Yesterday Marc created a blog about Choosing Swimsuits for When Nudity Isn't an Option https://www.anaturistworld.com/member-blog/choosing-swimsuits-for-when-nudity-isn-t-an-option

The basic idea being that if you cannot be a naturist opt for something as close to naturism as possible. Semi see through tiny mesh thongs being the best option with other choices of stepping down in order to little swimming briefs. Larger trunks, swimming shorts, knee length shorts and other such monsters should not even get a look in. 

I am reminded of a couple of other Forum topics that may be worth considering with slightly different angles: Is naturism less exhibitionist than wearing clothes? https://anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/153/is-naturism-less-exhibitionist-than-wearing-clothes that looks at the idea that by wearing skimpy clothing we are heightening an interest in our bodies and our censored parts and https://anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/266/why-can-sexual-behaviour-seem-more-acceptable-than-naturism Why can sexual behaviour seem more acceptable than naturism? That looks at the ironic situation that a person can wear revealing clothing in life and on social media, and behave in a sexual and flirty way and this is now seen as a normal part of life and something all children are subjected too, unless they are not given access to mobiles or the internet. Yet simple, natural, innocent naturism naturism is seen as shocking, something to fear and something to hide the children from.

Do revisit these topics and add your thoughts to them. 

Back to this topic. Do you opt for the minimal possible simply because you cannot go naked? Do you mind rocking the boat, maybe upsetting a few folk, or having people with children imagine your minimal costume offends their offspring? Or do you figure that there is a place for naturism and when you are not there then attempting to almost be naked is not worth while? 

Maybe you don't find tight skimpy outfits comfortable any way? 

I don't remember the last time I wore a bra, and I am sure there are times when people may think you can see the shape of her breasts or make out her nipples in that top, but can anyone really be offended? Maybe, but just how far do we have to go in that concern? Maybe some people don't want to see my knees or feet but I am not going to stop wearing shorts, skirts or sandals in fear of that. 

But is there a point when skimpy means exhibitionist? Or is that always based on behaviour?

Is there a point when a swimsuit (or other item of clothing) goes from being acceptable to overly revealing? And if so how do you measure that? As Steve mentioned yesterday we have read about people being sent away from water parks due to their swimsuits being too small, and yet the photographs of them in their bikinis appear perfectly acceptable and certainly a lot more modest than some you see on beaches. Or was the problem that the people sent away were not deemed young or slim enough to be in anything that didn't cover up 30% of their bodies? 

Do share your thoughts, and it doesn't need to be just about swimwear. How about general going about town, hiking or holidays? If you cannot be naked do you go as naked as you can? and Does that at times mean wearing clothes that others may be feel are too revealing?

How do you decide what works and what doesn't? Where do you draw the line and when does wearing less step out from the comfort zone and into the world of exhibitionism? 

Are there some beaches or pools that you feel skimpy thongs can be acceptable on and others where they are not? 

And are things changing? Is the world generally less caring about skimpy outfits than a few years back? Or do the people that wear them not really care what others think? 

Is the rise of “as naked as possible” a reflection of the world being more open to sexual sharing and behaviour, but less welcoming of actual naturism? 

I don't think there is a black and white - one fits all - answer to this topic, and I would love to read your views... 

Hey Anna,

Allow me to be a little provocative, on purpose. Not to shock, not to strut, but to force the question: why is this pouch of fabric the problem, but a dripping-wet t-shirt clinging to every curve is fine?

I default to the thong (or skinny-side brief when rules demand a whisper more). Why?

• It’s the honest compromise: covers the legal inch, exposes the rest to sun, wind, water—closest thing to naked without the ticket.
• It flips the script: the eye expects board-short tents and bikini strings; a man in a thong short-circuits the “genitals = scandal” wiring. One glance, brain registers “covered,” moves on, may giggle or looks away. Repeat enough times, nudity stops being the elephant.
• It calls the bluff: if a 50-year-old dad in a thong offends more than a 20-year-old influencer in dental-floss, the issue isn’t exposure—it’s ageism, fatphobia, or plain hypocrisy.

Behavior seals it. I wear the thong, read my book, toss a frisbee, chat weather with strangers. No flexing, no selfies, no oil-slick poses. The suit screams; my actions whisper “nothing to see here.” That’s the naturist hack.

Town errands? Same rule—shorts as short as the shop allows, no underwear lines. Hiking? Cover up in the backpack, naked on the trail until voices echo. Pool? Skinny brief if the sign says “proper swimwear,” thong if it’s vague. Every choice is a quiet vote: bodies are neutral, fabric is the variable.

The world’s shifting—European pools mandate briefs, Aussie beaches shrug at strings. We don’t need permission; we need persistence. Wear the minimum, act like it’s laundry, and watch “revealing” become “normal.”

I believe exhibitionism is in the behavior, not in the suit. Same with nudity and nudism in a sense, no?

Yes, exhibitionism does stem from behaviour.

It also reminds me of a Simpsons comic I'd read years ago, in which Homer wears a thong backwards- much to the shock and discomfort of various beachgoers. He thinks there's nothing with wearing it while Marge is left embarrassed by the whole situation and trying (but failing) to convince him the thong goes in the back. Granted, the humour is from Homer's stupidity rather than his body size.

On a “Naked Day” I will pull on a small pair of briefs to go downstairs into the kitchen. As soon as I’m back upstairs, the briefs come off. If anyone comes into my office, they know I’ll be nude.

But on a non-nude day, particularly if I’m going out, I’ll wear something quite smart, as is my preference. It’s a bit like Steve said yesterday on the subject.

The reason for wearing something quite skimpy is quite simple; I want the people who I live with to get very used to seeing me almost nude. That really comes down to my daughter and some visitors as my wife is cool with it. Quite a few of our friends would not have any issues about me being nude in front of them. But I still pop the briefs on until I’m sure they are okay with it.

So I guess I do wear the minimum because I cannot always go naked.

I was on a beach in Eastbourne earlier this year. It is a seaside town noted for being very conservative. But I noticed several women of all ages were wearing G-string bikinis. That is about as minimal as you can get. I certainly wasn’t bothered by it and it didn’t appear that anyone else was bothered either. I think people are caring less about what others think. I must say that I believe the more people there are who wears the minimum amount, can only be a good thing. If we cannot normalise nudity in one go, perhaps this is a reasonable step to take to get people used to seeing more of the naked body?

Thanks everyone, really interesting, I look forward to more thoughts. I think it is an interesting subject, and I do like the idea that people are getting used to wearing less, although it doesn't seem to be translating to many of the younger generation. I was chatting with my son's today and my eldest said that a lot of young men/teens now have difficulty being topless, and feel it is quite embarrassing. Weird things are happening with the young!

I don't really think your thoughts are provocative Marc, and they make a lot of sense. I have tried to introduce the topic looking at various points of view, and look forward to seeing what angles people take.

Interestingly I had never really seen any women wearing thong bikinis until we went to Spain where it was very common for old and young alike, many people on beaches and many people at our local outdoor pool. 

I do find the whole "so small they hardly exist" rather bemusing, because I cannot help but wonder why the human race can't just embrace nudity without insisting on postage stamp pieces of material to make the "almost nudity" acceptable. Is real nudity really any more concerning? After all these outfits leave little the imagination, and we all know what lies beneath the little pieces of thin cloth. It really has no logic in my eyes.