Men’s Swimwear Guide

Choosing swimwear can be daunting – especially when there are so many mistakes you can make. Be timelessly stylish beachside and poolside by following this guide.

Board shorts

Wear 'em right

A pair of board shorts is the go-to swimwear for men, whether at the beach or at the pool. You can show off your torso, but hide more unsightly areas. Board shorts come in a variety of lengths. A hand-span above the knee is most flattering, but at the beach it?s fine to wear slightly shorter shorts. While board shorts are meant to be loose, you don?t want them to be so baggy that they weigh you down in the water.

Swimming trunks

Swimming trunks are the shorter and shapelier cousin of board shorts – perfect if you want to show off all of your body, rather than just the top half. Typically they extend to the mid-thigh, and have less wiggle room than board shorts. Both swimming trunks and board shorts are safe options for all shapes- although be aware that elastic waistbands should only be attempted by slimmer men.

Swimwear patterns

The most distinctive feature of a pair of board shorts is the pattern and color. While block color board shorts are not a terrible crime against fashion, patterned shorts are a more common option which are flattering on most. They distract from the love handles spilling out over the top of your shorts or the chest-rug you have going on. However, if you have a perfect body with nothing to hide, block color shorts are the way to go.

Graphic prints on board shorts are only ever a good idea on children and teenagers. For a more refined look, go for a subtle repeating pattern rather than a graphic print.

When wearing bathers, you have no choice but show plenty of skin, so you have to be mindful of wearing colors which work with your skin tone. Those with tanned skin have the most options when it comes to colors, as they look great in light colors and bright colors. If you really want to accentuate your tan, go with daring white trunks. Those with pale skin look better in pastel colors, with blue or green usually being the top choice.

Get nautical

Nautical prints are appropriate for a day at the beach. Swimming trunks or board shorts in striped white and red or blue are a stylish choice for any age. Nautical shorts look better with a rope drawstring rather than a Velcro snap-front or elastic waistband.

Say no to speedos

It doesn?t matter how buff you are – your beach attire should consist of more than just a minute piece of lycra. Speedos have a bad reputation, probably because they force onlookers to imagine your genitals. Primarily worn by sportsmen and men who think they look hot, speedos are a garment that you don?t want to be associated with. A better alternative is to wear a skimpy pair of swimming trunks which are nearly as tight as speedos. They still show off your body, but offer slightly more in the way of modesty.