?Bikinis in the supermarket

Quite!

I agree Bags about tv presenters and weather girls, who wear things more suitable to a cocktail party sometimes.

I'd feel self-conscious in a bathing costume of any kind in a supermarket. I suppose with 'plentiful' shorts (think they used to be called walking shorts) on your bottom half, a proper swimsuit as your top would be OK in very hot weather and at beach resorts.

I usually find supermarkets too cold and often take in a jumper even if I don't need one outside.

ella, maybe they're always dashing out to cocktail parties after their TV presentations!

Just a little bit off topic here, but in India you see for sale at markets and little shops long cotton drawstring skirts which look lovely and cool and comfortable. Unwary foreigners often buy these to wear on their hols, no doubt thinking they are also respecting local customs. What they don't know is that these are actually petticoats worn under the sari and a source of amusement to the locals who see them striding around in underwear.

When on holiday, if I want to get a drink or ice cream or whatever from a shop close to the beach, I always put on shorts and a top over my swimsuit. I certainly would not go to the supermarket in a swimsuit.

I think wearing something loose and light is cooler than exposing lots of flesh

This morning the BBC's weather presenter was showing her bellybutton - both the BBC and the Met Office are government departments .... doesn't seem quite right somehow but it does seem to be the norm that much female flesh is on display even in professional settings.

I must be getting old!

Just tried to envisage myself striding down the road to Waitrose (with wheelie bag, of course) clad only in swimsuit (not a bikini) and crocs. No.... I couldn't see it, even in my imagination.

I was once in Austria staying at a hotel leisure complex with a swimming pool and also saunas, steam rooms and jacuzzis. I went to go in there wearing my swimming costume and realised that no one was wearing them. you could wear a costume if you wanted, but no one did. So I was left with the decision wear a costume and have 100 people stare at me or not wear one and every one would ignore me. Exactly the opposite to normal life.

simtib!! And....................what did you decide?

Now that would be giving away my secrets.

I'd say that the 'inappropriate' or 'disrespectful' wording and concept would change according to location. If in a seaside resort, I'd say 'inappropriate' and in traditional/rural area, where the locals dress very conservatively, I'd say 'disrespectful'. Context is so often the key.

I have to admit Bags that if he had been young and gorgeous I would probably not have minded at all Although it would still help if his jokes were funny!