Both men’s and women’s swimwear have their own fashion styles that change every so often, and in our modern life, these styles have become more and more practical and decorative. Choosing the proper swimsuit can take some time and effort if you want to find the most comfortable, practical style that fits you and looks fantastic. So guys, you’ll need to know the styles of these swimsuits and decide what suits your body type and desired activity the best.
Short swimsuits were extremely popular in the past. Since then, swim shorts have become even more common, with different lengths that have changed over the years. Men’s swimsuits are generally categorized by their cut’s length and looseness, and can come in any color, printing and design you can imagine.
In the last couple of decades, long shorts have been more popular, but swim trunks that are a little on the shorter side are coming back into style. Most people would like their swimsuits to be both practical and stylish, to feel comfortable and confident on the beach.
So, let’s take a quick look at the different styles of men’s swimsuits that are popular today. Maybe this will help you figure out which style you like most, and the one that fits your body better.
Men’s bathing suit styles
- Swim trunks are the most common in North America. They look the same as normal shorts, but are made from lighter, fast-drying fabrics and have a tighter-fitting lining inside. There are a wide variety of colors and inseam lengths. Shorter men who want to look taller should stick to an inseam that is at least a couple inches above the knee.
- Board shorts come to or past the knee. They usually have a non-elastic waist, and fit closer to the torso.
- Swim briefs or “speedos” are tight, body-hugging swimsuits with a V-shaped front that bares the thighs and leaves little to the imagination. These are much more popular in Europe than North America.
- Square-cut shorts are a body-hugging style that covers the body from the waist to the upper thigh, with the leg openings cut straight and a little bit less revealing than angled speedos (think Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale).
- Jammers are knee-length, skintight suits, generally used by competitive swimmers and other water sports athletes.
- Wetsuits and drysuits are insulated close-fitting suits designed for snorkeling, scuba diving, or board sports.
- Rash guards are an all-body swimwear used by surfers, kayakers, and paddle boarders. They are mostly made from a UV-reflective fabric with an SPF rating.
- Swim shirts are another version of a rash guard but for the upper body only, casual bathers like those as a sun and surf protection option.
All of the above styles we talked about can come in any imaginable color or pattern. Traditional men’s colors and patterns generally include solid navy blue, charcoal gray, blue-and-white striping, as well as floral or Hawaiian-style prints. But you should definitely choose a color or print that fits your personal style and looks great with your skin tone.