Are you just as comfortable wearing a bikini vs. wearing bra and panties?

Question

For me personally (not in perverted way) it's kinda confusing or hard to understand the whole idea behind a women's mind of the idea of being comfortable enough to wear a bikini around in public, pool area, beach, and friends and family. But when it comes to them wearing bra and panties they mostly want  to be alone, private, not seen by others, etc. Can someone please explain the mindset of a women to be comfortable in a bikini around friends, fmaily, and public but not bra and panties?

12341234 · Accepted Answer

I mean... I've considered this and it's all based on context and social structure. Bikinis are designed to be worn outside, and when women wear one, they're consenting to the fact that you will be allowed to see that much of their skin. However, underwear isn't meant to be shown to everyone. Its like telling your good friends a secret versus someone else shouting it to the world. Lets be honest- wearing a wool hat is equivalent to the amount of fabric covering a bikini- but as girl, when I wear one I am mentally preparing myself for the fact that I'm going to be wearing that little clothing for a day, and the implications. Girls don't really mind seeing each other in their underwear, its all about being objectified when they're around guys. It's not a bad thing, but unless a girl is outside- of her own choice- in her underwear, it feels like an invasion of privacy. You can't apply logic to social situations (or else high heels would never exist. EVER)

sockz · Accepted Answer

I think I'm just about as comfortable with it.  When I leave the beach and go for drinks or takeaway I normally just wear jeans and a bikini top.  Anywhere near the coast and its fine.  Less so in the middle of the city, away from any beach, but on a really hot day you might be able to pull it off.  As for bras, there have been times when I've just worn bras under open jackets or practically invisible tops when clubbing.  I often walk around the house in just a bra and jeans.  But I wouldn't really pull that off in public-public.  As much as I'd be down with it, the more conservative types would freak out and I'm sure something bad would happen; I'm thinking insults, harassment, or making others feel awkward.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Well, I don't wear a bikini either, haha!

I prefer to keep myself more covered, so I never go in public in a bikini OR in a bra and panties only.

It basically is the same thing though, so I understand your confusion. But I guess it boils down to the fact that bras and panties are undergarments, therefore they're not as thick, sometimes even see through, while a bathing suit isn't.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I don't know as a guy it is confusing , I see all these girls on Facebook posting all these revealing pictures of themselves in bikini's showing off there body and belly piercings . they don't seem to think that's a big deal to wear that at a beach in public . but I agree a lot of these same girls would never reveal there bra and panties on Facebook or in public . I guess a bikini is sort of seen as more innocent and playful not necessary sexual like underwear is

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hmm... The logic in that opinion is flawed to a degree where I still do not understand. If the argument is becoming mentally ready to bare so much skin, that has nothing to do with the garment. They both reveal the same amount. Being objectified by men, would be exactly the same. They can still see as much skin. Logic can be applied to social situations as long as the situation doesn't involve a woman. Period.

DoctorKillJoy · Answer

omg...to be honest I never ever thought of this, wow its strange...hmp I'm actually stumped myself I do feel that way but I couldn't begin to tell you why. maybe its the material, undies are really thin and soft but bikinis feel like they have more coverage, or maybe I just don't think about it when I'm out having a good time. great question though

ninetynine · Answer

I think it has more to do with setting. At a pool or beach, I don't feel weird wearing a bikini because of the fact that it is probably really hot outside, and all I really want to do is have fun while getting a tan. My mind doesn't even give my minimally-covered body a second thought. But whenever I decide to tan in my backyard instead, I'll always feel a little uncomfortable if I see neighbors come out and notice me. Along with setting, I guess it also has to do with norms. Wearing bathing suits to a pool or beach is obviously a norm. We learn from an early age that it's okay to wear barely nothing to these places. Also, I know this isn't true for everyone, but a lot of girls wear bikinis that cover a lot more than their bras and panties do. And the material of the two are completely different, which makes us associate the two very differently.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't personally wear bikini's in public. I admit I'm very weird and old fashioned I guess, but I don't want to expose myself for anyone other than my boyfriend/husband. He doesn't understand it but oh well. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that it's not practical for someone to just walk around the mall or the grocery store in bikini's unless you live by the beach. The fabrics are different also so there's a comfort factor of how different clothes are made for different occasions, which is why you don't normally see lingerie at the beach.

toulouse · Answer

i don't see any difference. in fact I wear a bikini / two piece really. under my clothes because I swim daly and its just easier to wear it because I wash ut in the shower don't have to be naked there plus nothing to tore with me when I'm don and just have to take my clothes off to get in the water.. all so much easier. and if I ever get caught in a rain storm nothing gets see through. they dry quick too so it all works out.

id never wear it around my friends or family. just at the pol amongst strangers. I'm a private person but if I don't know the people it doesn't register for me. I don't care. m just some nameless girl in a crows.

kereru · Answer

it's really not a big mystery, it just depends on the social situation/context, different situations call for different dress codes, it's exactly the same as how you'd probably feel extremely uncomfortable wearing no shirt or shoes in an office meeting, but on the beach it's fine or you wouldn't feel good wearing your PJ's at a wedding, but feel perfectly comfortable at home in the evening in them.

MaskofInsanity · Answer

I feel more comfortable in a bra and panties actually. I'm not sure why, but I think they're more flattering. That being said, I'm only going to show them off in private to a partner.

CristinaMarie23 · Answer

"Girls being upset over being seen in bra/panties but not bikinis is not a double standard.

If she’s in a bikini, it’s what she consciously chose to wear and be seen in, in a public space, and like any outfit she was prepared to be seen in it by other people.

If you’ve caught a girl in her underwear, however, you’re probably trespassing in her bedroom, bathroom, or other personal space, where she should be in privacy, and she has every right to be upset if that privacy is violated.

It’s not about what she’s wearing or what it is covering, but rather her privacy and consent to be seen in the first place."

confugirl · Answer

It's the stigma around it. Underwear and bra's have this image around them that they're only supposed to be seen by you and your partner. Bikini's don't have the same effect. It makes no sense, but it's just the way it is.

EllieC · Answer

Bikinis are exactly the same as bras and panties just different material. bikinis are meant to be worn in public but the bra and panties is meant to be private. If its a small group of friends under a circumstance of not having a bikini most females may be just as comfortable going public in bra and panties but I'm not gonna want to swim at a family reunion in bra and panties. But in my opinion it adds a bit of pride to the partner of the female because only he gets to see her in bra and panties and no one or another man gets to see that

CrazynKinky · Answer

Ok so first it depends on the type of underwear and bras.

There are bras that cover the same amount as a bathing suit but there are also bras that are very see through and sexual that doesn't hid what a bathing suit does. The same goes for underwear thongs, g-strings, crotchless not the same as a bathing suit.

Anonymous · Answer

i htink it is all about what they symbolize, it is something private. Something that reminds us about intimacy and sex so that is why underwear makes us feel weird about showing it in public

RosaliaVanderbilt · Answer

If they offer the same amount of coverage then yes.  I'm not shy at all...

Cryostatic · Answer

Same reason that board shorts are different from boxers, dude.

There's a completely different intent behind one than there is behind the other, simply knowing that the function is different changes the viewpoint.

Anonymous · Answer

I kinda wondered this myself. Like my best female friend flipped when I walked in on her wearing a bra and panties by accident, yet had no issues seeing her in a bikini.

Turtleluv · Answer

I wear guys swim shorts and a bikini top because I don't like my legs.  So yea I'm more comfortable in that than barely there underwear LOL.

SamSodden · Answer

I think it's really to do with the fact that bikinis are designed (generally) to be worn in public, where a bra and pants (panties) aren't. I guess it just changes our perception of how revealing we're being. :)

danielle1995 · Answer

I personnally don't see the diff. it covers the same stuff.

serp777 · Answer

It's just one of those stupid societal standards that's developed over the years. There's no good reason. Bikinis are slightly more revealing anyways, so the fact that your partner can only see a bra and panties is moot.

Hamburgers · Answer

I've debated here enough on this topic.

The real answer: "Does everyone else say it's okay for me to do? Okay, I'll do as you say!"

If the new rule was "wear panties and a bra to the beach, it's fine!", the sheep would follow.

Conformity.

bloom817 · Answer

I don't know lol. Never really thought of this. I also am like this (I wear bikini with no shame but shameful when in bra and panties) and I guess it just has to do with society and what's socially right.

Are you just as comfortable wearing a bikini vs. wearing bra and panties?

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