You might’ve heard whispers that Speedos are making some inroads among straight men. It’s still early in swimsuit season, so IRL evidence is light on the ground—but where there’s smoke, there’s Lycra-wrapped fire. And if swim briefs (their government name) have caught your eye, we’re here to help you go from Quietly Intrigued to F*ck It, I’m Game.
If this is your first foray into the Speedo Zone, a few pieces of advice. A longer outseam (swim brief inseams are all none-inches long) translates to a higher rise covering more of the land between junk and navel. Dark solid colors are fairly demure, while bright solid colors and patterns will show the contours of your junk. Avoid nude tones unless you’re intentionally aiming for Ken cosplay.
Beyond that, once you survey the landscape, and you’ll see a lot of variation in the Speedo genre. If you’re looking for something with both attitude and sophistication, the pinstriped Our Legacy Workshop x Emporio Armani Pyla Briefs bring both to the table. Bode enters the chat with a ’50s-inspired number that your swarthy, thinly-mustached grandpa would’ve loved. If you’re on the hunt for something with a similarly long-ish outseam but a little more showmanship, the Rick Owens Champion Edition Jersey Swim Briefs offer up a suggestive drawstring and a little extra hip coverage.
Meanwhile, for the price of one (1) breakfast burrito on DoorDash, you could go Full Goggins and wear the exact same Speedo Fitness 2” Solar Briefs that the White Lotus star wore on a recent cover of Cultured magazine while making the Internet all sweaty. Go Skittles mode and grab a variety of colors.
And you’re a bit tentative, remember that you can test-drive your swim briefs in the sanctity of an Airbnb pool. Or at the spa. Or while on a stunning Mediterranean vacation, amongst Speedo believers and blindingly pale Germans.
Really, though, the most important choice when wearing a Speedo-style bathing suit is how you’ll play it. As one woman told GQ, “Fit is crucial but it’s also the energy: super secure in his masculinity and has zero issue if the bros rib him.’” Act cool, and the world will act cool with you. Just don’t forget to hit those upper thighs and lower cheeks with plenty of SPF.
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