Alright, I was watching that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine's friend's SuEllen (aka the "braless wonder" who's the heiress to the O'Henry candybar fortune) goes around town in a bra without a top. This got me to thinkin' about the bikini top. Women wear that publicly, sometimes without any covering and yet that is somehow socially acceptable. Both are just as revealing.

So what's the difference? I know one's considered a bathing suit and one's considered an undergarment, but they're both just as revealing. What difference would it make if a woman decided to wear a bra in public instead of a bikini top? I know this also calls into question modesty, but if one form of baring one's body is acceptable, shouldn't the other be as well?

Thoughts?

[Edited 6/6/10 12:22pm]

SherryJackson said:

Alright, I was watching that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine's friend's SuEllen (aka the "braless wonder" who's the heiress to the O'Henry candybar fortune) goes around town in a bra without a top. This got me to thinkin' about the bikini top. Women wear that publicly, sometimes without any covering and yet that is somehow socially acceptable. Both are just as revealing.

So what's the difference? I know one's considered a bathing suit and one's considered an undergarment, but they're both just as revealing. What difference would it make if a woman decided to wear a bra in public instead of a bikini top? I know this also calls into question modesty, but if one form of baring one's body is acceptable, shouldn't the other be as well?

Thoughts?

[Edited 6/6/10 12:22pm]

I say go topless. Hey men can. It just seems fair.

kewlschool said:

SherryJackson said:

Alright, I was watching that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine's friend's SuEllen (aka the "braless wonder" who's the heiress to the O'Henry candybar fortune) goes around town in a bra without a top. This got me to thinkin' about the bikini top. Women wear that publicly, sometimes without any covering and yet that is somehow socially acceptable. Both are just as revealing.

So what's the difference? I know one's considered a bathing suit and one's considered an undergarment, but they're both just as revealing. What difference would it make if a woman decided to wear a bra in public instead of a bikini top? I know this also calls into question modesty, but if one form of baring one's body is acceptable, shouldn't the other be as well?

Thoughts?

[Edited 6/6/10 12:22pm]

I say go topless. Hey men can. It just seems fair.

There is no difference, especially considering a lot of bikini tops have the same support features bras sport.

It's all in how we think about it.

Just because it's underwear. Underwear is kind of personal.

For me it would be like a guy walking around poolside or on the beach with his underpants on instead of swimshorts.

The bikini top is made for swimming. Women can't swim in full blouses because the water weighs the fabric down too much, making swimming a chore. Less material is needed to swim. The swim suit material is also made to get wet where nipple color doesn't show through for those of us that have darker nipples and olive skin.

On my beach many women wear bikinis but there actually is a ban on bikinis on my beach because it causes driving hazards.

So, IMHO a bikini worn off the beach is just as appropriate as a dress suit worn for swimming.

[Edited 6/6/10 17:34pm]

I think it's all about context. If a woman is wearing a bikini top at a beach or a swimming pool, it's fine because that is acceptable attire there. If they wore that bikini top anywhere else it would be just as inappropriate as wearing just a bra anywhere else.

Plus, like paintedlady said, (in my shopping/observing experience) all swim suits are made so that the nipple/areola doesn't show, but not all bras are made that way, especially if they get wet. So in some situations a bikini top is less revealing.

Now I don't know any, or about any, people who would say that a bikini top is ok to wear in any other place besides a beach or pool, simply because it's a bikini top and not a bra. I would find that strange.

kewlschool said:

SherryJackson said:

Alright, I was watching that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine's friend's SuEllen (aka the "braless wonder" who's the heiress to the O'Henry candybar fortune) goes around town in a bra without a top. This got me to thinkin' about the bikini top. Women wear that publicly, sometimes without any covering and yet that is somehow socially acceptable. Both are just as revealing.

So what's the difference? I know one's considered a bathing suit and one's considered an undergarment, but they're both just as revealing. What difference would it make if a woman decided to wear a bra in public instead of a bikini top? I know this also calls into question modesty, but if one form of baring one's body is acceptable, shouldn't the other be as well?

Thoughts?

[Edited 6/6/10 12:22pm]

I say go topless. Hey men can. It just seems fair.

I won't understand unless i see pics!

funkycat00 said:

I won't understand unless i see pics!

*sigh*...why do I have this feeling this is going to end up as a porn thread?

PurpleRighteous1 said:

I think it's all about context. If a woman is wearing a bikini top at a beach or a swimming pool, it's fine because that is acceptable attire there. If they wore that bikini top anywhere else it would be just as inappropriate as wearing just a bra anywhere else.

Plus, like paintedlady said, (in my shopping/observing experience) all swim suits are made so that the nipple/areola doesn't show, but not all bras are made that way, especially if they get wet. So in some situations a bikini top is less revealing.

Now I don't know any, or about any, people who would say that a bikini top is ok to wear in any other place besides a beach or pool, simply because it's a bikini top and not a bra. I would find that strange.

It's unacceptable when women wear swimming suits to town, restaurants, stores etc., in that context it's just like wearing underwear only.

SherryJackson said:

SherryJackson said:

if one form of baring one's body is acceptable, shouldn't the other be as well?

Thoughts?

You're right; the distinction is beyond ridiculous. Like many, many things in our society.

PurpleRighteous1 said:

I think it's all about context. If a woman is wearing a bikini top at a beach or a swimming pool, it's fine because that is acceptable attire there. If they wore that bikini top anywhere else it would be just as inappropriate as wearing just a bra anywhere else.

Plus, like paintedlady said, (in my shopping/observing experience) all swim suits are made so that the nipple/areola doesn't show, but not all bras are made that way, especially if they get wet. So in some situations a bikini top is less revealing.

Now I don't know any, or about any, people who would say that a bikini top is ok to wear in any other place besides a beach or pool, simply because it's a bikini top and not a bra. I would find that strange.

exactly

but I will add, since there is really no situation where a bra is an acceptable top, that is one slight disctinction. So maybe you can wear a bikini top to, say, an outdoor music festival or other casual hot outdoor event, but a bra in those situations would look like you're stripping

I do both. For instance, if I'm wearing a sundress with alot of noticable breast... outage, I'll wear a bikini top. If I'm wearing a severly low cut top, I'll find a bar that matches (either colour-wise, or something contrasting, like animal prints), and I'll wear it as part of the shirt.

Let's face it. I love boobs. You love boobs. We all love boobs. Let's show 'em to the WORLD.

Acrylic said:

Let's face it. I love boobs. You love boobs. We all love boobs. Let's show 'em to the WORLD.

Acrylic for President!

And your first order of business...finding out why my earlier comment doesn't appear in the post...

florescent said:

Just because it's underwear. Underwear is kind of personal.

For me it would be like a guy walking around poolside or on the beach with his underpants on instead of swimshorts.

But it's the same thing. It covers the same area. The only real difference is the fabric it's made out of.