Do men have to wear Speedos in Italy?
You don't have to look like a tourist.
“Foreign men stand out as they often wear long board shorts while most Italian men wear Speedos or more fitted suits,” says Santoro.
The Speedo may be recognizable around the globe, but its home base has long been mother Europe. From the Baltic Sea beaches to the Greek isles, Euro swimmers just seem to be a little more comfortable about showing off those creamy hamstrings, and Americans have always enjoyed having a little fun with that stereotype.
Where the Speedo is particularly popular is Brazil, where a full 95% of Brazilians gave the skimpy 'male bikini' a 95 percent approval rating, followed by Austria (94%), Germany and Spain (91%).
Why is it compulsory to wear tight-fitting swimming trunks in France? The French actually have two reasons for this swimming pool policy: hygiene and the environment. People often wear long swimming trunks as a pair of shorts. For example, you wear them to the beach or while walking through the city.
We can only say it is a personal preference and if your manhood is well-stocked why not flaunt it. Italian women certainly stand tall and proud of their men at the beaches. Italian men wearing speedos is very common it is part of their DNA. Hence body shaming has no place here in Italy regarding speedo swimwear.
Yes, according to the letter of the law it is mandatory to wear a bathing cap in public swimming pools and swimming pools on campsites. This has to do with strict hygiene requirements according to Italian legislation.
Thanks to the the 1903 law all men – and boys – of all ages must wear a Speedo to swim in public pools.
It is worth mentioning that most Russian men are not into swimming shorts, instead they wear what you call speedos (tight bikini-like swimsuits). The bottom portion of ladies swimsuits is also called плавки, not бикини (бикини is present in the Russian language but it means a certain type of underwear, not swimwear).
These skimpy swimming trunks have left many people divided for decades but the comeback is on! Just like most other types of fashions, Speedos have been up and down, which is very similar to the appearance of a man running along the beach in a pair of the famous swimming attire.
A swimsuit is obligatory
Even if some Germans like to swim naked in lakes, it's prohibited in public pools. You can't jump into the water in your underwear either — it needs to be a proper swimsuit.
Do British men wear Speedos?
But Speedo admits it is no longer the most popular style of swimwear for men in the UK, with many opting for looser fitting shorts.
It is only at public pools you have to wear speedos, at the Hotel pools you can wear less revealing swimming trunks.
In general, Italian men favor fabrics like cotton and linen when it comes to shirts. Fitted is always best; shirts should be close to the body but not too tight. Jacket-wise, a blazer is one of the best things to wear if you really want to feel like an Italian.
Beachwear should be minimal in size, if not style. Undressing to show off your latest bikini or swimming trunks goes without saying; other than that, shorts and a T-shirt or a short dress are fine.
Spain. It doesn't matter if you waxed that chest to make it smoother than a baby's bottom. Like France and Italy, it is illegal to stroll the streets of Barcelona bare-chested or wearing strictly swimwear on the regular streets.
Luckily, tourists are still allowed to wear swimwear while poolside or swimming at a beach club, but when you're on the streets you'll need to cover up as it's thought to cause “unease” or “discomfort” to others.
As mentioned above, it is estimated that there is one pool for every 850 inhabitants in Italy.
You have to wear tight fitting teeny weeny Speedo style swimming trunks to the pool in France because its more hygienic. “Ladies knickers” my neighbour calls them or to give them their proper French name “slip de bain” or “un boxer”.
But the Speedo is key to the French pool system.
For men, wearing a speedo in French pools is required (and we have heard of many cases of people being thrown out of the pool for wearing swimming “shorts”), but the exact reason raises much speculation.
Olympic male divers wear tight and small speedos to keep everything in place when diving. Speedos offer great freedom of movement in the legs, which aids manoeuvrability and a tight fit offers comfort and security to ensure the briefs stay in place after a high impact dive.
Why do you have to wear Speedos in Italy?
Why is a swim cap compulsory in Italy? The Italians actually have the same reason for swim caps as the French have for making tight swimming trunks compulsory: hygiene. The idea is that by wearing a swim cap you keep flakes of skin, hairs and other dirt from your head out of the pool.
Swimming and frolicking in the ocean waves are effortless without all that extra fabric getting in the way. Speedos also dry a lot faster than other swimsuits, which makes for an altogether more comfortable experience once you're out of the water.
