Clothes and shopping are toyed with as being a very popular fetish for women and their creditors. Cotton and silk threads that feel good against our skin and hide physical flaws are a preference most will not deny and prefer over bearing it all. Nudity has become second nature for some; they feel that our natural state should be exposed and enjoyed while others spend most of the day fully clothed and only disrobe to take a shower.

Naturism is a belief system based on respect for the environment and the philosophy of living a natural existence. It is a social practice that is not about people with well-toned bodies getting an even tan; it is for all shapes, sizes and ethnicities. Nudists do not discriminate or sexualize the naked body; they accept themselves and others for the skin he or she is in without superficial qualms. They practice worship and respect for the body as a part of the environment and do not strip down due to exhibitionist inclinations; typically, nudists are not naked for a sexual thrill and unlike exhibitionists, they practice in appropriate places. Since Nudism/Naturism is one of the more accepted fetish lifestyles there are many venues that cater to their needs. There are beaches, colonies, resorts, cruises and various other events that encourage people to walk around in the buff. Colonies are more accepted over dungeons and fetish clubs for reasons known and unknown. In some places such as Europe and South America, nudism is culturally acceptable and welcomed. France has even gone as far as creating a naked city to encourage its nude appreciating citizens and tourists. Cap D’Adge is a naturist village and resort where nudists can shop, dine and enjoy recreational activities all in the buff.

We are long past the time in history where it was unacceptable for women to show their ankles in public, but despite the acceptance and support of the nudist way of life in many regions, places like the United States continue to vigorously discourage partial or full exposure. Most recently, the California State Supreme Court deemed nudity punishable on San Onofre State Beach which has been frequented by sunbathers and nudists for decades. Independent of the crackdown in California, women in New York City are choosing to keep their tops on. In 1992, the New York State of Appeals Court ruled that women could go topless just like their male counterparts after one woman boldly went topless on a New York City train. But even though women have won the right to go topless, it is rare to see one baring her breasts in public because it neither socially acceptable nor safe. In addition, society still tends to be immature and offended by exposed breasts, even the act of breast feeding a child.

A nudist movement has been going on for quite some time, in encouragement of the 14th amendment, Go Topless Day is held around the country in cities where it is legal and illegal because they want people to understand that female breasts are more than a sexual object. Despite the United States’ obsession with breasts, the country prefers to keep nudity out of the public eyes. Very few parts of beaches are reserved for topless bathers or full nudity and they are often private and sectioned off from the masses. The law and repression of nudity in society has encouraged daring models to go nude for photographer Zach Hyman, who has photographed men and women in various public places in New York City. His models are taking a risk to show people that the human body is nothing to be ashamed of. Kathleen Neill, the only model of Hyman’s arrested for public nudity, was arrested when she defied the law and stripped down in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the name of art.

Though there are reservations about public nudity, resorts offer the sanctuary to go bare and the enjoyment of a vacation which appeals to first timers. At these resorts are a set of rules that include no clothing to clothing optional areas, no sexual activity in common areas, no photography and the golden rule -- always sit on a towel. Most of the rules are common sense and used in other places such as spas. Such rules and clothing option resorts as opposed to strict no clothing rules make it easy for nudist novices to join in on the fun. Tammy K., a non-nudist from California recently attended a resort and helped host a series of games dubbed the “Nude Olympics.” Tammy is no stranger to being in the same room with nudists; two of her friends follow the life and were even married in the nude at their clothing optional wedding. After much persuasion, the couple got her to agree to attend a resort. “I have no problem getting naked; I just do not like feeling I have to get naked. I mostly went topless during the day.” Said Tammy who broke club rules and removed her top in the pool but not her bottom. “You have to be naked to go in the pool. I got in trouble. The pool people did not like me.” It upset some nudists that she did not follow the rules and remove her bottom, but most in attendance were very accepting of her because she was open minded enough to participate and respect the lifestyle. Tammy stated she enjoyed swimming in her natural state, but when asked if it was a path she may continue she said, “I liked swimming naked. It is not a lifestyle I could live in. Too many rules. Plus, I like cute clothes.”

Some people are not open to deviling into fetishes, even behind closed doors. It takes a lot of courage to try something new, especially nudity since there are so many reservations and negative images about appearance. It may also be possible that colonies and the naturism are more acceptable because the followers are so welcoming to newcomers, and vice versa. Other fetishes are usually practiced through an underground network because people are ashamed, uncomfortable or just do not know where to meet like-minded people. Dungeons and fetish clubs can be intimidating to a newcomer as opposed to the resort-like atmosphere of a nudist club. There are various possibilities as to why nudism is more acceptable, it may be the simplest reason— everyone has to get naked at some point during the day and at some point in their life in front of another person or people. It is part of our very nature.