A day at the lake, a weekend at the cottage, or a few hours at the pool are heaven in the summer time. There’s something about an escape from the hot, sticky, cranky weather. For years, men have rocked below-the-knee, look-at-me-I-want-to-be-a-surfer swim trunks. Guess what? Those years are over. Short leg swim suits are back. Think Sean Connery on the beach in Dr. No, or the Kennedys in Cape Cod. Effortless summer cool.
Patterns and colours
The colour-blocked look is big this year, probably because of the trend’s focus on the early and mid-1960s. There’s nothing wrong with buying a suit with one or two colours, like navy and red or yellow and green. It’s the safest bet to look your best on the beach.
For the more adventurous, this season’s options are diverse. Plaid, paisley, polka dot, and floral prints are the great choices for people who want to look trendy but don’t want to have to buy a new suit every summer.
Oh, and guys should steer clear of white bathing suits. If your complexion is fair, you’re doing yourself absolutely no favours. Plus, white tends to turn see-through when wet.
Fit
There’s a right and a wrong way to wear shorter swim trunks. Look for a suit that ends about five inches above the knee. Place both hands flat against your leg, above the knee, for a quick length check in the fitting room. Any shorter and you risk showing off the goods every time you sit down.
It is always good to buy a suit with a drawstring elastic waist. This way you can wakeboard without fear of flashing all the lovely people watching from the shore.
Price
Swim trunks are not a pair of shorts. You don’t need to own more than two per summer, unless you’re some kind of professional beach bum. You can pick up a couple shorter length swim suits for between $15 and $30 a pair.
That’s not bad if you figure you’ll wear the same set of trunks at least half a dozen times per summer. This short-length revival is here to stay for at least another summer, so you’ll easy get your money’s worth after a couple of cottage weekends.
Oh and one more thing, a new pair of swim trunks might require an upgraded beach towel. Pick one that’s not too busy, even a solid colour, and call it a day. Nobody wants to sees a 20-something ironically try and dry off with a Spiderman towel.
