Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder when boobs went out and bums came in?

137 replies

PrincessOfPreschool · 23/08/2026 22:40

Just come back from a beach holiday in Italy and both Dsis and I commented on lack of topless women. In 11 days I didn't see one! (Tbf, I wasn't scouring the sun loungers on the beach but not noticing even one seems odd). In the 80s and 90s when I was a teen/ young woman there were loads of topless women on European beaches. However, I did notice a huge number of thong bikinis, or the ones that really go up your bum and show off bum cheeks (even very young girls - preteens). Almost everyone wore one.

What's caused this change? Just fashion changes? Why has it changed? Sis thought maybe greater US influence on Europe?

OP posts:
bookofbookies · 23/08/2026 23:00

friedaklein · 23/08/2026 22:45

With the Kardashians?

They have fake bums & fake boobs!

bookofbookies · 23/08/2026 22:59

I think topless is considered more naked now whereas bums aren’t. People also wear very short skirts and shorts that show bum but boobs are less exposed.

Pistachiocake · 23/08/2026 22:58

Don't think boobs will ever go out really, but I hope one day they stop telling us which body parts we need to focus on. There was some scientific "research" recently showing that what apparently attract partners is bigger breasts in comparison to waist, so it's not the bust/waist/hip difference (can't remember exactly what it was as couldn't be bothered to read it properly, and whatever trends in bumscrunch trousers they say we should wear, tough).

Original poster
PrincessOfPreschool · 23/08/2026 22:57

ToKittyornottoKitty · 23/08/2026 22:53

Thong bikinis have been a thing for a very long time

I know they've been around a while but not on everyone, even what I would call children. I remember someone on here moaning about someone wearing it in public pool with their DC, feels like very recently but maybe a couple of years ago. This year I've really noticed a huge increase but I've never been to Italy.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 23/08/2026 22:53

Thong bikinis have been a thing for a very long time

DryIce · 23/08/2026 22:51

Wasn't topless sunbathing about getting an all over tan? Now we're much more aware of eg skin cancer

Toodoloo · 23/08/2026 22:51

I don't think topless bathing has ever really been popular in Italy- maybe more Spain and France?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 23/08/2026 22:49

30 years too late for me. I’d have been a goddess if I were young now!

Beachlover1993 · 23/08/2026 22:47

I think its more fashion, lots of different bikinisl styles these days, but thong bikinis arecdefinately in ive got about 6 different bottoms now one more and one for every day of ghe week my DP reminds me

friedaklein · 23/08/2026 22:45

With the Kardashians?

Original poster
PrincessOfPreschool · 23/08/2026 22:45

True. Didn't think about cameras. I guess bums are more anonymous as your can't see the face.

OP posts:
TulipsMakeMeHappy · 23/08/2026 22:44

I thought the boobs going out was because of the ubiquitous cameras, and people not wanting pictures spread on the internet. However, they don't seem to care about their bum, so 🤷🏻

Swipe left for the next trending thread