Summer is here and that means it is time to break out the swimwear. As a rule, men's swimwear fashion does not move quickly. Several new fashions sold at Urban Body are displayed on our models, who posed at the Postcard Inn on St. Pete Beach.
The hotel is the site of Fire & Ice, the St. Pete Pride weekend party presented by Watermark Media and AlandChuck.travel.
But there are some major developments this summer that you should know if you want to remain on the forefront of fashion.
Board shorts remain the preferred cut for guys.
But the guy on top of this year's trends is wearing a board that is a little shorter and slimmer in the leg.
“Throw away the baggy surf shorts and basketball shorts,” says Simon Southwood, President of Sauvage Swimwear in San Diego. “They are not cool anymore!”
Besides, you work hard for those quads. Why hide them? Maui and Sons, a leader in board short designs since the 1980s, has narrowed the leg of their traditional board short this season. Park and Ronen 8-inch shorts are incredibly short, sassy and sexy.
Six seconds on the big screen in 2006 set the stage for mainstreaming the square cut swim suit. Who can forget 007 (Daniel Craig), walking out of the water in that powder blue swimsuit in Casino Royale? While gay men had already adopted this suit, it took 007 to make it cool for straight guys to wear this style as well. Pistol Pete and Sauvage Swimwear do an excellent job in this category.
The new item just hitting retail is the lycra board short. It covers less than a traditional board short but more than a square cut swimsuit. It is, by far, the sexiest style to hit the runway this year. They are not easy to find at retail yet, so those who are able to find them will be the fashion leaders. But look for this style to hit full stride by next spring!
Another trend that is just beginning is the volley short. This swimmer is styled after the shorts worn by beach volleyball players. With an elastic band, movement is easy and the fit is comfortable.
Skimpy swimsuits have been fading for the guys the past few seasons. The 2-inch racer is dead in the water and will make you stand out like a sore thumb. If you are determined to buy a racer-style suit, the Brazilian style swimsuit is your best option. The Brazilian cut is a cross between a full square cut and a racer cut, with a half-inch side. Swimwear manufacturer, Ca-Rio-Ca, is on the top of their game in this category.
And guys, thongs belong under your pants, not on the beach!
As far as color goes, look for swimwear to follow tee shirt trends by featuring bright colors and neon.
“Bold colors are making a big comeback in the Caribbean and South Beach,” says Southwood. So that trend should translate to the rest of the country soon. He adds that if you are not comfortable with color, “black and navy are perennial favorites.”
Plaids are going to be huge this season. They bring back memories of glamorous Hollywood in the age of Rock Hudson and Cary Grant. Traditional hibiscus and Hawaiian tribal prints remain strong as well.
Southwood, who designed the swimsuit on the cover of this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, says that “for women, triangle and halter tops continue to be the most popular, but with built in padding, and even push-up underwire.”
Summer is a time for hot bodies and fun in the water”but that doesn't mean you should leave your fashion sense at home. There are plenty of options in 2011 to look hot and fashionable on Florida's beaches or when you're lounging by the pool.
For more information on styles, visit UrbanBody.com. Get details and tickets for the Fire & Ice Party during St. Pete Pride weekend here.
