Flicking through the Sydney Morning Herald last weekend I almost had a fit when I read this headline: Arrival of the monokini. What? As far as I know, a bikini is a 2-piece bathing suit, the monokini is just one piece: the bottom. So - are Australian beaches going to go topless? The trend is popular everywhere in France, including on all family beaches. But here! Even on Bondi Beach where hordes of young European girls swarm, very few go topless; anywhere else in Australia, it's a big no-no. Is that going to change? Not at all: the Aussie version of the monokini is just a standard one-piece cossie with large chunks taken off the sides, have a look at the photo! Pheeeew, virtue is safe. (Photo: Bikini Island window, Bondi Beach waterfront, last Saturday)
PS - Cossie is one of the many Aussie words for swimming costume.
9 comments:
i think the cut at the sides enchance the waist...
And everyone "budgie smugglers" is an even more aussie name for the guys bathers! Kris I think the cut at the sides enhances everything!
Not even a remote possibility as Australian hearts are open to Eastern culture, outward look may be western.
You have a keen eye to capture colour when ever you spot it Nathalie. The black and white swim wear on the side enhance the impact. Lovely picture.
Hehe, very cute photo/story. To me, somehow a cut out one piece seems more revealing than just a regular two piece.
Nathalie, I am surprised you haven't seen more topless at Bondi - well, in my day 25 years ago EVERYONE was topless! (Especially South Bondi - North was always deemed more 'family oriented')
But then we learned about melanoma, and I guess we cover up more, hey! Or maybe we've got more conservative over the past few decades?
[PS There are no restrictions about females wearing tops on most beaches; and in country NSW there are many nude beaches - the whole Eurobodalla Shire (Batemans Bay to Bega) for example has a policy that you can wear nothing 'as long as noone is offended'. Most ppl wanting to bathe nude go to more isolated places...and there's no shortage of isolated spots]
(PS Topless is the norm on many
Hi Sally, I'll stand by my words.
1. the definition of the monokini is definitely not the same
2. At Bondi (where I'm a regular because I have friends who live there) I would rate at about 5 to 10% the number of girls who sit on the beach topless (on a 'good' day!). Not even half of those would walk along the beach topless. That's what I call very rare.
I believe most are foreigners but it's only a gut feeling. As for the locals, is fear of skin cancer the only reason why they don't indulge? Maybe, but not sure.
Whilst it may not be illegal, the 'as long as no-one feels offended' works against it. In my own experience there is a definite sense of being looked at that makes you feel quite uncomfortable.
Nathalie - I agree with you about the word 'monokini' and it jarred when I saw it - it's just a plain old one piece swimming costume....back in 'the day' we borrowed the french word - "maillot" and that was the trendy thing to say!
Ok, yeah 5 - 10% sounds right, and you definitely don't just stroll around with bare breasts! I think self-consciousness, modesty, fear of yobbos harassing AND ski cancer may all be factors.
And John, thanks for the word 'budgie smuggler' which I find absolutely hilarious. I know the cossie goes by many creative names in OZ but I'd never heard that one. Thanks, you made my day!
Anything you wear to get in the water is are "togs" over here, but I have no idea what the origin is, and I think it's "togs" for one or more swimming attire. Though like some Polynesian countries, plenty people just jump into the water with shorts and T shirts, too.
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