A stupid question about the beach and going topless

[tomlitilia]

For the sake of research for a story I'm working on, I have an admittedly puerile question. And I haven't got a massive sample size for my observation, so the premise may be wrong. But here goes...I've noticed that most women who sunbathe topless at the beach still put their top back on if they go for a swim. Is that because of modesty (walking around puts a woman more on display than lying back) or comfort (the top gives some support), or something entirely different?

 

[KeithD]

I think the smart ones are making sure no one steals their top while their swimming.

 

[Areala-chan]

I think the smart ones are making sure no one steals their top while their swimming.

Aaaaaand we have the winner!

 

[LupusDei]

Yup, practicality could be just as important, still it seems possible that the predominant logic is control of the exposure. Although I have not noticed such phenomena (what is not saying it doesn't exist).

Unless we talk about carefully controlled manipulations with the bra straps and other forms of brief or partial removal of the top strictly while lying down and/or in (partial) cover. In that case it is obviously the modesty thing, but I wouldn't count that as topless at all, since the top is still present at all times, if even at arms length.

A somewhat linked style could be the removal of the swimsuit underwater. Where I'm from it's a thing, people would sometimes swim with swimsuits in hand when they think they could get away with that unnoticed.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Depends on the beach, depends on the confidence of the woman. Here in Oz most beaches have a (informally) defined family area, and women will pop the top on through sensitivity to others. Further down on the same beach, away from the kiddies and tourists, they'll often wander into the surf without the top. But we have long beaches.

Nudist beaches work the other way around, of course. They are all sign-posted, more to protect the unwary from wandering onto the sand and being confronted by some bald bloke's package...

 

[ttvttp]

Or if it's set in Seattle you can be naked anywhere.

 

[Hypoxia]

Or if it's set in Seattle you can be naked anywhere.

Especially in the rain and snow. Nude surfing in Puget Sound, FTW!

 

[ttvttp]

Especially in the rain and snow. Nude surfing in Puget Sound, FTW!

Better than naked and afraid where they dropped them in Alaska.

 

[Hypoxia]

Better than naked and afraid where they dropped them in Alaska.

I knew a Canadian special forces fella. In training, the final exam involved being dropped naked (but for a knife) in the wintry Rockies. Survivors graduated. But that really doesn't relate to nude beaches. I hope.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Here's what I've witnessed: while sunbathing, topless can be common in some countries, even with kids around. While swimming with mixed groups of adults and non-adults, the sunbather matches the people already in the water. If they're wearing tops, she wears a top. If they are topless, she'll typically go topless. Never really paid attention to it.

Secondary thought, while sunbathing, it's more "private." You're lying down. If someone wants to gawk, they have to stand up and walk past you. Otherwise, you're just lying there. (Laying there? Shit, I never get that right!) Walking around topless puts you more on display and seems typically reserved for more of a party beach.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I've been at many beaches in the south of France and in Caribbean islands frequented by Europeans, and my experience has been that women who sunbathe topless swim topless as well.

I suspect that for North Americans it could be that topless is okay for lying still in the sun, but a no-no while up and about. I'm reminded of the old French boite de nuit law that allowed nudity in tableaux, but not in the dances.

 

[LupusDei]

I'm reminded of the old French boite de nuit law that allowed nudity in tableaux, but not in the dances.

Interesting. For us here (Baltic pagans, but may be applicable to wider region including Scandinavia and Russia) it's normal to be nude in water, and acceptable for recreation, but one should be properly dressed to not insult Work or Food (and God by proxy).

 

[redzinger]

Oh, having flashbacks to when I repped in Menorca.

There was a nude/gay sunbathing rocky area just down from one of the hotels I covered in Binibeca. I used to warn my guests about it, and hope they would stay away as I used to go there on my days off. To this day, I have never been so close to as many cocks and balls.

There wasn't a beach, just paths down through a rocky area to the sea, with swimming pool steps into the water. Some areas of the rocks were flat enough to lie across, so that's what everyone did. Naked. Close.

I used to snorkel there too, naked. However, some local creeps would hang around and try to get an eyeful - one guy followed me around for ages, which was horrible.

Worst time was coming out of the water, luckily with bottoms on that day, and coming face-first with a whole family of guests who hadn't listened to my warning. Very awkward.

There was also that time when a group of us decided, after a night of drinking, that we needed a dip to cool off. As the sea was too rough that night, we sneaked into the nearest pool...only to have the lights pop on and have to jump out and find our clothes and run away naked, with all the guests from the villas watching.


To answer the OP question though: as mentioned, if you're swimming topless, your boobs can sway around a fair bit, so a top may give more support. Front, they can hang down a lot. The further out you go, the more visible to onlookers you can be. Some people sunbathe topless but don't like to walk around without one on. It's personal. (In South Africa, it was uncomfortable to do either as so many would stare.)

It is a rather nice feeling to be naked though.

 

[Jada59]

Or if it's set in Seattle you can be naked anywhere.

Since when?

 

[Jada59]

Could be illegal. Could be so as not to offend. I no longer sunbathe. When I did, I took my top off while lying on my front so I wouldn't get tan lines on my back. Once I was in my back yard. Turned over with top off. Neighbor yelled at me. Said her husband was watching.

 

[ttvttp]

There are websites about how as long as your nudity is not seen as sexual it is perfectly legal to be naked in public otherwise all of the naked events held here would not be possible.

 

[JamesMiehoff]

Actually never really thought about it. I have been on plenty of topless beaches and if I had to put a label on things, the older ones typically put the top on and the younger ones didn't when running into the water.

I am going to have to say that it probably is more of a self image thing. If you are young and you know they look good you are more likely to flaunt them. For older ladies, they probably don't look too bad when laying on a lounge chair but may not be as perky when walking about.

I am a big fan of all kinds and shapes so ladies flaunt them if you got them and if you are a mastectomy survivor God Bless You! You are beautiful in my eyes too.


James

 

[FullBliss]

There are websites about how as long as your nudity is not seen as sexual it is perfectly legal to be naked in public otherwise all of the naked events held here would not be possible.

That is true! My brother owns what’s referred to as the “naked boat” on Lake Union in Seattle. We have no issues with the police. Nudity is fine (and fun), just no being lewd or suggestive about it.

 

[TANSTAAFL58]

Here in Ontario, Canada there was a famous court case twenty-five years ago that went to the Ontario Superior court. the decision was that women in Ontario had the right to go topless.

Few do. Mostly on beaches.

 

[rutger5]

Here in Ontario, Canada there was a famous court case twenty-five years ago that went to the Ontario Superior court. the decision was that women in Ontario had the right to go topless.

Few do. Mostly on beaches.

That is the law in New York state. Anywhere a man can go topless so can a woman. I think one day a year some women make a point of doing so, just to reinforce that freedom but it doesn't often attract hordes of proud and buxom women, more likely political activists.

 

[jehoram]

I am going to have to say that it probably is more of a self image thing. If you are young and you know they look good you are more likely to flaunt them. For older ladies, they probably don't look too bad when laying on a lounge chair but may not be as perky when walking about.

You may be right about that. A lot of older women find that they need a bra to give their busts the sort of idealized shape they had when they were younger. When the saggy tits are out there for all to see, it takes a very self-confident woman to let 'em show.

I am a big fan of all kinds and shapes so ladies flaunt them if you got them and if you are a mastectomy survivor God Bless You! You are beautiful in my eyes too.

Hear, hear!

 

[Charmolypi]

They are withdrawing their consent to have others view their breasts during that activity. Maybe they don’t want to be viewed jiggling, bending and moving. I’d probably have the same instinct to put my top back l in at the beach. Breasts are soft tissue. Most people are used to seeing them static and bra’ed down. They may get weird and critical about natural, unedited tits.

 

[SolarRay]

That is the law in New York state. Anywhere a man can go topless so can a woman. I think one day a year some women make a point of doing so, just to reinforce that freedom but it doesn't often attract hordes of proud and buxom women, more likely political activists.

Yes, during the warm months you can definitely see young women casually exercising their rights, mostly in the parks. But the law becomes even more nuanced than that when you consider that in NYC specifically full nudity in public is perfectly legal so long as it is for “artistic purposes” so there are lots of instances of full nudity in Times Square (body painting events) or outdoor theatrical performances (like the all-female and all-male nude Shakespeare performances).

In America as a whole, the laws vary widely by state and city. Nudity is still not widely accepted but that doesn’t mean you can’t find tons of nudist venues/campgrounds/clubs and the odd official nude beach (like Gunnison Beach here) or spas like Common Ground Wellness Center or Archimedes Banya.

 

[JRaven]

World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis

I've worked the event a time or two. I didn't ride, just worked a booth on the route handing out water to the riders.
Even then, I wore panties and a bustier that didn't cover my boobs. To be honest, I would be more comfortable on a beach than downtown of a major city.

https://wnbrstl.org/

Jenny

 

[Athalia]

I think the smart ones are making sure no one steals their top while their swimming.

That would be my reason. ;-D

But my reason certainly wouldn't be because I needed support. It might be to let people know I'm a woman instead of a flat-chested boy. I once referred to the training bra I got when I hit puberty as a "ceremonial sash." awarded for show rather than necessity. Strange rite of passage, but there you are.