Butt on display at lunch in south of France

[flipperfizz]

I am currently having lunch in a beach restaurant and a girl with a lovely toned body is wearing a tiny thong with full ass on display. This seems to be a fashion thing and there are lots of women wearing the same cheese cutter! People are staring and some women are laughing. I find it a horrible trend and I am wondering what others think.

Absolutely. I mean, if nothing else, if they're going to a restaurant (even on the beach) they could at least throw on a sarong, or a cover-up of some sort, so their bare bum isn't on the seat.

Call me naive but I have never in all my 48 years considered whether I want a tanned bum or not.

On the South of France - we go to a lot of beach and coastal towns there - both chi chi and more down to earth areas. Pretty much all shops restaurants and cafes, beach front or not, ask people to wear clothes. Sometimes there are signs, other times it is just a strong cultural norm. But I agree with the OP just wearing a thong bikini to beach reataurant in France would generally be unacceptable.

I noticed this year at a beach in the South of France it is becoming more common for younger men to wear a sort of shin length housecoat/kimono type cover up in a light patterened cotton material over their swim shorts when going in to beach side bars and restaurants

I think that’s the problem maybe. What’s become ‘normal’ and common doesn’t necessarily make it appropriate. Ie sitting at lunch in a restaurant with your entire bare bottom on display.

It really isn't. Locals know how to behave properly. You cover up for eating. No one wants to see butt crack when having lunch, nor do they want to sit on a seat that has had bare arse on it. The same goes in the shops. Cover up.

Roll on fin de saison. It's much nicer when the tourists leave.

Because it's dressed up as concern. Then in the next breath Oh its porn, they know exactly what they're doing, oh they're such attention seekers!. We see it all the time on the 'skirts too short at school' threads or the 'those tight leggings are so revealing threads'.

The comments about sweaty arses, poo, anus splicing. It really make me wonder who on earth is behind these comments.

Again, it is fine to have concern for girls and women. It is fine to object to thongs in beach cafes. But when you snigger, when you mock you lose the argument because then you reveal that you couldn't care less about women's welfare you jusy want to laugh at them.

Please tell me how on earth is that being either a feminist or you know, just a decent human being?

Yet those pesky tourists keep the local economy going so do try to be gracious.

Were toi dining just with your husband or kids too @flipperfizz ?

Added to which, how can we be sure she wasn’t a local?

Hes probably loving it

I think this is what propelled the Op to start the thread . She had observed her husband ogling the woman, flounced off and started the thread i

It's funny how women try to put down other women by saying 'Oh, it must be because your husband was eyeing her'. It's tired, obvious, and a little pathetic.

It also does subtly highlight that an underlying intent is for others to notice, and to look (and be attracted).

No you’ve invented that narrative. I didn’t flounce off. I haven’t posted on Mumsnet before and thought it was interesting to see what others thought, and here we are with a huge response. Simple as that.

as if you’d admit that your husband was piercing, it pissed you off, so you started a thread to bitch about this “horrible trend”

just you and your husband dining?

Does your husband or boyfriend always ogle other women in thongs? Is that why you're so insistent that OP's must've been?

Honestly, what a silly line of argument.

You do see see lots of different sights in beach cafes

If you're never holidayed abroad before perhaps this was an eye opener. I once sat near a man in his speedos whilst I sipped my pina colada. I didn't snigger though and I didn't stare. Try it?

It also does subtly highlight that an underlying intent is for others to notice, and to look (and be attracted)

Is there anything wrong with that?

I am single

I guess I’m trying to find a reason aside from the Op isn’t just a judgemental prig.

The idea that people on this thread who freely say they would “hard judge” this woman are likely parents… is upsetting to me. My children know to never ever make personal comments about what others choose to wear.

I refuse to believe this woman was constantly bending over as the OP has tired to have us believe

She keeps getting up and bending over!

No, she didn’t

Not where we are. This is not Greece.

I'm just pointing out that people often argue that's not the intent. That kind of childish comment belies that, however.

What kind of childish comment?

Why the patronising tone? I’ve holidayed abroad plenty thanks, and I’m perfectly aware that people dress differently. I simply don’t think that means I have to find every choice of clothing appropriate for a restaurant which was my original point.

Can you just confirm that no kids at your table? Ie they weren’t aware of you and your husband talking about this woman?

She did. Were you there?

Isn't it just? I despair of feminism - and some women - when you get remarks like that.

The ONLY possible reason in the universe for critiquing a fashion must be because a) you're envious of another woman's body and b) you don't like your man admiring it.

I don't know any women who think like this any more - are we in the 1950s? But it does come up on MN a lot so there are clearly many, many pockets of this reductive and childish attitude.