THE LAW OF SWIMWEAR
Jude Law pulled off tight white trunks with aplomb, says Stephen Doig. But where do us mere mortals stand?
In the interests of journalistic endeavour and extensive research, Man Friday has spent an inordinate amount of time this week staring at Jude Law in his pants. Or, on closer inspection, what appears to be white Lycra swimming shorts. Law was on the beach in the Venice lido filming The
New Pope, belying his 46 years by looking somewhat like a Davinci sculpture, hair dyed a golden hue. Quite whether the rest of us could manage such celestial grace in such skimpy numbers is another matter.
Holiday get-up for men is tricky territory. Those who spend their life in suits and fail-safe weekend wear suddenly flail when faced with a
tropical print and the idea of bare legs. And when it comes to swimming gear, even with the best divine intervention, most of us are not going to resemble Jude Law in his tightest and whitest.
Leave such lean proportions to the likes of Law and Tom Daley; and the former has form here – see his excellent range of swimwear in The Talented
Mr Ripley, which should be a reference for any fellow’s holiday get-up. First of all, think about that fit. The likes of Orlebar Brown and Frescobol Carioca have introduced tailored details such as side fastenings and neat proportions to men’s swimwear which create a sharper cut and more polish. Length is something to ponder, too. Overly long and they resemble board shorts – best left to gap year students – and anything too short risks veering into budgie smuggler territory.
British swimwear brand Hemingsworth were founded out of a search for swim attire that could easily double as appropriate for around the beach bar. Their series of seersucker shorts in quick drying fabric is engineered with mother-of-pearl buttons and hidden elasticated waistbands for finesse as well as athletic ease.
And at a time when we’re more conscious than ever about how badly our oceans need our help, clothing brands are starting to embrace a sense of conscience. New label Naeco makes trunks made from 15 plastic bottles per pair, using debris recycled from the ocean. It might not evoke the heavenly aura of Jude Law, but it goes some way towards polishing your eco-halo.
Here is our pick of the most flattering shorts...