Topless Sunbathing: So In, It's Out?

Today Page Six breaks the news that topless sunbathing, one of southern France's greatest pastimes, may be falling out of fashion.

Regulars on the beaches in St. Tropez have noticed fewer naked breasts this summer than ever before. "It looks like going topless has gone out of fashion," our girl on the Cote d'Azur tells us. "Men are whining everywhere you turn that there are no more bare boobs on the beach." This is stunning news considering that topless sunbathing on public beaches got its start at La Voile Rouge beach club in St. Tropez some 40 years ago.

This news comes as a surprise considering this, like so many others, seems to be the Summer of the Topless Celebrity -- especially the British ones -- from Sienna Miller, who's been taking her top off everywhere, to Lily Allen and Kate Moss and, how could we forget, America's own Miley Cyrus.

But you tell us: do you think topless sunbathing is over? Should more Americans take it up? Is France becoming as conservative as the U.S.?

Comments

[mamacat]

Nude beaches are fun, and I would love to see them legalised. I guess we have a problem with too many who go crazy over nudity.

[joebiz]

Just like some guys shouldn't wear Speedos, some ladies shouldn't flash boobage.
Nothing wrong with getting an all around tan and if that's the case then get yourself an Aussie Wicked Weasel outfit.

www.wickedweasel.com

[MeanGreenMachine]

Who doesn't like boobies?

It's instinct!

[i rate]

My Mum had them.

[mamacat]

We had some visitors from Europe over, who would cover themselves up (the women) when Americans were around. I guess they knew about our reputation for getting all atwitter about tits.

[Dogma]

It's NEVER out.

[i rate]

A belated comment regarding the Miley Cyrus photograph: It is simply a photograph of a fifteen year-old female's bare back; you could see the same if she were wearing a low-cut dress or top. What is disconcerting is that which lurks deep in the minds of those who saw something more and criticized it. Keep those people at arms length - they are unhealthy. More disconcerting was the photograph of Miley with her father - it bordered on an incestuous relationship.

[mamacat]

She was intentionally posed in a sexually suggestive manner. Using 15 year olds as if they were eligible to pose for Playboy should be recognised by parents, photographers, and the people organising the shoot as inappropriate. Very disappointing all the way around.

[MeanGreenMachine]

grow up.

[i rate]

It must be just another of MY shortcomings but I see NOTHING sexually provocative in that particular photograph. I guess I'm just NOT into 15 year-old girls (or boys)!

[euthman]

Like it or not, millions of years of evolution have guaranteed that teenagers have sexuality. You can deny it. You can legislate against it. You can express outrage at those who recognize it. It's still there. Most Americans lose their virginity before they reach the legal age of consent, making them all criminals, but still they carry on. That's life. Figure out a way to delay puberty to age 18, and then maybe we can have a conversation.

[mamacat]

The problem isn't that teenagers are sexually acitve. The problem is that adults would willingly make a profit over teenage sexuallity, and the way that it was done. When an adult consents to be used for sexual tittilation, that's one thing. When a 15 year old, who is not old enough to know what is going on, and is not old enough to give her consent, is used to push sex by adults for their economic gain, then I have a problem with it.
I am surprised that so many have a problem understanding this concept.

[i rate]

It is perfectly legal in Ontario, Canada for women to be without coverage of their mammary glands if they so choose.

Ontario's general definition of public indecency changed forever in December 1996, when the province's Appeal Court ruled women had the right to expose their chests in public places – just as men could.

The landmark case was brought through the court system by Gwen Jacob, a former university student who was charged with committing an indecent act in 1991 after she took her top off while walking through the streets of Guelph, Ontario.

[piperson]

That's a privilege that I am sure is rarely used. Unfortunately it is rarely warm enough for a woman to want to go topless in Ontario, and when it is they will be swarmed by mosquitos.

[DRaymond]

I remember being in Toronto on the first warm day of early summer after the ruling and the press was all over it. One strip club decided to celebrate by holding a 'sidewalk sale' and traffic was backed up for blocks around.

I remember one TV news spot where they had the reporter interviewing the dancer (camera positioned behind her). You could tell it was taking a lot of effort on his part to keep a straight face and not look down.

[RoseMerry]

Maybe they don't want skin cancer on their breast? Let's hear it for topfree dining - indoors!

[PuffDragon]

Miley Cyrus did NOT pose topless - OMG you ridiculous Christian KKKonservatives.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Just returned from Riviera Maya--plenty of exposure there.

[nikto]

Breats=Breasts

duh 4 me

[nikto]

Exposed breats make terrorists!!

Run, KKKonservatives, RUN!!

[eastcoastprogressive]

These sites promote the freedom for women to go topless.

http://www.gotopless.org/

http://www.topfree.ca/

[Old Writer]

Some should tell that girl in the AP photo that
reading in the sun like that.
she's going to strain her eyes.
howtowrite­comedy.com

[DarkHelmut9er]

Miley Cyrus did not bare her breasts in public. Those pictures were fine. Stop the stupid train and pull your head out of your A s s