Is today's female clothing showing too much?

I was looking at a large collection of photos of people at the beach in the 1920s and 30s. Some of the swim attire was actually very sexy despite not showing anything.

We had a small cruising boat on Lake Michigan when I was a kid in the late 50s. There was a family that had a sister to our boat in the slip next to us. We used to go cruising together and my sister and I played with their kids.

One day, the mom came to their boat with a bathing suit she had found at a yard sale. She bought it because she thought she would look good in it. It was a Jantzen wool suit from 1928 (I just did a lot of research to find that out.) We had both boats at a Charlevoix and all of the kids and the mom went to the beach. She wore this antique suit. When she got in the water, the suit molded to her body like a second skin. Since she had a great shape, that was wonderful. One could see everything, yet see nothing.

Speed

I have always dressed in a manner that although perhaps a little provocative is not really slutty.

I wear stockings and garters and never pantyhose, skirts that although short are long enough to be "respectable".

I often will wear a see through lace or other blouse but always i"m wearing a opaque bra so nothing can really be seen.

I'm very comfortable wearing these clothes and although I may get the occasional wolf whistle i don't try to be slutty.

Who cares? Women should dress how they feel like.

Perhaps. But people have been saying that for over a hundred years!

Yup, there is too much in your face flesh which takes away the allure or want to. Also everyone is too easy no exciting chases with a reward for effort at the end. Things might swing back at some point but I'm not sure what would bring it about.

Random thoughts - - -

It is just not fair - as women show more and more men are showing less and less. Go to a beach* and women have 5 % coverage if that and men wearing those stupid board shorts are covered 30 % or more. * Beach in the USA or Caribbean - certainly not an European beach with speedos and minimal Rio cuts ! And then those idiotic fashion knee crotch pants with a minus side rise putting the underwear on full expose' while some are complaining on the ultra mini skirt showing too much. Then there are those that should never be without clothes and those that will make the fountains of Rome blush. Where do you draw the line AND who are you to draw the line ? Do we really need the clothing police to gauge what is legal and perhaps practical for everyday wear ? Obviously unless you are doing a Sport's Illustrated bikini shoot in the artic the minimal swim suit is not practical. But if the shoot is in the Amazon tropics you won't find any parkas either. So what purpose would regulation of minimal clothing serve? I guess only the religious fanatical puritanical people can determine what is appropriate according to their book. People should wear whatever is practical and protective from their own personal perspective.

If you are a nudist then you associate with nudists - if you value your skin you takes steps to prevent cancer; so you wear some covering - you don't wear a tux or fancy dress to a beach party where you are going to engage in swimming - but then you don't show up at a Board Meeting in something that will cause an immediate adjournment of the agenda.

When God kicked Adam & Eve out of the garden eden (very clothing optional) he let them figure out what was needed to keep warm or cool sheltered and dry. And noting God and His creation - He did a wonderful job of creating women in His mate's image and likeness ! Bravo what a Hoot ! If we had not been evicted from the garden then we really would not be having this forum ! So go figure !

Appropriate clothing is a matter of style vs. common sense. Revealing clothing may be appropriate for dining or the bar scene, but totally out of character at the church or synagogue. Regional differences are to be considered too. The east coast is more formal than the west. It is always safe to be a little over dressed, but uncomfortable to be dressed down.

I don't think provocative attire is necessarily the same as showing skin. Short shorts & a halter with say deck shoes or sandals are perfectly appropriate for warm weather wear in most casual environments, but add say high heels or thigh-high socks to the mix--which actually cover more skin--& suddenly the look is seen by most as more provocative.

"I interpreted it to be in everyday life also and if your son is over 12 he has seen Playboy magazine or Playboy TV somewhere, and I was going to say 9 or 10 because I know my daughters did well before then."

That reminds of the time the scoutmaster came to my son's summer camp after a torrential rain. He asked if everyone survived. I said all the boys came through well buy Miss November didn't make it. When he looked puzzled I told him to check with his son. Son had taken 12 of his dad's Playboys to camp and had them stashed under his bunk when the flood came through! The scoutmaster and his son were the only ones that didn't think it was funny for some reason.

To this day, I'm still a fan of the classic tight-fitting, high-waisted blue jeans that all the hot babes used to wear back in the 80s and 90s. I just don't like the low-rise style. It doesn't look right to me.

I live in a resort town and I look forward to bikini season every year. I especially enjoy what we call the Alberta look. Tiny bikini, cowboy hat and boots. If there have to be clothes, then form fitting with a peek here and there. We have a category here called TMI too much information.

Cleaning my glasses in anticipation!

I probably have an overactive imagination because I don't need to see a woman naked to envision what she must look like. Clothes sure make a woman sexy in my mind and a friend of mine told me when I was still in my 20s: "a dirty mind is a joy forever"

No, it is so sexy now

I'd say as a general rule that there is never enough revealed - so no, modern day clothing does not reveal too much at all. Too bad about the constraints of north European weather though, which is really limited by low temperatures and rain throughout much of the year. You just can't get away with wearing revealing clothing when it's cold and wet and miserable outside.

But, on the other hand, while modern day clothing does not reveal too much, I can't really say that it looks very stylish or attractive. Most clothes are simply functional and not much more than that. Which is a bit odd when you consider how many fortunes have been and are still being made in the fashion business.

And oddly, I've taken to noticing that some obviously Muslim women who dress with a scarf or in a more simple type of hijab, often appear ambiguously androgynous at times. Since you can't see any hairstyling with this type of female clothing, attention is drawn almost exclusively to the face and as such the head alone doesn't always show definite male or female characteristics. So there's a sort of unisex appearance. But then the overall ambiguity is ruined by the rest of traditional clothing in that style, which is none revealing and not that stylish at all.

I wear more than most females ... but thats their choice and my choice.

I noticed in my home town that the women who expose and show the most are usually ages 13 to 18 the little teenie boopers. They walk up and down the street with their boobs all hanging out or half of their bras showing or they wear yoga or spandax pants that are really tight and you can see their butt cheeks through the pants. Sometimes they will wear sports bras or midriff tops and show their belly. I don't know if they do it for attention or what it is. They know men cant touch them beacuse they are too young so maybe they do it just to be a cock tease. I wish they would cover up and stop dressing like whores. They are asking for trouble when they dress like that at a young age. Then people wonder why there are so many statutory rape cases or teen pregnancies. Teens have no morals or sense of self respect or dignity nowdays.

First of all, this whole debate is irrelevant because how to dress is a personal decision and no one else's business. Second, whatever a woman's clothing (or lack of clothing) reveals is only skin deep.

No matter what a woman shows you or tells you, she can remain completely shrouded in mystery even when she is naked. You have no idea what is going on underneath her skin whether it is covered up or fully visible. I do not mean to sound cynical or insecure, but just for example, one day she can convince you that you are the best thing that has ever happened to her, and maybe she believes this too. The next day she can act like you never have met, and even convince herself that you are perfect strangers. It would be disrespectful and sexist of me to assume that most women behave this way, but the point is that they have the ability to, no matter what they wear. If you take anything about her for granted due to the sight of her flesh, which after all is only the surface, you have blinded yourself.

First of all, this whole debate is irrelevant because how to dress is a personal decision and no one else's business. Second, whatever a woman's clothing (or lack of clothing) reveals is only skin deep..

In total agreement with this. Anyone talking about women dressing like whores has something wrong with their perception of things. How they dress, what they wear is just their own decision. And for the record, I´ve yet to see young women walking the streets with any ´boobs´ half hanging out their tops. Sadly I´d say, I´ve never had the pleasure.

And i say sadly not because I like to think like a dirty-minded lecher, but because I think that if women (or men for that matter) wish to show more of their bodies for any reason whatsoever (climate, fashion etc), that is their decision and if they feel safe and comfortable doing so, that reflects positively on the society we live in on matters of tolerance and feelings of personal safety. In fact, a woman should ideally be able to walk the streets naked and still not be molested or harassed or thought badly of. If you look at public nudity videos, vids shot as a dare or a stunt, with people walking naked in public venues, you´ll often notice the smiles and laughter, not much disapproval. Not that it proves much as such, but still ...

In fact, compare this bemoaning of the baring of flesh with the opposite which is also quite prevalent in some countries - namely the wearing of almost total body covering clothing and headscarves due to religious convictions. That too meets with much disapproval and outrage from certain people, often I bet from the same group of people who disapprove of skimpy clothes. Showing that there are always people with a sour and mean disposition towards females ...

You should be glad so many ladies feel comfortable baring so much of their bodies in public. It´s a whole lot better sight than ankle length skirts and sleeves up the wrists.

It´s also a sign that you live in a more comfortable climate zone as well ... so many of us live in places where you just can´t do that without catching pneumonia ... ha ha

As always I seem to be in total agreement with aglacier.

I think the subject of this thread will go on Ad nauseam . Think of the revolution in the 60's when women went from wearing below the knee dresses to mini skirts, which showed their knickers when they bent over, and the comments that were made then about how it was the end of civilization.

My view has always been that people should be able to wear whatever they feel comfortable in. If people find it offensive - tough, why should we have to comply with everyone else's views and that said who's views should we follow. After all, some people might well find it offensive that I show too much leg when I wear a mini skirt, but then like every other woman in the pool, I show far more leg when I wear a one piece swim suit, yet that is deemed totally acceptable.

One of the most beautiful people I have ever seen was one of my clients. She wore a mini skirt, showing a lot of leg, and the beauty was that she was carrying more than a few more pounds too much for her, but she did not care that the convention was only size 0 women should wear it, she had the confidence to wear it.

I dressed in halter top and cut offs when I was a teen, and I still do, and it would be a shame if anyone thought I was dressing like an whore (silly question, how does an whore dress). I will be the first to admit that I loved the looks and did I flirt - yes, and I still do, but on the other side of the coin, what about the pool man that comes around with no shirt on, showing his six pack off, chatting me up. Is he not doing the same as me.

Why is showing parts of the human body so offensive to some people. Going off topic a bit but on the same vain, when I had my daughter I breastfeed her, and if it was a tossup between a dirty toilet, or discretely feeding her in public, but showing very little as I had my back turn I choose the latter. Most of the people that clocked me were very unkind with their remarks - why, I was doing a natural thing.

I feel lucky that we live in a time in Western society when you can wear almost anything you want and express yourself. If you want to be modest you can be that as well. In many countries women do not have this privilege.

If women are showing a lot, that's what they want you to see and you can interpret the behavior accordingly. Personally I like getting right to the point and displaying the goods or the information you want others to take in. Why waste a lot of money on several dates?

Captivated, I agree with you.

Also, I was given the bulb many times as a child and went to it as soon as puberty set in. I'm still hooked on the bulb and the bag. Write me if you would like.

I interpret the original question to mean do women reveal too much in their everyday life attire that they would wear to their jobs, not beach or casual attire which is all together different. Personally, I do not think women or men for that matter even know what proper business casual attire entails. I have seen men try to wear tank tops to work, some with shirts over them and some not and women try to wear the same thing as well. However, it is the men that get sent home to change but the women do not. I do think there is a vast double standard in what women and men can get away with wearing in a business setting. In some settings, men must wear ties done up to their neck while women can show cleavage all day long. There is good taste and there is bad taste in deciding what is proper to wear in any setting. In the business world. There is a definite trend to go more casual, but yet still be appropriate for the setting. Women or men dressing in certain ways does reflect upon the business itself. Personally, I don't think much of that business like a bank or a store where I have to see employees dressed inappropriately for the setting. These casual forms of dress should be saved for the beach or some casual setting. Personally, I am a nudist so I certainly have no problem with seeing anyone's body. Personally I think it would be great if everyone could walk around naked in whatever setting they choose. However, we don't live in a nudist world, so the appropriate way of dressing for different settings is still important in my opinion and conveys the type of person one is. If one dresses in a slutty way, then that is what I will think of that person. If dressed in a clean conservative manner, then that is how I will see that person.

It appears that visible bra straps are becoming the norm.

There are other venues besides work or business to which i think the original question was meant to apply.

At work, be it in an office, public or private, in a manufacturing or tool shop or say on a construction site, it´s safe to assume that each type of job requires certain types of clothing. Not only from appropriateness but also according to the physical dictates of the job. That said, I´ve never really come across anyone inappropriately dressed, neither in an office or shop, nor at places like banks or government services.

Perhaps it´s the colder weather in the part of the world I normally live in, but right now I am in the hottest part of southern Spain, and for all the excessive heat, here too I´ve never seen anyone inappropriately dressed. Sloppily perhaps, or with a bad sense of taste or simply as a tasteless drone, unimaginative as can be, ruffled or dirty (from the nature of their work most likely) ... but no cleavage, no bra strings showing, nor any ´boobs´ hanging halfway out as someone mentioned in a previous post. Teenage or young ladies do often wear shorts that are shorter than that worn by men, but big deal. If that is anyone´s idea of inappropriate wear on a public street, then they are not evolving along with societal norms.

I think much of this is ´an eye of the beholder´ thing. If you think the world is becoming a place without any morals, well then you´ll end up seeing signs of perdition in almost anything. Like some towns in the US that fine people for wearing sagging pants. Last week I read that a Florida town has voted an ordnance punishing the wearing of sagging pants with up to 6 months in jail. Now those are a bunch of aldermen or whatever with a very warped sense of morals. They probably think in the same terms and see moral decay all around us.

VickiV I totally agree, it is just lazy dressing.

I think people should be able to wear what they want.

Not worried about women showing too much, but here I wonder if some women are getting too lazy.

It is not uncommon to see women wearing their night clothes taking their kids to school or in town to shop complete with slippers!

Not only the women NurseKev. I was in a well known supermarket a while ago and a gentleman appeared wearing his pyjamas under his fleece. Needless to say he got some strange looks as he strolled round, oblivious to the stares. As the saying goes it beggars belief

It beggars belief ... or perhaps someone in a beggars position, down and out, out of a job and money? That's the first thing I'd think in this day and age. Circumstances beyond his control ...

In our area bra straps are very common too. I wee many women, especially by younger ones wearing cute but revealing halter tops in the summer but still have a big bra underneath. Learn how to dress .... don't show the straps. In most cases, no bra would be appropriate.