One other factor that's changed in the past 25 years, which I hadn't thought about before, is that the quality of swimwear has improved. Both in the materials and in the range of sizes, shapes and styles available to the average beachgoer. In all active and sportswear there’s been a general trend that kit of the 80s and 90s was relatively heavy, shapeless and prone to wardrobe malfunctions, while kit today is more of a “second skin” that can be made showy and revealing yet stay reliably on. I think that’s another reason why doing without a bikini top entirely was a more common course of action back then.

Hi do not agree with your statement, and when I say "I" I just tell you what my wife says.
Sure, beachwear evolved since all these years, but if you don't like get wet wear on you, you don't like.
And my wife says that wearing a bra is so uncomfortable that even today she don't like it.

My wife can't stand a wet bikini top either, any fabric. When she keeps her top on because she's the only one, it quickly comes off after she's been in the water.

like my wife ! she keep it only when she 's the only one, but it depends where and which country.
Often, she's the only one, after a while other women are removing her tops too.

My wife goes topless whenever she can, almost always when on the boat, and at beaches where she can..........hates wearing a top and really hates a wearing a wet top.

hey, sounds good ! seems we have the same !
Where are you from ?

Barcelona and Spain
 

Heading to Barcelona later this summer. What is the topless situation there? Has it all but disappeared as well?

We were there about 8 years ago and there was plenty but I’m guessing it is less common these days.

I was looking at this thread a while ago and thought I would comment now.

I'm in Lanzarote, first full day today, as expected not much topless action by the pool, but there was one woman about 40 topless, and one early twenties topless, bit of a surprise as in Gran Canaria 5 years ago only saw one topless at the pool on the very last day.

Went for a walk on the beach, in gran canaria lots of women topless. Here in Lanzarote beach was quiet today, but as we sat on on a wall a group of 3 Spanish looking arrived and 2 got topless and one took a shower topless right next to us.

Walking up beach saw about another 10 pairs of tits, including one girl running into the sea topless, bouncing everywhere!

Quite happy so far, above expectations.

Not gonna do this everyday, but another update - very windy around noon when I did walk 1, probably only saw 4 pairs of tits despite quite a busy beach.

Went for walk 2 around 6pm and bizarrely it was around 100% topless, not many people but all locals and I don't think any had a top on. Reckon around 15 pairs of tits observed.

I have a few theories, and It's completely clear brit girls have become way more comfortable wearing very tiny thongs but way more Conservative re showing nipple, lots of boob on display but desperate to cover that nipple.

Spanish girls though, tits out and tiny thong seems the norm.

let's see this summer
 

Hi, thanks all for your feedback. And good to know about Lanzarote.
I'm French and I'll be on 2 different coasts this summer and my wife will be topless for sure. Let's see how many will do so.