There are plenty of reasons to replace your old swimsuit. The waistband is shot, so you almost lost your suit the last time you swam in waves. The pattern is faded. Maybe your suit has acquired an odd sort of "locker room" smell. The problem is finding a new one, and that means deciding how long it should be.
Because, really, swimsuit length is the hardest question. On the other decisions, you've probably made up your mind. You know if you want a drawstring waist, elastic waist or fitted waist. (And if you don't, think about what will look most tailored without cinching any love handles.) You know if you want a pattern, and what colors work. (And if you don't, skinny guys can benefit from horizontal stripes, muscular guys can wear pretty much any pattern, and heftier guys generally look better in dark solids.) So now the crux of the issue: should your swimsuit end mid-thigh? At your knee? Or somewhere else?
Here are the most common lengths you'll see in swimwear, and who they work for the best.
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1
The Length: Long (Board Shorts)
Good for: Active guys average height or taller
"Long" for a swimsuit generally means an inseam longer than eight or nine inches. That's the length from groin to knee on your average just-under-six-foot man. If you're going to go any longer, you're in "board short" territory—a cut named for surfers, and the favorite bathing suit of the '90s.
Are board shorts a bad thing? Not necessarily. If you're actually going to be hopping up into a crouch on a surfboard, you might appreciate the extra fabric. But make sure you find a tailored pair without too much excess cloth, and even then, skinny guys and guys below average height will look swamped.
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2
The Length: Medium (Shorts-length Trunks)
Good for: Tall guys, skinny-legged guys, guys going somewhere after the beach
This is the go-to length for most of you. Inseam somewhere between six and eight inches—pretty much like a pair of shorts you'd wear in daily life.
These trunks go anywhere. You can wear them to the beach, then you can go to a friend's barbecue afterward without feeling like you're rocking anything too skimpy. If you have skinny legs, you're only showing them from just above the knee down. And if you're over six feet, this is probably as short as you want to go to maintain the proportions of your look.
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3
The Length: Medium-Short (Swim-length Trunks)
Good for: Short guys, guys with nice thighs
Once your inseam shrinks to the four or five inch range, your suit is going to end mid-thigh. This can look pleasingly vintage, or charmingly European. If you're short, it keeps things in proportion. If you have toned thighs, hats off to you, and go ahead.
Pro tip: If you think you might like to rock this length later in the summer, then maybe just dive right in. Wearing short trunks with the tan lines you got from your board shorts—not a good look.
And for some of our favorite trunks right now, read this.
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4
The Length: Short (Square Cut)
Good for: Built guys
Before you go straight to swim briefs, there's another option: square cut. These are like a "Speedo-plus." The leg holes are cut straight across the thigh rather than angled. Think Daniel Craig's James Bond swimsuit.
This is a great look for guys who have put in the hours at the gym. They emphasize a square frame, and will give you a streamlined look.
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5
The Length: Very Short (Speedo)
Good for: Olympic swimmers, or guys with Ryan Lochte-level confidence
There are two schools of thought when it comes to the angled swim brief—usually referred to with the brand name Speedo. One school says almost no one looks good in these. The other says this can actually be a good look for a variety of body types, because it conforms to the body.
When you're considering these, your first thought might be how your package is going to look. But, actually, we'd advise you to turn around and take a look at your butt. Now shake it. That amount of jiggle is what you'll be displaying on the beach. If you're good front and back, go forth and walk proud.
