when did tanning become popular

Tanning became popular primarily in the 1920s. Before that time, pale skin was preferred as a symbol of wealth and status because it indicated a life away from manual outdoor labor. The shift occurred after French fashion designer Coco Chanel accidentally got a tan while on vacation in the French Riviera in 1923. Her sun-kissed look quickly became a trend, associating tanned skin with health, leisure, and luxury. This change aligned with new cultural values around physical activity and leisure, and tanning started to be seen as fashionable and desirable rather than a sign of labor. The trend continued to grow through the 20th century with the introduction of tanning oils in the late 1920s, the rise of beach and surf culture in the mid-20th century, and the expansion of tanning salons from the 1980s onward.