Why do women feel embarrased being seen in their underware and not just in a bikini?

[canepar]

A few years ago my wife and I went on a short vacation with another couple and shared a house. Together as couples we spent a lot of time at the beach and pool in our swim suits. My friend's wife, Valeria, was wearing a bikini that probably revealed more skin than most underware sets.

On one particular night, we (the men) decided to go to play bowling. My wife was already sleeping meanwhile Valeria was getting a shower. On the way to the parking I realize that I had forgotten the car keys so I returned to the house.

By entering the house I saw Valeria, who had stepped out of the bathroom, ironing her and her husbands outfits in just her bra and panties. She had been walking around in front of us all day long in somewhat skimpy bikini without thinking to much about it, but as she stood there in her underwear she somehow felt uncomfortable and embarrased.

Why do you think women act like that? Which is the difference?

[Gnome72141]

I think it is just psychological, for the most part. I have a friend who I have seen in a string bikini that barely covered anything, and once in a bra that covered more than even some of her tank tops, and she freaked when I saw her bra, and her bra was completely lined and really boring.

Underwear can be different, though, since most underwear is a lot thinner than bikini bottoms, which are usually lined.

Similar: I shared a hotel room with a female friend and her husband once. She would prance around in a tank top and underwear before getting dressed, but once she put a skirt on, she would be extremely cautious about me seeing up her skirt, even though I just saw her in her underwear before/as she was putting her skirt on. So, she has no issues with me seeing her yellow underwear, but once her skirt was on, it changed everything.

[piecenick]

It's just what they've been taught, public clothes are different than private clothes. No matter how skimpy a bathing suit it is "public clothes", no matter how iron-clad a bra & panties are, they're private clothes. When we were growing up my sisters used to run around in panties and bras all the time getting dressed for school, but once dressed you better not look twice. Big sisters are scary, frightening creatures anyway, I stayed clear of them.

With so many women wearing sports bras who can tell the difference. I do a lot of work where they photograph models for women's clothes for the web and catalogs, the models are modest about changing, but they don't close off the studio when shooting underwear or swimsuits.

[delt]

My wife and I went skinny dipping with several friends one evening before a wedding. The next day, they saw her in her bra, panties, garter belt and stockings and she cowered and got very upset. The story is in non-fiction under "Fond Memories of Dating" or something like that.

[Wetwon]

The same reason some guys get turned on by panty upskirts when you can get better crotch shots at the beach. It is the idea of see something that was not intended to be seen.

[canepar]

Yes, there is something about seeing something that is taboo. I think it is all about being somewhere wearing something that you would not normally be wearing. Its kind of like the difference in thrill between having sex at home behind a closed door vs. a public place. Its all about being seen.

What do you think?

[canepar]

This comic strip could explain this thread by itself.

[hamlet]

My whole time favorite question. I try to discuss this matter with my female friends when opportunity shows but still couldn't get an satisfactory answer

[PforPanchira]

I wonder about this as well, my Buddy had an ex Girl friend before who posts lots of pictures on FB just wearing a bikini 2 piece at pool parties and at the Beach but had a hard time changing at the girls dormitory and even felt a bit awkward to strip to her underwear infront of her boyfriend.

Well I guess this is also the reason why we men find Bras and Panties more appealing compared to swimsuits that even just a small Panty peek/upskirt gives us a big thrill/

[delt]

About a decade ago, I worked in a large corporate office. I hosted some meetings in my office and I could not help but notice that one of the ladies, in her 30's, was showing a lot of leg and you could sometimes see her stocking tops and sometimes even the elastic garter coming from the garter belt, usually white.

One day, when we were alone---and I knew her fairly well---I asked her if my wife had told her about my great appreciation of stockings in a 99% pantyhose world. She laughed and said no, that she wore them because they were more comfortable and allowed her skin to breathe instead of being kept in a tight wrapper like a sausage. She asked if she was showing too much, and I assured her she wasn't. To my surprise, she pulled her skirt to her waist and said "this could not be less sexy. I wear a plain garter belt and granny panties---certainly nothing worth looking at". She had good legs and the granny panties had a small blue pattern on them of some sort, but they were certainly not transparent. The panties reminded me of something a young girl might wear with a animal on them. We remained friends and occasionally she would give me a flash if we were alone, but the underwear stayed very utilitarian.

It is nice to know some ladies still wear stockings.