Worn Stories is a Netflix Original limited series (8 episodes) focused on the stories real people related to clothes. The series is based on a book by Emily Spivak. Episode one examines how clothing or in this case the lack of it can form the basis for community. It includes conversations with residents at Cypress Cove and a nude yoga instructor who visits the resort. The episode 1 summary says
Clothing — or the lack thereof — can bring people together, whether they’re celebrating a life, shining on the dance floor or woodworking in the nude.
If you are looking for a detailed examination or in depth expose of the naturist/clothes free community you will be disappointed. Approximately a third of the thirty minute episode features interview footage with people and video from Cypress Cove. The episode actually starts with a 50 second segment featuring a couple Diane and Paul talking about their experience living at Cypress Cove. After a vignette segment with different people defining community, the focus shifts back the the folks at Cypress Cove. In a following six minute segment, we get to know the couple Diane and Paul, we were previously introduced to in the opening segment in more detail. We learn about how they met and discovered nudism. Also introduced is a yoga instructor Niecy who shares her journey to being comfortable with public nudity and the response of friends and family.
The comfort level with being naked is what nudism is to me. – Niecy
In the final segment Niecy speaks to the very homogenous crowd at Cypress Cove and says she isn’t sure why there are more people who look like her (young adult African American) there. I have to admit that statement raised my eyebrows a bit since I have interacted with her on the subject before. But that isn’t relevant to this review.
Purists and the uninitiated will find things to quibble with and ponder. First there is a lot more clothes on screen that one might think based on the usual nudist rhetoric. Talk of fashion, wearing sarongs, tops, levels of nudity and a line dancing class with most of the participants and instructor clothed suggests a more of a clothing optional than nudist sensibility. This despite the protestations of “hating clothes” expressed by Diane. The folks who insist “You aren’t naked if you are wearing shoes” will wince at the expressed notion that wearing shoes is absolutely necessary.
The feature is a huge win for Cypress Cove, though the context of the rest of the people featured in the episode and the series itself has a fish out of water kind of feel. The people featured do well to represent their take on nudism. This production is on par with other Netflix documentary productions. Hearing the perspective of real people is always a plus in promoting naturism so that a big plus. Overall there is nothing negative beyond brevity of focus to attach to this television episode. If you have a Netflix subscription and 30 minutes to spare check it out. Add your review below once you have watched.
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