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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Boyfriend is uncomfortable if my nipples show through clothes

289 replies

EarlyDayz · 07/09/2024 15:18

Hi everyone! Looking for a bit of advice - some background, I'm 33F and bf 29M together 11months and about to move in together - a few months ago, a got dressed quite quickly and threw on a cami top and wasnt wearing a bra - bf and I were living in a flat share at the time, and when he came into the room where I was working he could see down my top and said he could "see everything". He got super upset, not angry but uncomfortable and clearly distressed - we had a really big conversation about it and the result was he didn't want to control what I wear and wants me to feel comfortable - I apologized too as I didn't realize everything would show and didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. Since then, I've been a bit more aware of what I choose to wear as I don't want to disrespect his boundaries.

Then yesterday, I wore a top that "covered" everything, long sleeves etc. But you could make out the shape of my nipple through the top as I wasn't wearing a bra - it's a new top and I love it, one of those that have tied bows at the front so wearing a bra kind of ruins the esthetic at the front (no actual cleavage was showing, I also have quite a small chest) well again, he looked at me and felt instantly uncomfortable, laughed nervously and put his head in his hands - I put on a bra - part of me wishes I hadn't because I didnt feel comfortable doing something just to make him feel better - I understood when you could see everything when he looked that first time, but seeing the outline of a nipple, and having small boobs so it's not like there's cleavage out for all the world to see - I'm struggling to feel comfortable with his boundary.

I was in a 10 year relationship before this and have always dressed in a similar way, never worrying about what to choose, choosing based on what I feel comfortable and good in - clothes are really important to me and I see it as an expression of who I am - not once did I ever have any problems with this in my previous relationship - he told me he sees it as exposing myself and doesn't want others to see what is private to us. Until now, there's no resolution to the discussion this time round.

He hasn't shown any other controlling behaviour and has apologized, saying he's never had a situation where you could see a gf's nipple through a shirt before and didn't know he would ever react like that, but that it makes him feel really uncomfortable.

It also makes me feel really uncomfortable not being able to choose what I want to wear.

How would you feel about this? Do you think it's a reasonable worry on his part and that I should "be more careful" in what I choose to wear? Or should he try to deal with his own insecurities and avoid projecting them on me?

Thank you for reading!

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 07/09/2024 16:14

Dump.

It says far too much about him. None of it good.

tolerable · 07/09/2024 16:15

in the flat share situation..you could go-at least he mde you awre-on off chance you werent and other flat members were treated to same.
You aare llowed to say-yeh-am easy bout what can be seen,get over it. Instead of conforming to his "comfort zone"

OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 07/09/2024 16:15

Nope, hard no. Your body, wear what you like. He does not get a say and it's his problem not yours.

MsTeatime · 07/09/2024 16:16

The post said 29 year old boyfriend, did you mean 13 year old son? I can't understand why your nipples would distress him otherwise.

Bananalanacake · 07/09/2024 16:17

Just don't move in with him and wear what you want every day.

Ponderingwindow · 07/09/2024 16:19

Worrying about nipples showing through clothing is a recent phenomenon. It’s bizarre. I would ignore anyone who tries to impose such an arbitrary standard on you.

I would tell him it is stupid and you are not going to worry about it. He either drops it or you learn that he isn’t a keeper.

housethatbuiltme · 07/09/2024 16:23

Pull him up every single time you can see his nipples. Do it back to him.

Womens and mens nipples are no different at all but men walk around in Tshirts with bullet nips often.

Katiemosley92 · 07/09/2024 16:25

Haroldwilson · 07/09/2024 15:40

Or maybe try wearing a codpiece or strap-on around the house to distract him?

This 🤣🤣 if nipples make him uncomfortable ask if he wants to say hello to ur little friend then turn around with no bra and an 12 inch strap on 🤣🤣🤣

RoaryMouth · 07/09/2024 16:26

He doesn’t want others to see what is private to ‘us’. It’s your body, he has no ownership over it.
He wants to control what you wear so it’s to his taste, or he’s a prude, if he’s getting visibly distressed by your boobs being braless in your home.

Cactusesflower · 07/09/2024 16:27

You are in a controlling relationship with a twat.
Move in with him and it will get a lot worse.

He is batshit and this is a huge red flag.

You should wear whatever you please.
That you have even vaguely entertained this implies you are vulnerable to being abused.

If you had sufficient confidence and self esteem you would tell him to get stuffed and end things.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 07/09/2024 16:29

What would he do if he lived in a tribe where the women didn't go in for the covering of chests? Would he be clutching his wooden beads and protesting?
I suppose you can forget about naturist holidays, by the sound of it, which might not bother most, but if you catch him making little skirts for piano legs, run!

AsYouWiiiiiiiiiiiiish · 07/09/2024 16:30

To PP, genitals and nippples are NOT COMPARABLE.

To OP, if you let him control this it will be a slippery slope and you won't recognise yourself in 10 years.

Bananapancakemaker · 07/09/2024 16:31

LifeExperience · 07/09/2024 16:08

You're incompatible. That being said, I don't like seeing a woman's nipples through her clothes in the same way I don't like being able to tell if a man is circumcised by seeing his penis through way too thin gym shorts. (yes that happened.) It's vulgar and unnecessary in public.

The only piece of clothing I can be sure my nipples won’t show through is a puffer coat. I stopped worrying about whether they are sometimes visible through a normal bra and shirt pretty much as soon as they grew. I’m not wasting my time worrying about something I have no control over, even if some people with presumably less prominent nipples think it’s vulgar.

babyproblems · 07/09/2024 16:32

I mean it is controlling.
but I also think that it’s not really a social norm to show nipples. I’ll get flamed for that I know. You can wear those nipple covers for this reason. They’re everywhere now because so many of the on trend clothes these days require no bra! I don’t think it’s a bad thing to wear something to preserve some modesty.

However I agree in your own home you should be able to wear what you like. Maybe it’s akin to those really short shorts where you can see the bum cheek crease. I don’t think they’re really necessary either. I think (like bum scrunch shorts) that they’re mainly in existence to keep women’s bodies sexualised.

DillDanding · 07/09/2024 16:35

My husband loves it if he can see my nipples. 😂

This guy is showing you his true colours nice and early. Dump him.

Bringautumnnights · 07/09/2024 16:37

Does he wear a bra to hide his nipples?

Carouselfish · 07/09/2024 16:37

He sounds immature. I'd get rid op. It would make me uncomfortable to be viewed as a sexual object when I wasn't being sexual iyswim.

Balloonhearts · 07/09/2024 16:38

I couldn't be doing with someone this batshit sensitive that he is traumatised by seeing his own girlfriends nipples in her own house. Far too crazy high maintenance.

Alwaystired23 · 07/09/2024 16:39

What about his nipples op? I guess he doesn't wear a bra? I hope you can't see his nipples through his clothes. I know I can sometimes see my husbands through his T-shirt. If you go by his expectations, his nipples are something that should only be shared between the two of you? Or is it just female nipples that are the problem? 🤔

theresabluebirdinmyheart · 07/09/2024 16:39

Lovethatforyouhun · 07/09/2024 15:29

Is this a pervy post by a male?
Try a different bra

Yeah it reads like a guy hoping to get some “exciting” replies from women talking about their nipples 🙄

Honest00lad · 07/09/2024 16:40

Shocking behaviour here. No justification for it

DyslexicPoster · 07/09/2024 16:40

Lovethatforyouhun · 07/09/2024 15:29

Is this a pervy post by a male?
Try a different bra

I wonder...

AleynEivlys · 07/09/2024 16:42

How dare you have nipples.

Sevenwondersofthewoo · 07/09/2024 16:42

@Just4thisthreadtoday nipples are sexual and he doesn’t like others coping a look is bullshit. Regardless of what she is wearing men look anyways and if he’s jealous well he needs to get over that damn fast then and grow up.

as for genitals showing well that isn’t the same as a nipple or two.

your modifying your behaviour already for him stop now @EarlyDayz as he’ll get worse in the next few months.

me personally I’d dump him.

Lilactimes · 07/09/2024 16:45

it’s your body and your choice and he’s controlling and you’re second guessing him.

I’m sorry if that’s upsetting to think about but I would be wary moving in until this is totally cleared up - I would test him on other stuff too. Have you been swimming with him/ beach/ pool then walked for an icecream in a bikini? Is this then an issue?
what’s he like if you have a coffee or drink with a good male friend without him?