What Is Topless? Where Did The Topless Fashion Come From?

Women's wardrobe includes a lot of different outfits. There are special things for every occasion, mood and season. Girls from all over the world pay no less attention to the choice of bathing suits. However, hundreds of thousands of representatives of the beautiful half of humanity do not bother at all about this. It's simple - they choose topless fashion.

The content of the article

• 1 Swimwear history: 18-19 centuries
• 2 Towards candor: 20th century
• 3 Famous topless fans
• 4 Harm or benefit topless

What is the essence of this interesting trend is known, most likely, to most people. For those who are not at all in the subject, we inform you: topless means with bare breasts. But one thing can be said for sure - a very narrow circle of people asks where and for what reasons such an amazing trend has appeared. Today we will talk about this in detail and frankly, in full accordance with the ideology of this phenomenon.

Swimwear History: 18-19 centuries__18-19

Bathing suits have appeared not so long ago as it might seem to us at first glance. Until the end of the eighteenth century, young ladies from noble families did not appear on the beaches at all. This does not mean that they did not swim at all. For these purposes, special baths were equipped in wealthy houses. In them, women rested from the summer heat. There were also pools, albeit quite specific. So the women of the old days had a place to swim so that they would not be examined from head to toe by dozens of strangers.

In the nineteenth century, women from high society were instructed to visit the beach in almost the same closed suits as ball gowns. The bath dress was designed so that the girl's arms and legs were completely covered. An interesting fact is that even with the advent of such swimsuits and the beginning of their distribution, swimming in the open water was still considered indecent for women.

With the spread of swimming in the seas and lakes, even special machines were created. In them, a girl dressed in a very modest and closed suit, servants or horses was brought directly into the water. This was done in order to shorten the path in an obscene outfit, and to avoid overly attentive gazes from the outside. It functioned according to certain standards.

The woman walked into a wooden booth, which was mounted on wheels and pulled by horses, in her everyday clothes. Inside, she had time to change, or remained in an undershirt up to her toes. Horses and servants dragged the cart into the water, turned it away from the shore. The noble person, carefully preparing for bathing, went down the stairs to the reservoir. When the time allotted for bathing was over, a flag was hoisted over her cart. Thus, the signal was given that it was time to return to the shore.

At the same time, for example, men in England were allowed to swim completely naked until 1860. This is gender inequality in its clearest manifestation. Although many gentlemen ignored emancipation and permissiveness. In order not to embarrass the female half of the swimmers, they wore tights or bathed in underwear, which, by the way, was also a fairly closed type.

The fashion for swimwear was gaining momentum. Complete with a long skirt and sweaters that covered hands to palms, there were special hats, stockings and high slippers with strong ties. In general, the girl came to the beach in full combat readiness. Bathing machines also began to improve. They began to build rails for them to make it easier to approach the water.

In the middle of the nineteenth century, costumes were no longer as closed as before. Skirts slightly covered the knees. Special leggings were sometimes worn under them - ankle-length or a little shorter.

Then bathing pants and sweaters with sleeves to the elbow came into fashion. The image was supplemented with a hat and boots with the same ties. By the way, the shoes were not on a whim, and not as part of a fashion trend. Rather, it was necessary for safety. The well-tied slippers could not be carried away by the water. An additional bonus is the protection of delicate ladies' legs from stones and algae, which were often dotted with the bottom of the reservoir.

Towards candor: 20th century__20

Do not forget that porcelain leather was in vogue a couple of hundred years ago. Sunburn and swarthy faces were not exactly out of fashion. Rather, it was considered a sign of bad taste and inferiority. Country girls, unlike noble persons, did not hesitate to swim naked, and their work in the field under the scorching sun left an imprint in the form of an obvious tan, not smiling faces.

In the twenties of the 20th century, the world famous style icon Coco Chanel declared that a pale complexion was a sign of poor health. She also linked skin tone with beauty parameters: tanning slowly began to ascend to the fashionable Olympus.

In 1925, a curious incident happened in France, considered a breakthrough in the struggle for equality and women's freedom. The very popular singer Suzy Solidor appeared on the territory of a famous beach resort in a swimsuit, which almost completely opened up a view of all limbs.

For comparison, in the freedom-loving United States of America at that time, police were on duty at the entrance to the beaches. Their job was to measure the length of a woman's bathing suit with a ruler. Owners of unsuitable beachwear were kicked out in disgrace and publicly censured. In addition, a hefty monetary fine was imposed on the guilty uninhibited young ladies.

All in the same liberated France in the forties of the twentieth century, now the most popular type of swimsuit appeared - a bikini. The most revealing mini beach outfits were the reason for the arrest in America. Just think, now women are allowed to walk in very revealing outfits along the central streets of large cities. Some sixty years ago, any form of displaying one's body was strictly prohibited, and even punishable by law.

In 1964, the Austrian-born fashion designer from the United States of America, Rudi Gernreich, used a provocative trick in his major show. The beauty paraded on the catwalk not just in a bikini. In addition to scanty panties, the girl was literally nothing. So there was a boom in the world of fashion history, which led to a violent and widespread passion for topless. Of course, Gernreich was heavily criticized by experts and ordinary people. However, there was no turning back. Topless has infected hundreds of thousands of liberated women.

In June 1965, a young model, from the same States, Tony Lee Shelley, impressed the public by showing up topless on the beach. Under the transparent dressing gown of the girl were barely distinguishable panties and completely naked breasts. When Tony Lee, who had been swimming in Lake Michigan, finally came out of the water, dozens of photojournalists and a police outfit were waiting for her.

In the United States, to this day, it is forbidden to appear on public beaches with naked charms. The same cannot be said about some European countries. Although the first topless swimwear was produced by American designers, they found great popularity in England, France and Spain. Local fashionistas at that time vividly felt the changes of time and the spirit of freedom. It was during this time period that the first miniskirt was released in London, designed by Mary Kant.

Famous topless fans

One of the pioneers of candid fashion was a French actress and model of amazing beauty. We are talking about the world famous style icon - Bridgette Bordeaux. For the first time, she shocked photographers while on vacation in one of the most luxurious resorts - Saint Tropez.

Jane Fonda

The equally popular social activist and actress Jane Fonda did not lag behind her. A year after the situation with Bridgette Bordeaux, the paparazzi filmed Jane sunbathing in her panties. And this, mind you, in the American business center of New York. Photos were posted on their pages by all self-respecting yellow publications. The situation was still causing heated discussion among the common people.

Today, the situation of being on the beach with a bare chest is not something unthinkable, but in many countries this phenomenon continues to generate angry responses. Let's not talk about countries where Islam is the main religion. Everything is very clear here - topless is a huge offense, for which the girls face a terrible punishment.

Pictures of the most famous women nowadays regularly appear on news portals who do not worry about being photographed during a beach holiday.

For example, superstar of the nineties and early 2000s Britney Spears regularly hits the objective nosy paparazzi with bare breasts. The girl absolutely does not pay attention to such trifles. She has already graced the covers of world men's magazines dozens of times. Her erotic topless photo shoots appear now. Britney periodically publishes pictures of erotic content on her official page on Instagram.

Soul diva Mariah Carey has never been modest in choosing an outfit for publication. On the eve of her birthday, the singer turned 48 years old, she again fueled interest in her naughty forms, starring topless for the cover of Paper Magazine. The charms of the stars were skillfully covered with a brilliant semblance of a bodice, which consisted of nothing but rhinestones.

Cameron Diaz

Supermodel Cindy Crawford is 53 years old. She certainly will not be surprised by the unexpected topless pictures taken by the ubiquitous media correspondents. She has been practicing tanning without unnecessary clothing for several decades. Photographers take pictures of the beauty on the beaches of top resorts. Even on a private yacht, there is no rest from them. Therefore, Cindy just smiles. Indeed, what to worry about if at 53 she looks better than many younger girls.

Cameron Diaz is the most prominent defender of women's right to freedom and naturalness. For her age, she looks amazing. At the same time, Cameron herself declares that she does not resort to the services of cosmetology or plastic surgery. The natural aging of the American actress delights the public. Diaz looks fresh and well-groomed thanks to sports and proper nutrition. She does not deny herself and topless sunbathing.

Of the famous Russian women, it is definitely worth highlighting the figure skater and entrepreneur Tatyana Navka. As the wife of one of the country's most influential political figures, Navka does not allow the media to pry into her vacation. Therefore, there are very few candid shots of the athlete. But in an interview, Tatyana frankly admits that she loves to soak up the hot sun without the top of her bathing suit.

Harm or benefit topless2

There are countries where being topless on the beach is the absolute norm. Nobody looks askance at the inhabitants of the Spanish island of Mallorca, for example. Here every second girl throws back the top of her swimsuit and sunbathes on a public beach quite calmly. Moreover, the rules are so loyal that they lie not only on the stomach, hiding the chest.

But in Indonesia, specifically on the paradise island of Bali, sunbathing with naked delights is strictly prohibited due to religious beliefs. Most of the island's population is Hindus. At the same time, there are also enough Muslims in Bali. In order not to offend any religious denomination, it was decided to ban nudism and topless on all beaches.

Disputes about the dangers and benefits of tanning with bare breasts do not subside. Experts agree on one thing - tanning is generally not useful. But you can't completely deny yourself the joy of sunbathing.

Therefore, here are a couple of tips on how to sunbathe topless with the least health risk:

• Avoid topless beach visits during the second half of your menstrual cycle. This is due to hormonal changes in the female breast at this time.
• Avoid going to the beach from 11 am to 5 pm when the sun is at its worst.
• Use high SPF sun protection creams and lotions.
• If there are moles on the chest, you cannot sunbathe topless. The risk of cancer increases.

Topless is not a fashion, but rather a lifestyle. Girls who are not alien to visiting the beach without a bra are usually more open, lack of a complex and an increased level of freedom. The main thing in this matter is the relevance and care of your body. Therefore, be sure to study the rules for visiting the beach in a particular country. And watch your own health and body.