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?