the pleasures. Beyond its very trendy print, it displays a UPF 50+ protection index, the highest available, which blocks almost all rays. Its enveloping long-sleeved cut also offers real comfort for moving freely in the waves or on a paddle, while shaping the silhouette without oppressing it. Two reservations in all honesty: its technical thickness can quickly keep you warm if you remain static in the middle of a dodger without swimming, and in a swimming pool, chlorine is not the best friend of this type of textile, which then requires a little more vigilance.
And it is precisely the maintenance that makes the difference over time. To preserve the elasticity of the protective fibers and the shine of the print, a few reflexes are enough: a meticulous rinse with clean water after each swim to remove the salt, a gentle wash, then drying flat and in the shade, away from the dryer. A little more attention than a classic swimsuit, certainly, but that’s the price of an ally who will follow you for several summers. And ultimately, that’s perhaps the true luxury of the beach: enjoying the sun without having to choose between your skin and your style.
