I am in my mid thirties and a mom of two kids. My husband and I are conservative people. We are going to St Barth next year and staying on St Jean B

[Guest]

Re: I really appreciate all the input

Island Visitor,
I had never gone topless or been on a topless beach until going to St Barths a few years ago - at the beginning of the week, I wore my top but by the end of the week I was going topless. I was unsettled about it before I went but found the atmosphere and attitude so "laid back", I wound up not being uptight about it. We saw all shapes and sizes of people.
On a return trip, I had gained quite a bit of weight and didn't have a 2 piece so I didn't go topless - I wasn't out of place or the least bit uncomfortable. Believe everyone when they say - do whatever makes you comfortable. Most of all, have fun!

 

[Guest]

Were I to get the nerve up...

Is St Jean a good place or do people congregate on other beaches? And I am not interested in the nude beaches (certainly not to start). If I decided to try it (and I probably wont) would St Jean be good or would there be a better beach for this?

 

[Guest]

Re: Were I to get the nerve up...

St. Jean's is more of a family beach and definitely more populated than some of the others. My first time doing the clothing optional scene was at Saline, where no one was sitting too close to us so my husband and I felt more comfortable. And then after swimming and not having a wet suit stuck to me , believe me, there is no turning back. But you need to relax about this. If you feel comfortable, do it, If not, then stay clothed. You probably won't know what you are going to do until you are there-- and the charm of the island moves you in ways you have never been moved before!

 

[Skateboard Phil]

Re: Were I to get the nerve up...

Whatever you do, don't let the fact that Saline and Goveneur are clothing optional scare you away from visting these two beaches. IMHO these are to two best beaches on St. Barth and are not to be missed. St. Jean is also a very nice beach to start out on. Lotsa fun with the planes to watch and places to get a drink or lunch, but it does not have the savage beauty of Saline or Goveneur. I can't imagine going all the way to St. Barth and not hanging out (that's a lil joke) on the two most beautiful beaches on SBH. BTW...we are all going to want a full report on your feelings and experiences upon your return. OK?

 

[Guest]

I wont be going until next spring.

And it is likely that my writeup will be disappointing - though it sounds like we will have fun.

I'm self-conscious enough wearing a two piece bathing suit at a pool or on the beach. I doubt I get too "brave" on St Barth. But we will have fun anyway.

 

[Cheri]

Re: I wont be going until next spring.

Perhaps it is a shame that you are traveling with a group because I can understand your apprehension of sunbathing topless/nude (especially for the first time) in front of people you know. I think it will all depend upon what the others do or don't do as even though we're all adults sometimes the peer pressure is still overwhelming.

I had gone topless just once before on our honeymoon in Jamaica, on a secluded beach where no one else was around. I didn't know how I'd feel about doing it in St. Barth where I knew the beaches wouldn't be crowded yet there would be other people there. Well, I can tell you that it didn't take me or my husband long to sunbathe and swim sans bathing suits that first trip. St. Barth just has that certain affect on a lot of people and it does feel so wonderful to be free of that wet suit. Maybe it won't have that affect on you and everyone here can go on and on about it but it all boils down to you just having to find out for yourself. The important thing about it though is that it really won't matter to anyone else.

Don't forget to post a trip report....

Cheri

Cheri

 

[LauraB]

Re: I wont be going until next spring.

One more female perspective...I have always felt extremely self-concious in bathing suits. But then I moved to California, where nude beaches are available. I visited them--first the lonely ones, then some more populated ones. I found through these experiences that I am MUCH less critical of my body (and so less self-concious) when I'm nude than when I'm in a bathing suit. Now I seek out nude beaches, because that is where I can enjoy the beach most fully. They say that the clothing makes the man. I think this is true, and conversely when you are nude, you are outside the symbolic system in a way. It is really liberating and not necessarily sexually charged. I saw a comedian do a bit about nude beaches: he quipped "It wasn't like the Playboy channel...It was like the discovery channel!"

 

[WDS]

Re: Never tried topless

I may be wrong, but this thread is starting to 'beat itself to death"! It is similar to a lengthy thread that was recently discussed on the "Caribbean-On-Line" forum, also by an unregistered, anonymous poster. Enough! If being topless on the beach is such a hangup to you, or by wearing a top, you feel you may stand out in the crowd, maybe you'll feel more comfortable vacationing somewhere else.

 

[Cheri]

Re: Never tried topless

I must say that I agree with you WDS. How much reassurance does this person need...I had the thought that this may be a troll.

 

[Lauren]

Re: Never tried topless

Hi Cheri - I think that your use of the word troll is excellent regarding this subject. It has been discussed ad nauseum on many boards over the years. It is my distinct feeling that the question is usually placed by a person that is only interested in continuing the subject line for ....... purposes. I feel this way for logical reasons - everyone knows that the French go topless and sometimes bottomless, and they also know that it doesn't bother the beachgoers and is a common practice. Ditto the discussion regarding breast size and the problems women may or may not have regarding this - it is common knowledge that small breasted women are preferred as european models, and that the British and American magazines push the large breasted models. With this said, there isn't any need to respond to this type of question in a lengthy thread. I think that the regulars on this board are determined to keep it subtle, intelligent and oriented to the subject. Nudity and toplessness are subjects of interest on ST Barths, however, just as it will appear normally on the island, there is simply not much to be said regarding the subject. Continuing the thread as an attempt at titillation doesn't make it, and does not add to the knowledge base, and is boring, not sensual. If there is passionate eroticism in the continuance of a story, hey, I am there, otherwise, Scotty, give me all the power ya got and take us out of here....not to return....

 

[Brian]

Re: Never tried topless

Lauren & Cheri, I agree. All in favor of moving on......

 

[Guest]

Excuse me for ignorance.

I am sorry I have not read 'all the boards through the years' where this was discussed and that I have never been to St Barths. I am told that the French on St Barths are tolerant people who dont care what others do.

Too bad such an enlightened view does not seem to extend to asking questions and starting discussions on a discussion site.

Every post is voluntary. No one has to read them. So, I get the basic tenor here:

1. If I have no experience in it and am curious about the place, dont go

2. Dont go to a discussion board and ask for opinions or thoughts from others who know

3. Crawl back into the closet and shut up.

Oh well, back to the guidebooks I guess. Glad to see the French dont care what others do or say.

Because it sure seems the americans do.

 

[Guest]

Re: Never tried topless

Here are responses I have received from my husband who is from Paris and Biarritz and friends who are from vast areas of France. "We have seen women sunbathing topless since we were very young and it is no different then being around men without shirts". "Oh, those American men love seeing women topless!"

The main reason North Americans are unconfortable with this is because of the bans on topless sunbathing at the local provincial or state beaches. I am quite confortable with topless sunbathing. For those who have children, it is recommended not to make a big deal with it and they will usually shrug the situation off. It will seem unconfortable at first but once you see that it is not so bad, you will actually feel more confortable not dealing with straps that are too tight or always falling off your shoulders ;o)

I wish you and your family a great trip!

Bon voyage!

 

[Guest]

Re: Never tried topless

My husband and I enjoyed our first trip to St. Barts last spring. Like you, I was a tad nervous about the topless scene. I have always been very modest. But St Barts it isnt like being in Florida... The atmosphere is far more laid back and with that comes a different frame of mind. We are both conservative by nature, too and pre-St. Barts, I couldnt really understand why anyone would want to lay out sans clothing. Now, I cant imagine laying out WITH a top on =) Seriously, we couldnt have cared less who had on tops or bottoms or santa suits on any beach and feel certain that everyone else on the beach felt the same way. I didnt feel like anyone was staring at my small ( but mighty!) chest and my husband even suprised me by suggesting a tan line-free day at Saline. We stayed 2 weeks, one at Toiny and one in a villa overlooking St Jean. Nothing like a private pool to ease you into the topless mindset... <font color="blue"> </font color>