Do American men feel embarrassed about wearing revealing clothing?

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Dr_Watson349@reddit

I have worn shorts everyday for the last 25 years. They reveal my legs probably as much as a kilt does.

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Yankee_chef_nen@reddit

My generation would laugh at the old men with their belts up at their armpits. The Alphas will (are) probably laugh at my generation wearing shorts all the time.

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TSells31@reddit

When I was a teenager, I would wear jeans all summer long because I was always self conscious that my legs weren’t very hairy compared to most other boys my age.

Shirtless, that’s generally considered rude or out of place except within certain contexts like at a pool or beach. Most businesses require a shirt or top be worn

If you mean speedo like at the beach that’s not a very American man thing yet

Open shirts or tank tops are open season when it’s warm generally

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I wore them as a young'in. I didn't show up to CA until freshmen year of high school.

Prior to that I had lived in OH, MD, PA and IL (and WA, but I didnt swim then was a baby) and worse a jammer in those places.

It was awkward freshmen year, seeing all the guys rocking speedo's a mocking the jammer wearers--sort of the inverse of everywhere else, where the jammer folk teased the lone speedo wearer...

But for water polo there was no alternative. You needed double walled speedos...or its just more fabric someone can grab onto to drown you with.

By the end of water polo season (fall sport) the "ick" was gone. And by the end of freshmen year, certainly by end of high school and later college, just no shame. And a genuine preference.

Feels slicker to swim in a speedo than a jammer (sure its psychosomatic with the water along your upper thighs)...

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VoidWalker4Lyfe@reddit

I like them! And you have less leg to shave 🤣

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CG20370417@reddit

I will say, the best was to when they were wet, tie them tight, and then open them rapidly sucking in air....like dutch ovening your own midsection...but with air, not fart...

And then the jammer would stay all poofy. The water sealed the fabric and the elastic and cords on your trunk and thighs kept it in too.

There was really no point beyond that, other than it looking amusing.

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VoidWalker4Lyfe@reddit

I think mine were too tight for that! 🤣 I have tree trunk legs

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blking@reddit

I’m not a dude, but they do seem practical if you’re in any water sport.

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CG20370417@reddit

'Dude' should really be officially recognized as gender neutral.

That sounds more like a thong / g-string.

Yes, Americans (and some? Many? Most?) others commonly refer to anything less than trunks for men as “a speedo” but shouldn’t. Speedo (tm) is a brand, and that doesn’t make anything that “lets the fruit hang”. The “skimpiest” thing made by Speedo is the briefs you see competition divers or water polo players wearing. They also make trunks and board shorts that would satisfy anyone’s modesty. There may be a bulge in the briefs but not “hanging fruit”.

Ahhh ok.

Personally I’m in my 50s, not in primo shape but not fat either. Put it this way - I usually don’t go to a ladder/stairs because I’m still plenty nimble to hoist myself out without one.

I like wearing briefs and don’t see anything wrong with them…but I have zero interest in wearing thongs. I also generally don’t pay attention to what other men wear, but I wouldn’t be happy seeing thongs either. :D

I also have primarily worn briefs for lap swimming but wouldn’t see an issue at beach or water park either. If the kids and parents can tolerate briefs at Y swim classes, just shouldn’t be an issue.

If you could spend a day in the water wearing the trunks you want him to wear, you might understand at least my opinion a little better. I’ve not found a pair of “trunks” that wasn’t annoying AF to walk around in wet…or climbing out of the pool.

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Living-Night4476@reddit

Oh my dad is skinny like 6’1” and 140lbs so maybe for me to get the equivalent to him cause I am much heavier I’d have to go two sizes up? Hmmm 🤔 something to think about for upcoming lake season

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Skinnidipped@reddit

Yeah. I'm not actually suggesting you waste good money on a mens suit just to find out. :D I actually didn't even start wearing briefs until...I dunno, 10 years ago? As a teenager I didn't want to as I was a bit chubbier back then. When I bought my first I was hyper self conscious for about the first 10 seconds in public and then it was an "Ohhhh. I've been missing out." feeling.

The kind of things I notice if I wear trunks or board shorts...

1: The fabric impedes movement. Normal walking or swimming is "OK" in that it doesn't stop me from walking/swimming, but I feel the fabric rub in various places. Also, I kinda lose the ability to climb out of the pool without a ladder because I can't lift a knee high enough to put my foot on the side.

2: Walking around just after getting out of the pool there's this constant flow of water draining out that feels like I'm peeing myself.

3: When I take 'em off, I can get 'em mostly dry with a quick squeeze. And they fit in my luggage like a pair of socks rather than...well...a pair of cargo shorts. Great for travel.

4: I can't say swimming was "difficult" with greater coverage but briefs I literally don't feel at all.

WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit

100%

I’m a runner and I wear long sleeves during the day in the summer most of the time. Breathable (ish) UPF rated running shirts are a thing

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sindelic@reddit

Do you have any thoughts on microplastics from the polyester? I hear we have more and more in our bodies being absorbed often through the skin from clothes

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WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit

I only just came across the idea recently

My thoughts currently are that synthetic shirts are the best performers for keeping cool, and protect from the sun even better than sunscreen does, and I’ve had skin cancer, so I’m going to wear the best performing shirts that also protect from UV and see where this goes

Because running in cotton sucks, wool only holds together well with synthetic help seemingly, sunscreens have chemicals and we’re always seeming to reevaluate wha chemicals are how bad etc…what else is one to do?

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netsurf916@reddit

There used to be all those signs "no shoes, no shirt, no service" when I was growing up. I always found it weird they didn't care about pants and I always wanted to drop by in shoes and shirt only to see what happens.

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WorkerAmbitious2072@reddit

People without bottoms wasn’t a problem to address

PeppyQuotient57@reddit

Yeah, I honestly see flip flops a fair amount in Colorado

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ghobbb@reddit

I see my coworkers’ toes shockingly often.

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NeonPlutonium@reddit

It’s OK as long as you’re wearing socks…

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Cheeto-dust@reddit

They like their brown flip-flops in Arlington, Virginia.

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shelwood46@reddit

Oh 70s men shorts were even worse. So many men... fell out, especially of the really highly cut jorts.

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I never had to swim nude, but the gang showers were still a thing for me in the late 00s-2010. It made damn near every boy dread the swimming unit lol.

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elucify@reddit

I've only recently read about the nude swimming thing. Kind of sus if you ask me.

We had nude showers 50 years ago and we hated it, too. Especially when the freshmen who hadn't started developing yet, had to share the locker room with senior football players, walking around with all of their hair and their giant church bell clapper swinging back-and-forth or dragging on the ground. Yet another of the humiliations in the name of American education.

But as an adult, I think grown ass men getting the vapors about nudity is wussy. Public pools, dojo's, the military, not to mention swimming naked when you're camping. For most guys, it takes about 10 minutes to realize how unimportant it is to spend time and energy trying to hide your dick. Go to a nudist place sometime, and within an hour he will realize that most of this "privacy" notion is bullshit.

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I was around in the 70's. No, Speedos where a swim/dive team only thing. Trunks were short, for sure, with about a 2 inch inseam. But not the negative 2 inch inseam of a Speedo.

Shirts were less required than today. Having a tan was important, nobody knew about skin cancer and sunscreens pretty much stopped at SPF 4. In fact, in 1974 I went to a dermatologist for acne and his prescription was "do more sunbathing"... the sun will do for you what benzoil peroxide does (it was prescription only back then).

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roskybosky@reddit

Not in the 70s. Men wore baggy jams or cutoffs on the beach. Speedos were foreign and ridiculous.

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RemotePossibility399@reddit

I was in Jr high in the late 1970s early 1980s. The guys on the swim team and other young men wore speedos frequently both in competition and just to the pool. Once the '80s hit, they were essentially only seen during competition.

cjf4@reddit

you definitely got made fun of for wearing a speedo in 1996.

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ForbiddenButtStuff@reddit

There was a song called "Tangerine Speedo" that came out in 2000 with the line "no woman can resist a man who looks good in a speedo"

I said “most people”. I think if you exclusively surveyed people who like penises, most of them would prefer not to see the bulges of just whoever. They’d rather be selective about the dicks they see. Not seeing unexpected, unrequested, penis is a whole thing that people value.

I don’t doubt some people want to see dick. Most people do not. And even fewer people want to see every dick.

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307148@reddit

It's just weird that we're ok with seeing women's cleavages but a man's bulge is a step too far. It's a double standard

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TruckADuck42@reddit

I'll accept that its a double standard, but also everyone likes titties. Man, woman, gay, straight, doesn't really matter.

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1Negative_Person@reddit

Breasts aren’t genitals.

but because most people don’t want to see some stranger’s bulge.

While that's a common joke, I don't belive it's true. Otherwise they wouldn't have noticed.

See, for example, this image from a 1960s beach movie. That's about when the form fitting swim trunks were falling out of favor. While the knit trunks, being thicker than speedos, didn't show the details, they did show the bulge. No one cared back then (except for Burt Ward's endowment, which embarrassed the sponsors of Batman).

We may if for no other reason than weight loss drugs being all the rage now

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SparkSignals@reddit

If you mean speedo like at the beach that’s not a very American man thing yet

I hope it never does catch on lol

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aksers@reddit

Boooo

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Higher_StateD@reddit

Not to mention the sleeveless T-shirts

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iowanaquarist@reddit

Yard work is also an acceptable time to go shirtless.

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Shirts that expose a lot of the chest, short-shorts, and speedos are considered tacky, European, or gay. Straight American men rarely show off their bodies between shoulders and knees.

When I lived in Denver I wore long sleeves mostly because the sun is evil AF there.

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One_Information9337@reddit

europeans try to not take anything american out of context challenge: fucking impossible

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MrLongWalk@reddit

Usually it’s Northern Europeans complaining that we wear these things too much.

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Sea_Pomegranate_4499@reddit

This. Many stores in the US let you know at the door that shirts are required for entry - that doesn't happen if people aren't walking in without shirts all the time. Americans are also infamous for their preference for shorts, whereas in most of Northern Europe this is considered attire for children or the beach. There really aren't many people in Scotland wearing kilts unless they are going to a wedding or playing the bagpipes at a scenic overlook.

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Fantastic_Remote1385@reddit

Bullshit. I where shorts all the time, as long as the weather is warm enough. The same do "everyone" else.

I have chest heir. When I learnt it was considered attractive, I covered it up on instinct.

enaikelt@reddit

I do miss our city's iconic Thong Cape Scooter Guy. I think he retired recently from thongs, capes and scooters but I wish him the best.

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TiredNurse111@reddit

My hometown had “Speedo Man,” too. But he wasn’t a runner, just a unique homeless man who loved speedos 24/7/365. Even in winter, at least some days.

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10k_Uzi@reddit

My hometown we have a guy that runs dressed as Superman every morning.

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srslytho1979@reddit

Revealing clothing makes them worry that God forbid, someone might think they are gay.

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THXORY@reddit

American men as a rule are incredibly hung up, reflecting the Puritan undercurrent of a lot of American culture.

Respectfully, if you don't know who the Fab 5 are I have a hard time taking your historical claims as fact.

Cudi_buddy@reddit

I feel we get so judged for our clothing but usually the opposite. Just goes to show it’s a big country. I live in California. Sandals/flip flops, shorts, tank tops are incredibly common anywhere for half the year. The beach guys are commonly topless. Though no guy is wearing a speedo to the lake or River lol.

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milliemargo@reddit

Not a man but an American. On the beach, no shirts or open shirts are normal.

It's not weird to wear a tank top in public, but they are typically reserved for undershirts. I suppose a tshrit-style with cutoff sleeves is much more common.

But you wouldn't go into a store or something with no shirt on. You'd get kicked out

I've never actually seen someone wear a speedo in real life. And I do not want to. Most Americans think thats gross I think

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-Boston-Terrier-@reddit

Not a man but an American. On the beach, no shirts or open shirts are normal.

I feel like this is actually becoming less normal with young people by me.

I commented a few times to my wife about how weird it was seeing so many guys with shirts on at the beach last summer. When I was a kid that was basically reserved for fat kids. I can't tell if it's just a health thing or what.

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Divine_Entity_@reddit

I'm on the border of gen z & millennial, i would say the main reasons for shirts on the beach are: 1. Sunburn prevention (some shirts are explicitly UV blocking while being very light, and sunscreen washes off, even the stuff that isn't supposed to) 2. Temperature regulation (a light shirt can reflect more heat than it traps, and as the day cools off can be useful to keep you warmer) 3. Anxiety/self confidence issues, aka the fat kid trying to hide except we all are kinda messed up in the head.

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Cudi_buddy@reddit

Sunburn for sure. Typically I start shirtless with sunscreen, but if we are out for more than a couple hours I usually don’t feel like putting sunscreen back on and cover up. Sunburn just ain’t worth it anymore.

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hollylettuce@reddit

Well the ozone layer is getting thinner!

ancientastronaut2@reddit

I don't. And neither does my husband, he wears speedos. Mostly at home, but also on vacation.

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Yankee_chef_nen@reddit

I’ve unfortunately seen the most inappropriate Speedo European ever.

When I was the chef at a tourist hotel in the North Carolina Blue Ridge, I walked into the dining room one morning to check on the breakfast buffet and there was a European dude in a Speedo, tight mid-riff tank top, and sandals. Apparently he showed up for breakfast dressed like this 3 mornings in a row.

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icyDinosaur@reddit

As a European myself... that sounds about as inappropriate as it sounds hilarious :D

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dystopiadattopia@reddit

Many American men consider Speedos gay, or European. Six of one.

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Enough-Ad-8799@reddit

I don't know how true that really is, I think for one it's not the norm and two they're not as comfortable so people just notice.

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Cudi_buddy@reddit

Idk. As a guy in his 30’s it was def thought of as gay.

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skimaskschizo@reddit

gay or European

Nah, if you look good naked you look good in a speedo, but we still consider the speedo something weird to wear for some reason?

There are plenty of American men who wear less, especially at the beach, gym, doing yardwork, summer cookouts, partying and stuff like that. But it can depend a lot on the region and time of year. The west coast is a lot more informal than the east coast, and the South is a lot hotter year-round than the North, for example.

But as others have said, the things you mentioned are considered tacky by a lot of people. For example, tank tops are called "wife beaters," speedos are called "banana hammocks" and having an open shirt is associated with swingers or the 1970s decade with disco and gold chains.

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cacamilis1@reddit

For Brazil, Spain, Italy and parts of America, the weather is scorching hot so naturally people are wearing less clothes… it’s normal in these places… I would think plenty of American men wear shorts and T-shirts the same way if they live in a warm climate

In the case of kilts, not really a “British” thing, they’re worn in Scotland and sometimes in Ireland as part of a cultural tradition - (not sure why they chose to do this as both are fairly cold countries)

Where are you from out of curiosity and what is normally worn in summer in your country?

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Field-of-Schemes@reddit

Americans are Puritans. Plain and simple. So yes (and per the numerous comments, being the good Cristians they are, they also consider it gay for men).

Spend a year in Western Europe. Nudity is everywhere. Fountains. Museums (paintings and statues). Public statutory. Specific beaches and sections of the park (in Germany). It’s considered normal.

Asked my Dutch friend Maureen where the gay beach was (2001). She looked at me like I was crazy. “Everyone goes to the same beach. Bi, Gay, Straight (including families). It is irrelevant.”

Of course, she also had sex education in the 2nd grade (“Americans” clutch those pearls). Guess that’s why the US has all the sexual hang-ups and problems it does (teen pregnancy, sexual crimes, etc).

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Interesting_Bad_6226@reddit

We arent allowed to go into stores or gas stations without a shirt in most places. I think thats why in summer most people wear something. We have signs that say "no shoes, no shirt, no service"

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OriginalCause@reddit

I see you've never been to a beach town. Sure, the signs are there, but if busineses within a few blocks of the beach stopped people coming in without shirts or shoes their sales would plummet.

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tea-wallah@reddit

Right? Moved to Panama City FL in the 90s. Went the dmv and no one was wearing shoes.

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Some of those boundaries NEEDED pushing.

That sort of style is regarded, broadly, as being kind of absurd. We have sketch comedy characters dressed that way.

The Brazilian guy in a tiny speedo.

The Eastern/Central European in capri pants, an Armani Exchange t-shirt, and incongruously nice shoes - all way too tight.

The old Italian man in a suit in 90 degree weather, chain smoking and saying inappropriate things to women.

A. I’d just like to point out that show is filmed in Southern California and the scenery looks nothing like Reno. And

Infinite_Art_99@reddit

Nah, in large parts of Europe, nakedness just isn't inherently sexual, so you don't have to be "hot" to be allowed the comfort of nudity.

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CompanyOther2608@reddit

I think it’s more like, to Americans, nakedness is inherently slightly offputting, so you need to reach a certain level of “not gross” in order to be able to pull it off. Maybe it’s because we’re so fat.

But even hot guys wearing short-shorts or unbuttoned shirts or tight pants seem ridiculous to us, so I don’t know.

Oh, so you mean they objectify BOTH. Yeah, that seems even worse.

I thought you meant that there’s a place on the planet where women aren’t objectified.

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LaScoundrelle@reddit

Oh. No, that’s not really what I meant. Although in parts of rural Afghanistan men supposedly prefer objectifying other men to objectifying women. Also in Ancient Greece and Rome men’s bodies were considered more universally attractive. These were also societies where women didn’t have many rights though, so not sure it’s what you’re looking for.

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Infinite_Art_99@reddit

I think the nakedness=sexual connection is what's ruining it for you, bc puritanical roots.

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Traditional_Trust418@reddit

Going shirtless isn't considered embarrassing or out of place for any men at places like beaches, pools, and lakes. (Outdoor spaces where people typically wear less clothes.)

Going shirtless in general isn't allowed by many businesses so it's frowned upon.

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5thCap@reddit

I said sporting, I would consider running a sport activity. I live in Georgia, I saw 3 guys just yesterday on my evening walk. I thought nothing of them..

I also have a very blue collar family that works outdoors and run own outdoor based business. Some of the employees don’t wear shirts on company property (not a traditional customer based business) I don’t think anything of that, but out in public or on the job site they have shirts on..

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Bandag5150@reddit

It gets hot and humid here in Georgia.

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ghost_suburbia@reddit

I married a Florida man. But don't live in Florida. He is shirtless all the time outside, and the neighbors are constantly remarking on it. When his brother visits, we have trouble getting him to put a shirt on for a white tablecloth restaurant if we are getting a table outside. SMH

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Stan_Deviant@reddit

There is a great ad from an ice cream company I saw in New Zealand of this guy in a Speedo and they explained in the ad when togs become undies. So other places also have the idea that some clothes are okay at the beach but not in a grocery store.

Young_Bu11@reddit

It's a big country and it's going to differ significantly by region, around here "revealing clothing" is pretty normal.

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Just1Pepsimum@reddit

Wouldn't say its embarrassment just culture differences. I know in the us its always easy to pic Europeans and Canadians out at the beach if there in speedos there 99% not gonna be from the US.

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FunkMaster96@reddit

Depends… obviously the fitter you are, the less embarrassed we feel, but it highly depends on the context/ event. If you do it around kids, it’ll cause an uproar no matter who you are. If you do it a party, it’s cool, just don’t embarrass yourself by thinking you’re prettier than you are.

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ManufacturerDull4689@reddit

“No shirt, no shoes, no service…”.

Yes

I dressed up as Joe Elliott of Def Leppard for Halloween last year. I placed second in a costume contest, and was so relieved that I did not win and move on to the next round. Just so embarrassing wearing that tank top

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.defleppardreport.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F04%2FPour-Some-Sugar-Feature-image-layered700x400_Song-Spotlight_UPDATED-AGAIN.jpg&f=1&ipt=733dedab6f985714d2adceb075cf0a228bd34acee7ce30c82d2175fa52d82b4c

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jfisk101@reddit

I rock the Magnum PI short shorts and shirt halfway unbuttoned in the summer, does that count?

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hollylettuce@reddit

My male friends say that they'd feel naked going around shirtless in public in most contexts. Nevermind speedos.

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dsteazy80@reddit

I’m from the 90s. If it doesn’t fit like a large trash bag, I ain’t wearing it.

This isn’t true for everyone, but a lot of us American guys are insecure about our bodies. Some of it comes from the fact that lots of us are fat, and some of it is a remnant of homophobia.

I’m 42, so I grew up in the 90s, when if you presented yourself in any way that deviated from the norm, your buddies would call you the f-slur. Most of us have moved past that mindset, but when it comes to how we dress, we haven’t.

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My answer is no, we just do it differently.

Instead of stuff like speedos we wear stuff like basketball shorts more casually.

I'm sure there's lots of men in this chat who have slipped on flip flops, in their gym/basketball shorts, threw on a shirt of some kind and went to the gas station or hardware store or picking up food or whatnot.

The US does something called athleisure where exercise clothing becomes normal day to day wear out and about and you will absolutely see dudes in their cut up muscle shirts in public. You will also see men with their pants sagging and their underwear covered asses out.

Most of the styles you mentioned OP are simply not in fashion here. It's why you don't see them.

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FoxRavencroft@reddit

Baggier the better. I feel more comfortable in super large baggy clothing than anything that would be considered revealing... but I did grow up in the 90's so take that as you will.

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evergreengoth@reddit

Straight American men are terrified of looking gay, so yes.

Queer American men don't care and may wear more revealing clothing if it suits them, but doing so also means making it obvious that they're queer.

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Giverherhell@reddit

Depend on where in America. In the south, shirtless men are everywhere, in Florida, it is not uncommon to see shirtless ppl or even whole families in bikinis going into a gas station or just out and about. Especially in the tourist area. The northern region of our country is much colder. The people who live up there were clothes because they have to.

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SkyerKayJay1958@reddit

Birkinstocks and socks with shorts are a Pacific Northwest uniform

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ancientastronaut2@reddit

Men wearing their shirts unbuttoned down to their sternum was a big thing in the 70's disco era, and has also been associated with mafioso types.

Now they typically either wear a shirt normally (mostly buttoned except the top one or two), or go shirtless if at the beach or working out or something like that.

Crop tops for men are typically associated with gay or culture.

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Carl_Schmitt@reddit

I go to nude beaches without any embarassment, so that's not the issue. We just have different social expectations for different places and times just like every other culture. The wide open shirt/gold chain thing is considered lower class and tacky most of the time. Speedos are also considered bad taste.

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Leverkaas2516@reddit

Look at any photo of an American beach. Quite obviously most of the men aren't embarrassed about revealing their legs below the thigh or their body above the waist.

What most American men don't do is look for an excuse to show skin purely for the purpose of showing skin. A Speedo in America is a racing suit. If you aren't racing, there's no reason to wear one.

I will say, as a fat man, that embarrassment CAN be a part of clothing choices. I no longer go shirtless even at the beach, because I don't like to reveal how fat I am. I avoid wearing shorts and no shoes because I have very visible varicose veins. But all this only became an issue after 40.

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yeeting_my_meat69@reddit

Shorter inseams, athletic fit, and “athleisure wear” are huge with the millennial and Gen Z crowd. Going shirtless is generally frowned upon and most businesses will kick you out. Tank tops and other sleeveless is pretty popular for at home, gym, or very casual outings.

I don’t think it’s about feeling embarrassed. I think it’s a carryover effect from the relatively puritanical societal standards that have always existed in the US.

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A-Moron-Explains@reddit

Just culturally different. If I see a guy in a Speedo on the beach I immediately assume he is either European or gay and being intentionally provocative. I find most men in the US that dress skimpily are homosexual men intentionally challenging gender norms.

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TrixieLurker@reddit

Different cultures have different casual styles.

Men go shirtless all the time. But an open shirt has more of a douche bag connotation than the guy is embarrassed about revealing skin.

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MyToesHugEachOther@reddit

American culture was heavily influenced by puritan settlers. Those cultural attitudes were reinforced by generations of strict protestant immigrants. Those roots run deep in American culture and influence many aspects, including attitudes about wear and attire.

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Lexie_Acquara@reddit

I recognize that what I’m about to say is cultural and has to do with fashion of any given time. But I don’t think it has to do with being embarrassed by the body or being modest, it’s because a lot of the stuff you mention is thought of as skeevy, vain, and low class. I remember American men wearing speedos and open shirts, midriff shirts and things like short cuttoff jeans and no shirt in the 70s and early 80s. It was in fashion until it wasn’t. Stuff like that got made fun of and kind of became associated with porn stars and low life creepers. You still see it in movies today. if they want to signal a guy is unsafe, gross, and just about to sexually harass you, he will have a shirt open to the naval and lots of tacky gold jewelry. if at the pool, he will be the one in the Speedo. It’s just become sort of a signaller of a sort of low life guy. Men who don’t want to put out that vibe don’t dress like that.

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TheKiddIncident@reddit

I think "embarrassed" is the wrong word. Wearing a shirt unbuttoned to your navel is considered low class and most American men wear our shirts buttoned up. Think style rather than modesty.

If we are at the beach or a pool, then sure. No need to wear a shirt. Even at the gym or on a bike ride you'll see guys with no shirt at all. Not a big deal.

Vegetable-Star-5833@reddit

My dad won’t go in public without a shirt on so…

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Sober_Navajo1996@reddit

Because I don’t like it. It feels uncomfortable and revealing to the public and I don’t want that. Give me my sweats/jeans and a hoodie any day.

I’m not embarrassed about my body; but I don’t feel the need to show it to the world. I’m secure in my body. And it doesn’t feel right to expose myself like that to people who don’t want to see my body; or who I don’t want to see my body.

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Conscious-Okra-7340@reddit

I graduated high school in 1971. I’ve only ever seen old men wear speedos outside a swim meet and they’re always with old women in thong bikinis.

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1PumpkinKiing@reddit

I'm American and I've worn pants 2 times in almost 20 years. I don't even own pants anymore.

I wear kilts every day. They are comfortable, I like them, if their is the slightest breeze you're getting cooled down quick, and if there isn't any breeze you just rock back and forth a little bit like you're listening to music to kick on the built in AC.

I do have a couple pairs of shorts, but I only wear them when I'm going swimming, or I'm doing something like working on my car and don't want to ruin one of my kilts with oil.

I try to show as much skin as possible!

I open an extra shirt button, wear 3” gym shorts, and prefer skimpy swimwear.

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Expert-Rub4718@reddit

Its ok for women to have their tits and ass hanging out but inappropriate for men to wear speedo or open shirts. What does that tell you?

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Chulbiski@reddit

those clothes don't appeal to me.

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wwhsd@reddit

I was raised not to wear a tank tops (or be shirtless) at the table. Nobody wants to see my pit hair while they are eating. If I’m leaving the house, and not going to the gym or exercise, I’m wearing something that I would eat at a casual restaurant.

In general, yes. Shorts tend to go to our knees and tank tops are rare outside of extremely casual settings.

speedos are associated with gay / exhibitionism / professional swimming / clueless tourists rather than what an ordinary person would wear to the pool.

Button down shirts that you could leave open are fairly rare in casual wear compared to t-shirts.

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Creepy_Mammoth_7076@reddit

Insecurity in men has grown larger and larger , I don’t have all of the answers as to why but The truth is a lot of those things listed are called “gay” Open shirts in public depending on location not appropriate clothing.. many people don’t want to stand out in the wrong way

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mynewworkthrowaway@reddit

I've seen how Europeans dress and they ought to be embarrassed.

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No_Patience_6801@reddit

This is where the saying “there’s a fine line between being gay and European” comes from in the US. Because most men here don’t dress in tight fashions or speedos, etc. The ones who don’t dress like this think that it makes them appear more gay if they are heterosexual. Don’t shoot the messenger- I’m not saying I agree with this. Just laying out my observations.

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EgoSenatus@reddit

It depends on where you are and what you’re talking about.

There are American men that wear revealing clothing. If you’re someplace warm like Florida or California, the likelihood of seeing a man’s torso, legs, and upper arms goes way up, cause clothing is hot. On the other hand, in some states, it’s below 60 degrees Fahrenheit half the year and you wear clothing to stay warm.

And then there’s the whole modesty thing- Americans tend to hold more of a “just because you like something, doesn’t mean everyone does” mentality, particularly when it comes to exposing skin. You and your partner may find your exposed torso sexy, but other people at the grocery store might not. Not everyone is interested in seeing your junk cradled by a banana hammock speedo. It’s a general consensus of “be respectful of what you think other people would wanna see.” It is why we wear stylized clothes instead of tunics after all.

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5hellback@reddit

Everything is on the table in the right situation except speedos. There isn't a reason I can think of where it's appropriate unless you're a competitive swimmer/diver in the act of competing.

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Money-Ad7257@reddit

At a private club pool or something to that order, you'll see maybe 5-10% of the guys with Speedos, usually worn in a semi-ironic way. Many of the women will wear revealing swimsuits with at least a tanga bottom, if not a thong in many cases.

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mister_burns1@reddit

Sandals are highly embarrassing for men to wear when not at the beach/pool.

I would never wear them, but I’m embarrassed for others that do.

(Flip flops are fine)

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Kyle81020@reddit

Shorter shorts are making a bit of a comeback in the U.S. I wear short shorts and tank tops regularly when I’m running or hiking. I also run and hike shirtless at times. I’m not an outlier here in South Louisiana.

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No_Homework_5084@reddit

We're fat as fuck. We also don't like looking at half naked fat people

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Pleasant_Coat91@reddit

I wear a speedo, but I’m also a competitive swimmer so… I don’t know what it’s like in your area but in the club teams there is actually a lot of pressure to wear one, besides they are more comfortable.

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getElephantById@reddit

I feel embarrassed about wearing revealing clothing, but only because of all the people pointing and laughing at me whenever I do it.

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DeFiClark@reddit

Have you been to America?

Obesity rates of 30-40% vs 17% in Europe is your answer.

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ExultantGitana@reddit

Some styles in the US that you don't see being worn or used as often is yes, sometimes about modesty, but in many cases, as each country has its own styles and flair, we (both men and women in many cases) may merely think it's ugly, tacky, not stylish, off putting.

Some of the styles you talk about, to the US mind, has particular connotations and your typical man, with a partner, may not want to walk out in body covering that yells out, for example: gigolo, player, cheater, desperate, tacky.

It's simply cultural, whether be it a modesty or a style matter.

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SnooChipmunks2079@reddit

I don’t think most men worry about wearing shorts, but it’s generally either young guys who look good or old guys who don’t gaf any more shirtless or open shirt.

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From me personally I rarely go out in public without pants or a shirt on. I normally wear clothes that cover well

Now in an outdoor swimming pool no issues swimming shirtless and wearing swim shorts. At my indoor rec center where I swim laps I were swim brief. I just feel speedos are a little uncomfortable and show too much. That’s just me

Izoto@reddit

You have clearly never been to Florida.

Other than speedos, open shirts and tank tops are common.

It depends on the man.

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DPetrilloZbornak@reddit

It’s not a cute look here.

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SwolgeyBrin@reddit

As a native Floridian my 9 month summer attire is essentially a tank top, shorts, and flip flops.

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clearcoat_ben@reddit

There are a lot of subcultures that define norms and mores for men in the USA.

College town in the South? Guys are shirtless and wearing the shortest shorts you can buy from an American company.

I still have some running shorts from the Marines that are shorter than some of my boxer briefs.

Hipster neighborhood when it's warm? Definitely some tattooed guy walking around with his shirt unbuttoned

HammerOvGrendel@reddit

There's an American satirical cartoon from the 60s that does the rounds on social media pretty frequently along the lines of "THIS will be Men's fashion in the future", and it's a guy wearing shorts, a vest, boots and an indeterminate "cowboy hat" while other men in 3-piece suits look shocked. The comments are always "Welcome to Australia" .

In the other english-speaking parts of the world that are actually warm climates - Australia, NZ and South Africa among others, that's a "rugged outdoorsman, salt of the earth" coded outfit rather than "male stripper" one. Same goes for Speedos - In Australia Swimming is a compulsory lesson/sport at school, we win lots of medals for it at the Olympics, and that super-tanned guy in his little speedo who drags you out of the ocean if you start drowning or get bitten by a shark/crocodile is a national icon of manliness.

rowsoflark@reddit

At least by me mens shorts and bathing suits have shifted back to 5-7 inch seams the past couple years.

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Pineapple_Trvphaus@reddit

Yeah I always found it interesting how men’s fashion in the US overall became more conservative throughout the past few decades

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cautiously-curious65@reddit

I’m an American that wears speedos all the time.

As a gay dude, I’m comfortable wearing literally nothing around most people and environments. I get uncomfortable about the idea of wearing nothing in front of minors, and I’m aware that nudity doesn’t inherently mean sex or intent… but that’s my hang up..there’s lots of cultures that don’t make that assumption, and I don’t even want to get there.

But the USA has a lot of hang ups around male modesty.. a Speedo at a beach or pool for lay people nearly immediately others you. As a tourist or as gay. And you need to be comfortable as being perceived as one of those things.

I need to ask myself if it’s an appropriate place where being gay is okay.. all the time. And for my whole life. I’m 34, and “passing” and from New York.

I once wore a speedo as underwear and flew from California to New York and had to have an extra search at security..because the fabric was thicker than underwear.

It’s regularly 40C/103f for months in some regions, and we’ve yet to get comfortable with seeing people sweat…there’s a lot of hang ups about dumb shit. Very low level shit. And here we are (Americans) for judging people in speedos. It’s absolutely insane.

I support none of this dumb shit America in general does. Speedo style swim suits feel better. But a lot of the USA isnt even comfortable wearing briefs underwear that you can’t even see and makes a lot of assumptions on that..

We’re at the point of seeing people sweat is viewed as unprofessional or gross… it’s insane.

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tacobellgittcard@reddit

Even if it was normal / acceptable to do so, I don’t see a universe where I’d want to wear a speedo haha

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Major_Enthusiasm1099@reddit

I'm fat so yeah. But if I wasn't, probably not

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dildozer10@reddit

I will cut my grass in short shorts, no shirt, straw hat, and beer in hand. I have no shame. I really don’t care what people think, it’s 90 degrees outside and I am going to be comfortable whether they like it or not.

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Pineapple_Trvphaus@reddit

Speedos are generally associated with gay men, water sport athletes, and Europeans. It’s not common pool or beachwear.

Open shirts or being shirtless isn’t necessarily uncommon or taboo. You just can’t enter the overwhelming majority of businesses without being fully clothed. But if you’re at the park, beach, at home, on a run, or for some blue collar workers - when working, it’s pretty normal.

Tank tops are normal. At least where I’m from. American men’s fashion generally is just more conservative.

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Great_Chipmunk4357@reddit

American men wear shorts and t-shirts or sleeveless shirts all the time. How much more do you want them to reveal? Wearing skin-tight and revealing clothes is considered somewhat effeminate.

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Derwin0@reddit

Not really. Go to the beach and you’ll see plenty of shirtless men, we just prefer not to have skin cancer by going shirtless all the time (as well as the whole “no shirt, no service” when going into a store/diner).

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MentalTelephone5080@reddit

I fish very often and I used to wear as little as possible. In the dead of summer I'd be shirtless. I used to be very tan by the end of June.

A few family members ended up with skin cancer so I now wear sun shirts and pants with a bucket hat. I guess I went from one extreme to the other but not out of embarrassment.

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LivingTheBoringLife@reddit

We, as a whole, are more conservative.

We expect women to cover their breasts whole other countries aren’t nearly as uptight.

Same thing with nude beaches, I mean I know of one place it’s allowed in the us (not that there aren’t more) while I know other parts of the world just don’t see things like that as bad.

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knight1096@reddit

I have found two nude beaches in the US so far…one at Cape Canaveral in Florida in the national park (there’s actually a sign for it) and the rules are pretty loosey goosey somewhere around Provincetown, Massachusetts but I won’t name the location. Honestly, I appreciate European beaches, great normalizer of all bodies are welcome.

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I mean American men wear shorts all summer, that's about the same as a kilt. We also wear tank tops and sleeveless shirts pretty commonly, especially if doing something active.
Speedos I don't think will ever be an American thing lol, we view them as very unattractive and cringe? Creepy? Gross? Pedo? And wearing a button up shirt unbuttoned so you are showing off your chest and stomach is a look most Americans find funny and what we would call "trashy" or "redneck", kind of a sleazy vibe.

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Ok-Awareness-4401@reddit

Shirtless no, speedos culturally yes. They might dress it up as some other reason, but it boils down to fitting in and feeling comfortable in their bodies.

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OceanLemur@reddit

In high school I did a school trip to Europe, but in Germany we each got dropped off with a host family. Mine took me to a community pool where the women were topless and the dudes all had speedos, while my American ass is wearing a bathing suit that reaches my shins, a t-shirt and a Yankees hat. I was worried I was going to have to be basically naked like everyone else. So, yes, very uncomfortable experience.

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rdubmu@reddit

Yeah we are fat

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trae_curieux@reddit

It's just a cultural difference. Going shirtless at the pool or beach is totally normal for males but isn't common in other venues.

We have AC, there’s no real need.

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licksquadtraps@reddit

I and some others were sort of trained like this. I used to take my shirt off all the time as a kid. I overheated a lot. But as soon as someone saw I was told to put it back on. I’ve never owned a Speedo, my parents got me swim shorts. No point in changing now. Not like I’m trying to accentuate my ass or anything.

moodeng2u@reddit

Many stores or restaurants in america have signs at the entrance 'no shirts, no shoes, no service'.

This means if you come in without shoes or a shirt they will not sell you anything, and ask you to leave.

This is more common in beach or other tourist areas.

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jbp12@reddit

Are you asking about general clothing or beach clothing? It's normal for men to be shirtless at the beach, but unusual in most other places. I would assume men in the countries you listed don't go to work, to restaurants, etc without a shirt, which would be the same as here. Perhaps people in those countries live closer to beaches, or the pictures you see from those countries are from touristy beach areas.

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The0wl0ne@reddit

I think it depends how you're raised more than anything. I've seen people who have no problem going out without a shirt and people who would never reveal that much. Personally I gew up in a pretty modest household to the point where you wouldnt even go shirtless around your own family.

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