How did you overcome the social stigmas to be more confident?

[Therealajr]

Basically the post. I've only recently really started accepting (through many, many buy and purge cycles) that simply wearing thongs and other colorful, sexy, or fun underwear is a part of who I am and what I enjoy. To help with how I feel about it, I've been hitting the gym for the past 7 months in earnest to get over any body image feelings I have about it too.

But man.. for how much I enjoy wearing them still, I still feel extremely self conscious about the what ifs in normal day to day stuff. "What if a stranger or someone sees them at a store and has a really poor reaction?", "What if a friend notices and that changes a dynamic in our relationship?", "What if someone in my community sees and that starts a gossip train about it and I am labeled a perv or something?"

I guess even though it's something I just really enjoy and continue want to explore, I clearly have some baggage to work out about it, but I'm still having trouble coming to terms with the reality that all of those what ifs are within the realm of possibilities.

How did you overcome this? Was this something you needed to overcome? Did you have an experience that was quite negative, that helped you be more confident in the long run?

[swimmer78]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Your experience is not unusual at all. Ive been wearing thongs for avput 6 years and still have self-conscious moments. Try not to overthink the whatifs. Most wont ever happen and many times even if they do, what you're fearing the most won't happen. Continue with fitness, continue with feeling good about your body. And make positive self talk a regular thing. You've already started accepting this is part of who you are. Use that as positive energy. A little time in front of the mirror with just a thong on and saying to yourself this is who I am, is a powerful thing.

[Guitar T]

I think for most of us, our initial introduction to wearing a thong in public was anxiety filled with the fear of what if. I grew up in a family and community where thong wearing was taboo and forbidden. Even wearing a Speedo outside of competition was extensively discouraged. I’ve had family directly tell me that I WAS NOT TO WEAR A SPEEDO.” But my fascination with thong continued to grow. And once I move out of the parental home I started wearing thongs. At first I was worried that everyone would know. That faded as I wore thongs under my clothing and never had a negative encounter about it. My girlfriends were a big part of acceptance and encouragement. They loved the idea of me wearing a sexy thong. The next big step was to wear a thong on a beach. The first time was nerve wracking until I had a group of women make a big deal about me in my thong, praising me, taking photos with me and flirting with me.

It still took a few years to be more comfortable wearing a thong to the beach. I would primarily wear thong swimwear on vacation with positive vibes and feedback. Locally it took some more time. I had a few negative experiences locally with other beach goes and park rangers. But I also made friends on the beach that have defended my right to wear a thong. Each positive encounter helped me gain increasing more confidence. It also helped to wear a thong with other women wearing thong and very cheeky bikinis.

Now I wear a thong with confidence and pleasure. I learned that smiling and being friendly goes a long way to gaining acceptance. The only time I have any reply anxiety is if I am along and there are family groups where everyone is covered with the most conservative swimwear possible if any swimwear at all. When I encounter this I will choose to leave and find a different place to enjoy my day.

I’ve never had a friend change their relationship with me because I wear a thong (yes a few have seen). I’ve made friends because I wore a thong. In the end, be confident, be positive, be friendly and be yourself. If you do people will be drawn to you and no one that matters will have a negative attitude about your personal choices.

[Therealajr]

I think for most of us, our initial introduction to wearing a thong in public was anxiety filled with the fear of what if. I grew up in a family and community where thong wearing was taboo and forbidden. Even wearing a Speedo outside of competition was extensively discouraged. I’ve had family directly tell me that I WAS NOT TO WEAR A SPEEDO.” But my fascination with thong continued to grow. And once I move out of the parental home I started wearing thongs. At first I was worried that everyone would know. That faded as I wore thongs under my clothing and never had a negative encounter about it. My girlfriends were a big part of acceptance and encouragement. They loved the idea of me wearing a sexy thong. The next big step was to wear a thong on a beach. The first time was nerve wracking until I had a group of women make a big deal about me in my thong, praising me, taking photos with me and flirting with me.

It still took a few years to be more comfortable wearing a thong to the beach. I would primarily wear thong swimwear on vacation with positive vibes and feedback. Locally it took some more time. I had a few negative experiences locally with other beach goes and park rangers. But I also made friends on the beach that have defended my right to wear a thong. Each positive encounter helped me gain increasing more confidence. It also helped to wear a thong with other women wearing thong and very cheeky bikinis.

Now I wear a thong with confidence and pleasure. I learned that smiling and being friendly goes a long way to gaining acceptance. The only time I have any reply anxiety is if I am along and there are family groups where everyone is covered with the most conservative swimwear possible if any swimwear at all. When I encounter this I will choose to leave and find a different place to enjoy my day.

I’ve never had a friend change their relationship with me because I wear a thong (yes a few have seen). I’ve made friends because I wore a thong. In the end, be confident, be positive, be friendly and be yourself. If you do people will be drawn to you and no one that matters will have a negative attitude about your personal choices.

Thank you so much for sharing. I think your experience here really helps - gives me an idea of what continuing to explore this further looks like. It'll definitely be a huge jump for me having any sort of interaction with other people while wearing a thong, but I'll start small and then maybe one day at a beach I won't feel so uncomfortable with it then


Thanks!

[Therealajr]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Your experience is not unusual at all. Ive been wearing thongs for avput 6 years and still have self-conscious moments. Try not to overthink the whatifs. Most wont ever happen and many times even if they do, what you're fearing the most won't happen. Continue with fitness, continue with feeling good about your body. And make positive self talk a regular thing. You've already started accepting this is part of who you are. Use that as positive energy. A little time in front of the mirror with just a thong on and saying to yourself this is who I am, is a powerful thing.

Definitely going to lean into the fitness even more. Thanks for the encouragement. Going to just continue spending more time in them to get more comfortable with them altogether.

[JL Thong]

Welcome to the forum. You are definitely not alone. I waited many years to try a thong and had many reservations that held me back. Body image, fear of being discovered and judged as weird, and concern over my wife’s acceptance. I took the leap 1.5 years ago and don’t regret the decision. Working towards acceptance with my wife has been a struggles but we’ve made significant progress recently and she is now supportive and cool about me wearing them at home. For now thongs are private wear for me and her. The thought of wearing one to the beach fills me with anxiety. Bit you’ll find others here who do it proudly.

I’m not a muscle dude. Just an average middle aged guy with a dad bod and I enjoy wearing one every day. I think I look sexy in one and they give me confidence. Love putting one on each morning and looking in the mirror.

Keep thonging. The journey is worth it and you are not alone!

[Thonglover8k]

I’ve been wearing thongs and G-strings for so long now, I’ve almost forgotten how I overcame any stigma’s about wearing them.
I’ve always worn small undies, never boxers or larger briefs, string tangas were the earliest undies I can remember, it was just what I wore, nothing special. Over the years I’ve significantly enlarged my collection, now in the many hundreds, I wear Lululemon shorts almost all the time, except in the deepest winter and almost always wear a G or a thong, if you look you can clearly see the outline of them. I always wear a G when doing CrossFit, people can see what I’m wearing, as I’ve got older I care less what others think and do what I want and wear what I like.
I suppose I’m lucky as my wife likes what I wear too.
I do have some very small outrageous undies that I wear to the beach, but obviously not around families, I think it just comes down to confidence, hell, I even went on a naked bike ride recently around Melbourne city,
We’re not long here, life is too short for regrets.

[Therealajr]

Welcome to the forum. You are definitely not alone. I waited many years to try a thong and had many reservations that held me back. Body image, fear of being discovered and judged as weird, and concern over my wife’s acceptance. I took the leap 1.5 years ago and don’t regret the decision. Working towards acceptance with my wife has been a struggles but we’ve made significant progress recently and she is now supportive and cool about me wearing them at home. For now thongs are private wear for me and her. The thought of wearing one to the beach fills me with anxiety. Bit you’ll find others here who do it proudly.


I’m not a muscle dude. Just an average middle aged guy with a dad bod and I enjoy wearing one every day. I think I look sexy in one and they give me confidence. Love putting one on each morning and looking in the mirror.

Keep thonging. The journey is worth it and you are not alone!

Really appreciate the perspective and the response. Seems like we all have a pretty wide range of experiences on this. I feel pretty fortunate because I introduced them to my wife not long ago and she's been very supportive (praise be), otherwise I don't think I would've ever been able to explore further. Power to you and your strength for pursuing yourself through whatever challenges that entailed while staying true to your wife man! Definitely an inspiration to keep going.

[Therealajr]

I’ve been wearing thongs and G-strings for so long now, I’ve almost forgotten how I overcame any stigma’s about wearing them.
I’ve always worn small undies, never boxers or larger briefs, string tangas were the earliest undies I can remember, it was just what I wore, nothing special. Over the years I’ve significantly enlarged my collection, now in the many hundreds, I wear Lululemon shorts almost all the time, except in the deepest winter and almost always wear a G or a thong, if you look you can clearly see the outline of them. I always wear a G when doing CrossFit, people can see what I’m wearing, as I’ve got older I care less what others think and do what I want and wear what I like.
I suppose I’m lucky as my wife likes what I wear too.
I do have some very small outrageous undies that I wear to the beach, but obviously not around families, I think it just comes down to confidence, hell, I even went on a naked bike ride recently around Melbourne city,
We’re not long here, life is too short for regrets.

Thanks for the response! Seems like you've found the happy(ier) place on this topic.

I've thought about them on lifting days!! Just definitely am blocked on both the social side and anxiety. Think that'd be a huge bridge for me to cross. I live in a smaller pretty conservative town in the US, so I definitely worry that bringing up the old memories of being the odd one out in school so long ago - weird how those stay with you and elicit such strong responses still.

Do you feel more supported than a jock? Or do you just barely think about that they are there anymore?

[Thonglover8k]

I’ve been wearing thongs and G-strings for so long now, I’ve almost forgotten how I overcame any stigma’s about wearing them.
I’ve always worn small undies, never boxers or larger briefs, string tangas were the earliest undies I can remember, it was just what I wore, nothing special. Over the years I’ve significantly enlarged my collection, now in the many hundreds, I wear Lululemon shorts almost all the time, except in the deepest winter and almost always wear a G or a thong, if you look you can clearly see the outline of them. I always wear a G when doing CrossFit, people can see what I’m wearing, as I’ve got older I care less what others think and do what I want and wear what I like.
I suppose I’m lucky as my wife likes what I wear too.
I do have some very small outrageous undies that I wear to the beach, but obviously not around families, I think it just comes down to confidence, hell, I even went on a naked bike ride recently around Melbourne city,
We’re not long here, life is too short for regrets.

Thanks for the response! Seems like you've found the happy(ier) place on this topic.

I've thought about them on lifting days!! Just definitely am blocked on both the social side and anxiety. Think that'd be a huge bridge for me to cross. I live in a smaller pretty conservative town in the US, so I definitely worry that bringing up the old memories of being the odd one out in school so long ago - weird how those stay with you and elicit such strong responses still.

Do you feel more supported than a jock? Or do you just barely think about that they are there anymore?

Yes, I get the small town thing, there are some funny oldies here too. A few months ago, one of the older ladies at the gym said she liked my shorts and wanted some for her husband, she went around the back of my shorts to look at the label and suddenly noticed I was wearing a thong, she was a little shocked, but recovered quickly. I think these days, we can get away with more than we think we can, people accept and adapt quickly to what others say or do.
It’s funny to me that you ask about Jocks, previously I hadn’t any, but recently I’ve bought a few, they’re not athletic jocks, more fashionable jocks, without much support, but I do like the feeling of having a naked behind while still wearing something up front, so I might buy more. The biggest issue for me is the rear strap rising up and showing above my shorts, I do t get that with thongs.