Best Men’s Swimwear Brands: Luxury, Sustainable & Designer Swim Trunks
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The most flattering swim shorts typically sit mid-thigh, falling between 5 and 7 inches in inseam. This length works across most body types and feels modern without veering into overly short or overly long proportions. Taller frames can carry slightly longer cuts, while shorter silhouettes often benefit from a higher hem to elongate the leg.
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High-quality swimwear is usually made from quick-dry technical fabrics such as recycled polyester or lightweight nylon blends. These materials hold their shape, dry quickly after swimming, and are comfortable for all-day wear. Premium brands often elevate this further with softer finishes and mesh-free interiors for a more refined feel.
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Yes — and this is now a defining feature of modern swimwear design. Tailored swim shorts are increasingly worn beyond the beach, especially in summer settings. When styled with a linen shirt, knitted polo, or oversized T-shirt, they transition easily into casual daytime wear.
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This depends on the aesthetic you’re looking for. Vilebrequin is known for Riviera-style prints and heritage luxury, while Sunspel offers understated British minimalism. Orlebar Brown sits between tailoring and leisurewear, while Brunello Cucinelli elevates swimwear into refined resort dressing. For sport-led or lifestyle-driven options, Vuori and Patagonia offer more functional alternatives.
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The ideal fit is structured but relaxed. Swim shorts should sit comfortably at the waist without sagging or requiring constant adjustment. The leg should skim the thigh rather than cling tightly or flare excessively. Adjustable waistbands or side fasteners help refine the fit without compromising comfort.
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In many cases, yes. Higher-end swimwear tends to offer better fabric quality, improved tailoring, and longer-lasting construction. Brands like Sunspel or Vilebrequin also focus on fit consistency, meaning the silhouette tends to be more flattering and predictable over time.
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For travel, versatility is key. Neutral tones such as navy, black, olive, or stone work best as they can be styled beyond the pool. Quick-dry fabrics are essential, especially if you are moving between beach clubs, hotels, and restaurants in the same day.
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ISwim shorts pair best with relaxed summer staples. A linen shirt, lightweight knit polo, or crisp cotton T-shirt works well depending on the setting. Footwear can range from leather sandals to minimalist trainers, while accessories like sunglasses or a lightweight tote complete the look.
Men’s swimwear as modern resortwear
Men’s swim trunks have moved far beyond their purely functional roots. Once reserved strictly for the pool or beach, they now sit firmly within the modern resortwear wardrobe — worn as easily on a hotel terrace in Capri as they are at a beach club in Ibiza or during a summer city escape.
Today’s best swimwear balances tailoring, performance, and design. Quick-dry fabrics, refined cuts, and considered detailing mean trunks are no longer an afterthought, but a core part of summer dressing.
They pair effortlessly with linen shirts, relaxed tailoring, and lightweight sneakers, making them one of the most versatile pieces in a warm-weather wardrobe.
For more seasonal inspiration, explore our guides to the best summer staycation hotels in London and the best beach clubs in Europe.
Luxury Swimwear Brands
These are the defining names in luxury swimwear — rooted in craftsmanship, heritage, and European resort culture.
Vilebrequin
Synonymous with Saint-Tropez beach culture, Vilebrequin has defined luxury swimwear since the 1970s, becoming a staple of European resort dressing.
Best known for its bold printed swim shorts, tailored mid-length cuts, and meticulous attention to fabrication, the brand bridges leisure and refinement in a way few others have matched.
Today, Vilebrequin remains a reference point for Riviera style — worn as easily poolside in Capri as it is on the terraces of Monte Carlo, where swimwear is as much about presentation as it is practicality.
Sunspel
A British heritage brand founded in 1860, Sunspel is known for its understated approach to luxury menswear, with a focus on fabric innovation and timeless design.
Its swimwear reflects this philosophy — minimal, precisely cut, and constructed from premium quick-dry fabrics designed for long-term wear rather than seasonal trends. The aesthetic is deliberately restrained, favouring clean lines and muted tones over bold prints.
Sunspel sits firmly in the “quiet luxury” space, making it a natural choice for those who prefer refinement without excess, whether by the coast or at a private members’ club pool in London or beyond.
Orlebar Brown
Orlebar Brown is widely credited with redefining modern swimwear by introducing tailored swim shorts designed to function as both beachwear and casual summer tailoring.
Known for its structured silhouettes, side-adjuster waist tabs, and photographic print collaborations, the brand bridges resort lifestyle and contemporary menswear in a way that feels distinctly modern.
Today, Orlebar Brown is a staple of luxury travel wardrobes — worn across destinations like Ibiza, Cannes, and the Amalfi Coast, where swimwear is often styled as part of a full day-to-evening summer look.
Brunello Cucinelli
Brunello Cucinelli brings its philosophy of “humanistic luxury” to swimwear, translating Italian tailoring and craftsmanship into relaxed resort silhouettes.
Expect muted colour palettes, refined materials, and an emphasis on elegance over statement design. Even in swimwear, the brand maintains its signature restraint, reflecting the same aesthetic seen in its cashmere tailoring and knitwear.
Cucinelli swimwear belongs firmly in the world of elevated travel — understated luxury suited to private villas, boutique hotels, and slow coastal living across Italy and the Mediterranean.
Sustainable Swimwear Brands
These brands are shaping the future of swimwear through recycled materials, responsible production, and long-term design thinking.
Patagonia
Patagonia approaches swimwear through the lens of performance and environmental responsibility, using recycled materials and durable construction designed for long-term use.
Its designs are functional, lightweight, and built for movement, reflecting the brand’s broader outdoor heritage rather than fashion-led seasonal cycles.
Patagonia swimwear is ideal for travel that blends adventure and coastal living — from surf trips to remote beaches — where practicality and sustainability take priority over aesthetic signalling.
Fair Harbor
Fair Harbor is a modern sustainable swimwear brand built around the use of recycled plastic bottles, combining environmental awareness with relaxed beach aesthetics.
The designs are simple, wearable, and designed for everyday summer use, making them a strong option for travel wardrobes that prioritise comfort and versatility.
The brand reflects a growing shift in swimwear towards circular production models and reduced environmental impact without compromising on style.
Modern Lifestyle & Elevated Basics
These brands sit between performance and everyday wear — designed for versatility, comfort, and travel-ready functionality.
Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon focuses on engineered menswear, creating swim trunks designed for comfort, movement, and all-day wearability.
The brand’s approach is rooted in technical innovation — from quick-dry fabrics to streamlined silhouettes that transition easily between swimming, travel, and casual summer dressing.
Mack Weldon fits into the modern “hybrid wardrobe” category, where swimwear is designed to function beyond the beach and integrate into everyday summer outfits.
Vuori
Vuori sits at the intersection of performance wear and lifestyle clothing, offering swimwear that reflects its Californian roots in active, outdoor living.
The brand prioritises comfort, stretch fabrics, and relaxed fits, making its swim trunks suitable for both water-based activity and casual everyday wear.
Vuori is particularly aligned with a West Coast approach to dressing — fluid, functional, and designed for movement between training, travel, and leisure.
Burberry
Burberry brings its heritage codes into swimwear through seasonal prints, bold branding, and reinterpretations of its iconic check pattern.
While rooted in British luxury tradition, its swimwear collections lean more directional, reflecting contemporary fashion cycles and runway influence.
Burberry swimwear sits firmly in the statement luxury space — designed for visual impact in resort settings, where fashion identity plays a central role in summer dressing.
Statement & Fashion-Forward Swimwear
These are the brands that prioritise identity, visual impact, and directional design.
KVRT STVFF
KVRT STVFF merges streetwear aesthetics with functional swimwear design, creating pieces defined by bold graphics, urban references, and a more subcultural edge.
The brand appeals to a younger, fashion-forward audience that views swimwear as part of a broader streetwear wardrobe rather than a purely resort category.
It represents the ongoing crossover between street culture and luxury travel fashion.
Dandy Del Mar
Dandy Del Mar draws on vintage resort aesthetics, with retro-inspired silhouettes and nostalgic prints that reference mid-century coastal style.
The brand’s identity is rooted in escapism, evoking a slower, more cinematic version of summer travel.
It sits in the space between contemporary swimwear and heritage-inspired resort dressing, offering a softer alternative to more technical or fashion-driven brands.
Stone Island
Stone Island applies its research-led approach to fabric innovation and utility design to swimwear, resulting in pieces that feel technical, functional, and highly distinctive.
Known for its experimentation with dyes, materials, and garment treatment processes, the brand brings a utilitarian edge to resortwear that contrasts with traditional luxury swimwear codes.
Stone Island swimwear appeals to those who favour design-led, functional clothing that sits closer to technical outerwear than classic beach attire.
Ripa Ripa
Ripa Ripa is inspired by Mediterranean coastal culture, focusing on expressive prints, bold colour palettes, and relaxed tailoring.
The brand captures a sense of escapist summer dressing, designed for sun-drenched destinations where style is expressive but unfussy.
Its swimwear reflects a more playful interpretation of resort fashion, rooted in Italian coastal living and contemporary leisure culture.
Heritage & Fashion Houses
These houses bring established luxury codes into swimwear, often as extensions of broader fashion identities.
Dior
Dior swimwear reflects the house’s couture heritage through a distinctly visual approach to resortwear, where branding, silhouette, and seasonal storytelling take precedence.
Rather than treating swimwear as purely functional, Dior integrates it into its broader ready-to-wear narrative. Expect clean, tailored swim shorts elevated with house codes — from the Dior Oblique motif to subtle logo placements and seasonal prints that reference each collection’s creative direction. The result is swimwear that feels closely tied to the runway, designed to sit within a complete summer wardrobe rather than exist in isolation.
In practice, Dior swim shorts are often styled as part of a full resort look — paired with matching shirts, lightweight knits, or sandals that echo the same visual language. It is swimwear positioned less around utility and more around identity, where recognisability and silhouette play an equal role in its appeal.
Zegna
Zegna brings its long-standing tradition of Italian tailoring into swimwear, focusing on restraint, fabric innovation, and a quiet interpretation of luxury.
The brand’s swim trunks are typically cut with the same precision found in its suiting, favouring clean lines, refined proportions, and a muted colour palette. Rather than bold prints or overt branding, Zegna leans into texture, technical fabrics, and subtle detailing — often using recycled or performance-led materials that align with its broader shift towards responsible luxury.
Zegna swimwear sits naturally within a wider travel wardrobe built around versatility. These are pieces designed to move easily between the pool, the yacht deck, and a relaxed lunch setting, reflecting the brand’s core philosophy of understated elegance and elevated everyday wear.
Hermès
Hermès approaches swimwear with the same discipline it applies to all categories — craftsmanship, longevity, and a distinct visual identity rooted in heritage design.
Its swim trunks often feature refined, tightly considered prints or colour-blocking inspired by archival motifs, equestrian references, or nautical themes. Even when more expressive, the execution remains controlled, with an emphasis on proportion, fabric quality, and finish rather than trend-led design. The branding is present but never dominant, in keeping with the house’s broader aesthetic language.
Hermès swimwear is best understood as part of a complete resort wardrobe — designed for slow, considered travel where clothing is selected for quality and coherence rather than seasonal novelty. It reflects a quieter form of luxury, where familiarity, material excellence, and design restraint define the experience.
How to choose the right swimwear brand
The right swimwear depends on how you spend your summer.
For luxury European resorts: Vilebrequin, Orlebar Brown, Brunello Cucinelli
For understated heritage style: Sunspel, Zegna
For sustainable travel: Patagonia, Fair Harbor
For fashion-forward dressing: Stone Island, KVRT STVFF, Ripa Ripa
For everyday versatility: Mack Weldon, Vuori
For statement luxury fashion: Dior, Hermès, Burberry
Modern swimwear is no longer a standalone category — it is part of a wider summer identity that moves between travel, hospitality, and lifestyle.
If you are planning a summer escape, you may also like our guides to the best men’s summer packing list and the most stylish hotels for a European beach holiday.
Final thoughts
Today’s swimwear brands reflect a broader shift in menswear — away from purely functional clothing and toward pieces that exist within a complete lifestyle ecosystem.
Whether rooted in heritage tailoring, technical innovation, or bold fashion identity, the best swimwear now defines not just how you dress for the water, but how you move through summer itself.