Look Book Gets a Tan

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Kathryn Henry, Nurse
Tanning’s bad for you!
I know it’s a risk. I wear SPF 30 all the time. But come on, it’s summer!

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Beth Kolesar, Nurse
So you’re a gossip-magazine fan?
It’s my little addiction. My favorite page is “Who Wore It Best?” They always pick the people who are skinnier or more famous, but I still like to see the outfits.
Have you been tanning your entire life?
Yep. I’m from Texas, so there’s sun year-round there. And if you’re not in the sun, you’re fake-baking.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Benito Olenski, Soccer Player
Are you trying to tan?
Me? Ha. No.
Then why are you here?
Jay [here], Leroy [here], and I are all staying in the same hotel room, and it’s sweaty and hot and crowded in there.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Alice Isted, Paralegal
Nice bathing suit.
I got it in London. I thought it was cool-looking. Plus the top is quite structured, which gives me the support I need. If you know what I mean.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Connie Aramaki and Michelle Yang, Photographer and Graphic Designer
How can you stand the heat?
CONNIE: Michelle dragged me out here. I’m just supporting her bad habit.
MICHELLE: I’m visiting from Seattle. It’s so rainy there. I need sun.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Jay Choi, Student
What are you doing in the park?
I’m here from Holland with my friends Leroy and Benito. I went to some hat stores yesterday. You know, baseball hats? Now we’re playing a little soccer in the park.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Christina Bagby, Flight Attendant
Day off?
No, I have a flight to the U.K. in the afternoon, so I’m getting some sun before I go.
I’m scared of turbulence. Any coping tips?
Turbulence is nothing. It’s taking off and landing when there can actually be a problem.
Great, thanks.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Juan and Nadia Aguero, Restaurant Waiter and Hostess
Do you regularly sunbathe as a couple?
JUAN: We just got back from Miami, and we want to keep our tan.
NADIA: I’m wearing tanning oil, not sunblock. Everyone in New York looks so pasty. Yuck. But I think I might be getting heatstroke.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Faradja Beauzile, Fashion Sales
Are you drinking a lot of water?
Yeah, but strangely, I haven’t had to use the bathroom. I guess I’m dehydrated?

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Noah Solorzano, Law-School Graduate
What are you doing here?
I’m lying out before I go to class. I’m studying for the bar. I brought stuff to study, but I haven’t taken it out of the bag.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Christina Price, Product Development
Are you wearing sunscreen?
There’s this idea that people of color don’t have to be big on wearing sunscreen, and that’s not true. I’m wearing SPF 30 right now.
Ever socialize while you’re here?
I’m spoken for—don’t try to trap me. But there are always good-looking guys playing with their shirts off. There’s always eye candy there.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Leroy Konig, DHL Employee
Does your chin piercing get hot in the sun?
No, no, it doesn’t.
How long are you in New York?
We’re just here for a week. We went to the B.B. King club last night, but it was boring. We need to figure out where to have fun.

POSTSCRIPT: After overhearing one another chatting with “Look Book,” Benito, Connie, Michelle, Jay, and Leroy ended up going to a techno dance party on the Lower East Side together. “It was very fun,” says Connie. “The guys from Holland were still partying when we left.”

Look Book Gets a Tan