SWIMSUIT
STYLES
MEN'S
SWIMSUITS
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Men’s swimsuits traditionally receive far less attention than women’s swimsuits in the fashion design world. However, men’s swimsuits do have a fairly interesting history. Also, a larger variation in the style of men’s swimsuits exists than one may believe at first.
When swimming and public bathing returned to larger popularity in the 18th century, men’s swimsuits were actually somewhat similar in appearance and coverage to women’s swimsuits. While women wore swim dresses that fell to the knee and left the arms covered, men wore swimsuits with shirts and shorts that also ended at the knee and left the arms covered. It would actually be several more decades before a man’s chest was even allowed public exposure in a swimsuit!
Men’s swimsuits were originally very tight in their coverage (similar to today’s competition swimsuits). Boxer-style swim shorts were available throughout the 20th century, but only a small amount of men actually wore this type of swim shorts. While the Speedo-type of swimsuit, with its scanty, brief-like coverage, may seem somewhat immodest now, this type of swimsuit was actually quite common and popular during the 1940s and 1950s.
Today, men’s swimsuits come in several varieties. There are, of course, the incredibly popular swim trunks, which one sees men wearing nearly every day at the beach and at the pool. Swim trunks, with their baggy, knee-length coverage, offer men a more generous amount of coverage than they would have received in the 1940s. Tighter, brief-like swimsuits do retain some popularity, however, and many men wear this type of swimsuit for its facilitation of speed and smoothness when swimming.
The primary means of individuality men express in swimwear, especially when wearing the common trunk-style of swimsuit, is in the color and length of the swimsuit. Swim trunks can vary in length, landing anywhere from mid-thigh to below the knee.
. Maillot .
. Bikini .
. Tankini .
. Men's Swimsuits .
. Competition Swimsuits .
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