SPF50 clothing that's also stylish? It exists, and we found it here.

Images: Idlebird.com.au 

For years I’ve been saying that someone needs to design a line stylish sun-safe rashies for adults. And now that they have I’m starting to regret that I never did it myself.

Enter: Idlebird. The Aussie label you need to know about this summer.

The clothing brand offers an excellent alternative to roasting yourself on the beach. Whether you’re watching the kids build sandcastles or tackling waves at nippers, the dresses are the perfect for those of us who want a bit more coverage.

I’ve been wearing mine non-stop this summer. I’m six months pregnant and rather than slapping on half a bottle of sunscreen all over my belly, I slip my Spin Around Tunic over my cossies and don’t give it another thought.

33 problems only girls understand.

I spoke to the founder Kara Chiconi about how the idea of creating a line of UV clothing came about (and tried not to die of jealously...).

"Last summer I was searching for some type of garment that I could wear all day, regardless of what I was doing. If I’m at home or on holidays that could mean spending time at the beach or pool, jumping in the car and going to the shops, or stopping for lunch at a cafe, or the park with the kids etc. I found that I was making three outfit changes a day," Chiconi said.

"The biggest challenge was finding something that would allow me to be in the outdoors protected from the sun and still look fashionable. I just couldn’t find anything so I decided to make my own.

The bracelet that tells you when to apply more sunscreen.

"While there are more options available these days for fashionable rash shirts, they don't really give you the option to step off the beach and not look like you are wearing your swimsuit."

The size ranges includes small, medium and large with plans to expand to XL, and more free form designs, next season that will appeal to the plus-size market.

"The garments are purposefully designed to suit most body shapes and be simple enough that they appeal to a wide age range. The basic colours mean that you can add your own accessories to personalise the style."

"At the end of the day, we should all be looking out for our skin. The US Skin Cancer Foundation states “Sun Protective clothing is your first line of defence against the sun’s harmful UV rays.” Applying sunscreen has become a standard part of most women's beauty regime, so extending this care to our clothing is really just a natural progression."

The product is all designed, manufactured and managed out of Brisbane. The lightweight, flowing SPF50+ fabric is sourced out of Italy. The focus of the label is on creating quality garments that will last beyond one season. Chiconi is currently working on a late summer 2015 collection, which will extend the range to include pants and shorts, and a few more versatile tunics and shirts.

When I asked Chiconi about the high-end price of the garments, she said: "The feedback I've had is that when you put it in perspective about what you would spend on beauty products and treatments to reverse sun damage, it saves a lot of money in the long run!"

Well, I couldn't argue with that.

Check out www.idlebird.com.au for the full range, or at Hard To Find here.