The tan line is back. And this time it isn’t the aftermath of a too-long afternoon nap: It’s intentional. Once dismissed, then desired, later condemned, now in demand, the visible contrast in skin tone caused by sun exposure has come full circle, tantalizing across TikTok’s For You Page, Instagram dumps, beauty campaigns, and more.
Starting with Coco Chanel on the Riviera to Gen Z’s fascination with tattoo methods, tan lines have a rich cultural history shaped by class dynamics and evolving beauty standards throughout time. But before we talk about 2025, where did the trend begin?
During the early 20th century, the Industrial Revolution led to the concentration of working-class jobs in factories and warehouses. That limited exposure to sunlight resulted in pale skin as a by-product of labor. In reaction, spending time outside became a luxury. Suddenly, a tan was viewed as a sign of privilege—creating the cultural pivot point in the 1920s that brought tan lines into fashion. “Coco Chanel often gets credit, thanks to her famous Riviera sunburn,” says Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, a historian at Case Western Reserve University. “But the shift had already begun with changing working conditions, Hollywood’s move from New York to sunny California, and a growing appetite for aspirational outdoor lifestyles.”
The Wombat has Rule Five SundayMonday: Belated Bikini a day late, and no FMJRA at all, but who's counting?
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