That burkini!

Surely if Muslim women want burkinis they can buy online or in Muslim shops, M&S would be better employed producing clothes that I actually want to wear

Well, that's told M &S hasn't it?
I am gobsmacked at the attitude that any religious group should be told where they "may" or " may not" shop. On another thread there is much being made about anti-Semitism. How would you feel about substituting the word "Jewish" or "Asian" or even "black" for Muslim?

Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything so this strikes me as a ridiculous overreaction to a bit of canny marketing!

Well said Lilyflower. I can't help but feel that this is the thin edge of the wedge and it will only be a matter of time before ALL women,regardless of religious beliefs,will be expected to cover up or be thought of as an immoral hussy.

Is this creeping anti-muslimism? Please no.

Good Heavens Spangles. You have a vivid imagination. Have you been reading too much dystopian fiction?

Well, we shall see what we shall see.

I am way beyond M&S and know full well that business is business and if you can make money then that is what you do. As I said a good business person will keep their eyes open for opportunities and make hay while the sun shines. Equally public opinion can also close doors therefore clearly that is also something which they will watch.

Anybody who is watching the unfolding of events around the world does not need a vivid imagination, it is all 'hidden' in clear sight.

As for there being different degrees of religiosity I had this graphically explained to me a long time ago.
"First of all 'they' will target the Saturday people, then they will target the Sunday people, then they will go for the unbelievers before going for those they see as liberal amongst 'their own'."
We are well down the road in this respect and it will be interesting to see if the man/woman in the street will acknowledge what is happening before politicians manage to spill the beans/acknowledge the truth.
At the moment the politicians are just running scared of 'frightening the horses' and this is understandable when people are keeping their eyes tightly shut.

PC will have to end soon!

"Time for tea" said Zebedee!

On a practical note, if the burkinis are for wear on the beach, in the sea, that is up to whoever wants to wear one.
However, I have been to some swimming pools where the wearing of a t shirt and those longer style shorts that men wear etc is banned as being 'unhygienic'. Will they ban the burkinis too?

If I was swimming in the North Sea I would prefer to wear a wetsuit! I think a burkini flapping around would make me feel colder.

www.marksandspencer.com/paisley-print-burkini/p/p22431892

Well, they are not very flattering if the model is 5' 9" and a size 8. It makes her look quite large, I dread to think what an average size 16 would look like

No wonder Nigella looked so awful in hers.

Are t-shirts and shorts less hygienic than fannies botties? Isn't that what the chlorine is for? Odd.

I would think the Burkinis are more for beach hols, tbh.

They ouldn't flap. More like lycra bike wear.

wouldn't

Oh, no. They do look loose.

I'm getting them on my adverts on the right now.

I would rather see the long trunks for men (I was going to type 'long men's trunks but that doesn't sound right ) than those awful speedos.

Likewise a proper swimsuit rather than a bikini unless the woman is very slim indeed.

getting them on my adverts on the right now.

Me too, should never have looked!

Just looked at that advert -My God its a sinister looking garment! If this is creeping Islamicisation then I really really don't want it!

I live in the melanoma capital of the world so they might catch on here.

The DGC wear those uv sunsuits for children, especially DGS because he lives in allegedly the claimant for that title too absent:
www.alumni.uq.edu.au/skin-cancer-capital

However, they are probably out in the sun more at playtime and sports events; they all wear a large floppy hat as part of the school uniform, long shorts and polo shirts. Presumably the teacher reminds them to put sunscreen on their exposed bits if they are out for long.
However, one small child who lives there was found to be suffering from rickets because his mother had never allowed any sun to touch him (clothes that covered him + sunscreen.)

absent Nigella said that is why she was wearing one on Bondi beach.

There is always a photographer around .....

If they have a good SPF I would wear one over my swimsuit while on the beach and take it off to swim. Can't stand sun cream especially mixed with sand. Nothing to do with religion just practicality and personal preference.

synonymous your post of 17.46 is nothing short of scaremongering hysteria

"First they came for the binge drinkers
But I don't binge drink
Then they came for the smokers
But I don't smoke
Then they came for the women who like to walk beside their partners
But DH gets bored in JL so he always dashes through as quickly as he can while I like to have a good look round
Then they came for the bikini wearers
But with my spare tyre? I don't think so

Maybe next they'll come for the biddies on granny chat forums
And then I'll be up sh1t creek"

Nah Absent you obviously have not tried swimming in your neck of woods. Sea's bloody freezing. You need a full wetsuit. plus the gloves and bootees. Or just come back as a seal.

I dislike suncream too.
Perhaps I'll buy one to wear when I go to Australia.

Are they impregnated with insect repellent too?

M&S could be on to a winner!