The Quest for Porcelain White Skin {Luxist}

Jul 31st 2009 12:01AM I thought this had a simple historical explanation in the East. If you were poor, you worked in the fields, and got tan. Therefore, paler you are, richer you are. Being pale was a status symbol.

Probably the same explanation could hold for the Greeks. I'm richer than you, I can afford to stay inside all day.

Interesting question is how did this get reversed in the US? Was it an industrial society affect -> everyone works inside. I'm tan, meaning I'm rich enough to spend time just lying around sunning myself, or playing on the golf course?

I'm in CT. Curious if being tan is a status symbol in the South.