# At what age should a lady put away the bikini... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845 "2007-04-05T13:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![goldenmean1975](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@goldenmean1975](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldenmean1975)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/1 "2007-04-05T13:03:42Z")
and start wearing the one piece swim suit? This was a topic of debate last night at a girls night out I was attending. It started because someone made a comment about a certain lady we all know who is our moms age, (mid 50’s) that wears nothing but bikinis. She looks pretty darn good btw. Better than a lot of the young ladies sitting at the table and they know it 😛 The issue was not that she doesn’t look good however, its that its not proper for a lady of a certain age to show her midsection even if it still looks presentable :dubious:. What do y’all think? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/2 "2007-04-05T13:20:35Z")
I’ve got a friend who is 56 years old. She has young looking skin, no flab, small boobs and a flat stomach. And a great ass. She looks as good as any 20-something in a bikini. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/3 "2007-04-05T13:22:19Z")
If she wants to wear bikini, let her do it. Me thinks you stop worrying about what’s “proper” for other people to wear. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/4 "2007-04-05T13:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=goldenmean1975] What do y’all think? [/QUOTE] I think that this belongs in IMHO. But since I’m here already . . . If you still got it, flaunt it! 🆒 Don’t be trying to keep those good looking GILF’s down! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/5 "2007-04-05T13:40:22Z")
Let the mirror be the judge. I’m in fairly decent shape, but have never felt a bikini was “right” for me. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/6 "2007-04-05T13:48:46Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I’ve got a friend who is 56 years old. She has young looking skin, no flab, small boobs and a flat stomach. And a great ass. She looks as good as any 20-something in a bikini. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say! [/QUOTE] One of my wife’s close friends is 49…she looks 24. She is gawked at whenever we got to the beach. I’m always kidding her with: “Nancy, when are you going to take one of these young bucks up on their flirtatious gawking???” Her Response: How do you know I haven’t already??? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/7 "2007-04-05T13:56:04Z")
If she wants to wear a bikini at any age, why shouldn’t she? Why should someone else have the right to tell her what to wear? (Says she who wouldn’t ever wear a bikini, not under any circumstances, no, not ever). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/8 "2007-04-05T14:04:38Z")
These are the same people who say women should cut their hair short as soon as they reach 30. I say - if you have beautiful hair and like it long, keep it long, and if you have the body, wear the bikini as long as you want. Bikinis are all about flaunting what you’ve got anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/9 "2007-04-05T15:18:44Z")
\ IMHO, this belongs in IMHO. I’ve got it, I’ll flaunt it. Moved. \ ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/10 "2007-04-05T15:25:24Z")
I guess it is about time someone made the standard observation as to the usefulness of photos in advancing this discussion… Meanwhile, this old coot appreciates the widest range of viewing options from behind my shades! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/11 "2007-04-05T15:29:28Z")
There shouldn’t be an age limit. Honestly, people should wear whatever the hell they like on the beach (and will – no one’s asking old men to cover up their beer bellies). And just because it’s a one-piece doesn’t mean it’s going to be any more flattering than a well-fit bikini. How about a comprimise- a nice tankini? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/12 "2007-04-05T15:39:25Z")
The biggest factor is what you wear is your comfort level. If you are smiling and working it - more power to you. No one looks good if they are uncomfortable and tugging at their clothes - flaunt it baybee! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/13 "2007-04-05T15:41:08Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Fight] There shouldn’t be an age limit. Honestly, people should wear whatever the hell they like on the beach (and will – no one’s asking old men to cover up their beer bellies). And just because it’s a one-piece doesn’t mean it’s going to be any more flattering than a well-fit bikini. How about a comprimise- **a nice tankini?** [/QUOTE] The greatest invention of the last 50 years! The best of both worlds. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/14 "2007-04-05T15:42:52Z")
If there exists an age at which it is “not proper for a lady of a certain age to show her midsection even if it still looks presentable”, I’m sure it comes well after the age at which she ceases to give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks of the propriety of her behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/15 "2007-04-05T15:46:49Z")
I always do a double take when I’m watching What Not To Wear and they have that street sign that says “No Mini-Skirts After Age 35”. But…but…_I’m_ older than 35! That can’t be right! ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/16 "2007-04-05T15:49:31Z")
I don’t think they ever have to put away the bikini. But after a certain point, it should be [purple](http://www.wheniamanoldwoman.com/pages/348544/index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/17 "2007-04-05T15:50:17Z")
The human in me says do what ever the hell you wanna do even if it burns my eyes like acid. The guy in me says if you’re in good shape then please wear a bikini so I can gawk at you even if you are 80. I have seen some hot looking older ladies who had grey hair and I think to myself, “damn she’s hot I hope I 'm with a hotty like that when I am 80.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/18 "2007-04-05T16:12:48Z")
Here’s an alternative if you don’t like bikinis: [WholesomeWear Introduction](http://www.wholesomewear.com/page-3.html) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/19 "2007-04-05T16:46:01Z")
I started buying one-piece bathing suits when I hit 40 or so (I’m 48 now). But then I noticed two things, while at the beach in international locations mostly attracting Europeans: 1. Even at my advanced age, I actually look better in a bikini than a one piece – something about the length of my waist or whatever, I can’t be bothered to obsess enough to explain it. 2. Go to any beach frequented by Europeans (and within the US too for all I know) and you will see women of all ages wearing all kinds of swimwear. If you wear a bikini at an “advanced” age, you’ll be far from unusual, from what I’ve seen. So women (and men) should wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable. If you are grossed out by what you are seeing … don’t look. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845/20 "2007-04-05T16:47:53Z")
[QUOTE=CairoCarol] I started buying one-piece bathing suits when I hit 40 or so (I’m 48 now). But then I noticed two things, while at the beach in international locations mostly attracting Europeans: 1. Even at my advanced age, I actually look better in a bikini than a one piece – something about the length of my waist or whatever, I can’t be bothered to obsess enough to explain it. 2. Go to any beach frequented by Europeans (and within the US too for all I know) and you will see women of all ages wearing all kinds of swimwear. If you wear a bikini at an “advanced” age, you’ll be far from unusual, from what I’ve seen. So women (and men) should wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable. If you are grossed out by what you are seeing … don’t look. [/QUOTE] I think Europeans are much more comfortable with their bodies than Americans are. They just seem to be less self-conscious about imperfections. And I think they have fewer imperfections than we do…they always seem fitter than us. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-should-a-lady-put-away-the-bikini/398845.md?page=2)