European Beach Attire - All or Nothing??

I would never go topless in the UK!! I have however done it in Greece, but then I was part of the masses.  I say if you got it, flaunt it, but there is nothing worse than seeing two great big bazookas dissapearing into armpits...

Also if you do decide to do it...be careful of "half moons" from your tan...and put block on your nips! you don't want them bad boys singed in the sun..it hurts like hell...trust me 

I just realized I can't say I wouldn't get naked on a beach because of this:

http://www.davidbergman.net/blog/2008/02/05/barenaked-at-sea-once-again/

I'm totally in that photo

But as you can see, we had all sorts of body types taking part in it...including people who NEVER would have thought they'd be naked with 1,000 other people. So maybe I would go topless after all.

I went to the beach in France when I was a teenager and there were lots of topless women.  I kept my bikini on.  Nobody stared at me.

These days I tend to wear a cover-up or t-shirt over my swimsuit except when I'm actually in the water, because my skin is sun-damaged and doesn't need any more exposure.

I agree that you should wear whatever you want.

I just realized I can't say I wouldn't get naked on a beach because of this:

http://www.davidbergman.net/blog/2008/02/05/barenaked-at-sea-once-again/

I'm totally in that photo

But as you can see, we had all sorts of body types taking part in it...including people who NEVER would have thought they'd be naked with 1,000 other people. So maybe I would go topless after all.

Oh My Word!!!!! Fair play to you!    I wouldn't know where to look with all those mens dangly bits and ladies woos everywhere!    cripes!

Oh My Word!!!!! Fair play to you!    I wouldn't know where to look with all those mens dangly bits and ladies woos everywhere!    cripes!

Hehe everyone really respected each other and there was no major oogling. It was literally show up on the lido deck in your robe, do a countdown, drop the robe, do a countdown naked to take the photo and then carefully reaach for your robe without looking or touching anyone else.

I say it depends on the beach - what I would do.  But ultimately, Jewlz, you should do whatever makes you feel comfortable - what everyone else thinks is irrelevant.  Also, as you get older, you realise that while other people (strangers) might give you a weird look from time to time for something you've said, done, looked, etc - they honestly don't really care. 

Now, as those of you who know me (in person) know, I'm a big gal & fairly well endowed, IYKWIM.  I would never be seen in a bikini - ha ha ha!  However, I always wanted to try topless on the beach.  I didn't have the nerve to do it at appropriate beaches in the US.  But when we went to a beach in Spain - an off the beaten track beach at which mostly continental Europeans holiday (Italians, Spanish, etc) and not Brits so much, a number of women there were topless, but not all were.  So I peeled my one-piece down while I was sunbathing with DH on the towel - I think he really dug it, but nobody else cared.  I didn't get up and walk around like that however - well cause it's a one piece (weird) and they're kinda dangly & I just didn't have the confidence to do it.  But while it felt strange, I was glad I did - just to say - yeah, I did that!    (I'd probably do it again.  )

Now, as those of you who know me (in person) know, I'm a big gal & fairly well endowed, IYKWIM.  I would never be seen in a bikini - ha ha ha!  However, I always wanted to try topless on the beach.  I didn't have the nerve to do it at appropriate beaches in the US.  But when we went to a beach in Spain - an off the beaten track beach at which mostly continental Europeans holiday (Italians, Spanish, etc) and not Brits so much, a number of women there were topless, but not all were.  So I peeled my one-piece down while I was sunbathing with DH on the towel - I think he really dug it, but nobody else cared.  I didn't get up and walk around like that however - well cause it's a one piece (weird) and they're kinda dangly & I just didn't have the confidence to do it.  But while it felt strange, I was glad I did - just to say - yeah, I did that!    (I'd probably do it again.  )

Awww.... you are so cute, Mrs. R!!!    I think I might feel like you do when the time comes. I might be frisky for just a short while, if it doesn't seem out of place, but I guess I will just have to see how it goes when the time comes. I think I might go for a bikini, but just get a nice cover-up thing for when walking around. I doubt anyone will be checking me out (besides DH, who would definitely get a kick out of me pulling my top off, since he knows that would be very daring for me), so it shouldn't really matter. But like Tin, I'm pretty paranoid of getting too much sun - I am very fair skinned and have had some severe burns in the past, but I guess as long as I use some good sunblock, I might be fine. I'm not really a sun-worshipper or lay on the beach kind of girl (and, sadly, I barely know how to swim), but I am really excited to (hopefully) experience some Greek culture (and food!), though I am pretty sure it will be mostly Brits soaking up the sun.  Hopefully I will have a great time! DH is very much a beach holiday kind of guy, while I am mostly a citybreak kind of girl. So maybe next year we can do something different. We'll see what happens!

The ability to go topless (or further), I think, has everything to do with confidence and zero to do with size.

I have never worn anything but a one piece, even on a nudist beach, but would consider a tankini. I recently bought a bikini because it has stripes, but will likely never wear it, as I just don't feel good about bearing all except to those closest to me.

I think do what you feel comfortable with and stuff anyone else on the beach!

...besides DH, who would definitely get a kick out of me pulling my top off, since he knows that would be very daring for me... I'm pretty paranoid of getting too much sun - I am very fair skinned and have had some severe burns in the past, but I guess as long as I use some good sunblock, I might be fine.

I'm sure your DH will volunteer to help you spread that sunblock on - as did mine! 

The ability to go topless (or further), I think, has everything to do with confidence and zero to do with size.

Agreed.    Part of the kick for me, I'll admit is purely self-indulgent.  I like doing things that people say 'fat people' don't do, can't do, or shouldn't do, etc etc etc. 

Like I might have a jelly belly, but if I have a great pair of gams or tetas más bonitas - why shouldn't I reveal them if that's what DH & I want?  Other things in that category (what people say 'fat people' don't do, can't do, or shouldn't do) include that I have a healthy diet, and that I have walked more than 80 miles in 7-8 days. 

Defying stereotypes is just so darn much fun! 

Oh also I would say that IMO part of the unspoken etiquette of a topless beach is that you don't go around obviously ogling everybody else.  Now I'm not saying that's universally true or that it doesn't happen - but that that's kind of seen as being rude, IMO.  So like - even though you're clearly in a public place, the act of going topless is still to an extent a private act (your business only).  I know that's a contradiction, but it's just how I see it.  It's the 'we're civilised Europeans and we're above the baser instincts' thing - which we all know is crap, but ha ha ha ha! 

I recently bought a bikini because it has stripes, but will likely never wear it...

Oy!    J, you are the fittest person that I know, for goodness sake!  If you shouldn't be out strutting your stuff in a bikini, then nobody should! 

Oy!    J, you are the fittest person that I know, for goodness sake!  If you shouldn't be out strutting your stuff in a bikini, then nobody should! 

Yeah, but I am also the most lazy person! I hate shaving, etc. etc.  I cannot subject people to my lazy hairiness!

But the stripes are cool!

Defying stereotypes is just so darn much fun! 

This is what I need to remember!

Like I might have a jelly belly, but if I have a great pair of gams or tetas más bonitas - why shouldn't I reveal them if that's what DH & I want?  Other things in that category (what people say 'fat people' don't do, can't do, or shouldn't do) include that I have a healthy diet, and that I have walked more than 80 miles in 7-8 days. 

HAh! I just left Tim and IM that says "honey, I want to go on holiday somewhere that has a nude beach" and his response was    followed by "I'll help with the sun creame!"

HAh! I just left Tim and IM that says "honey, I want to go on holiday somewhere that has a nude beach" and his response was    followed by "I'll help with the sun creame!"

You could go to Vancouver - I have a friend that hangs out at the nude beach (Wreck Beach: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreck_Beach) all summer, every summer. I do worry he may get skin cancer one day!

Besides clothes, many, um, other things are optional there.....

You could go to Vancouver - I have a friend that hangs out at the nude beach (Wreck Beach: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreck_Beach) all summer, every summer. I do worry he may get skin cancer one day!

Besides clothes, many, um, other things are optional there.....

I've never been but I think I <3 Vansterdam!