You need only look at James Bond to figure out how to dress for the beach and the pool the rest of the summer. Sean Connery famously rocked tailored, short swim trunks back in the 1960s, a return to form echoed by Daniel Craig’s ultra-muscular 007 decades later. But fear not: you don’t need to have the build of the world’s most famous secret agent to look great by the water all summer long.
Just as you search for the right pair of expertly cut shorts—ones without cargo pockets, ones that hit above the knee—apply the same logic to your new favorite pair of swim trunks. Consider pairs that hit more close to mid-thigh. Board shorts for surfing and watersports are another matter entirely, but for everyday wear on your next coastal getaway or pool outing, shorter and more stylish is the way to go.
The way we see it, the days of baggy swim trunks built more like cargo shorts are long gone, and some swim trunks even share details commonly found in tailoring (like side tabs to adjust the waistband—found on James Bond’s swim shorts of choice, naturally).
When in doubt, opt for a pair that’s cut shorter and more refined—just like 007 would wear, minus the need to hit the gym for hours on end.
Photo via Huckberry
Wellen Performance Lined Swim Trunks
If you’re more used to a longer cut, ease into the shorter, modern world of swimwear with an inseam you’d find on your favorite shorts. This performance pair from Huckberry actually doubles as a set of hybrid shorts for day hikes and quick dips in the lake or stream. They come in a host of stylish colors and patterns and offer an inseam of either 5 or 7 inches.
Photo via Fair Harbor
Fair Harbor Bayberry Trunks
With a focus on recycled materials and an expert fit across a diverse array of patterns and colors, Fair Harbor is changing the game when it comes to stylish swimwear for men. Boasting an agreeable yet flattering 7-inch inseam and a wide waistband for a snug fit, these just might be the best pair of modern swim trunks on the market.
Photo via Huckberry
Bather Trunk Co. Solid Swim Shorts
If wearing swim trunks with a shorter cut feels a touch retro, that’s because it is. The streamlined cut of this fresh pair from acclaimed beach brand Bather pairs well with knit polos, tank tops and the classic short-sleeve henley—no fuss, no frills, just a highly durable set of sleek swim shorts in a fashionable, throwback-inspired cut.
Photo via Sea Culture Brand
Sea Culture Brand Riviera Swim Trunks
Boasting a crisp 6.5-inch inseam and highly durable construction in regenerated nylon and elastane, these quick-dry swim trunks represent the ideal intersection of form and function. In an eye-catching shade fittingly dubbed “Golden Hour,” the upstate New York brand bills these “classic-inspired swim shorts” as a new summer staple. For best results, pair with one of the brand’s ultra-soft, leisurely and yet luxurious French Terry polo shirts.
Photo via Huckberry
OAS Resort Swim Shorts
Dressing for the beach or pool should ultimately feel fun, should it not? The colorful array of thigh-baring swim trunks from OAS certainly feels fun and fresh, and a shorter cut of swim trunk is also plenty flattering if you’ve been hitting the gym. Pair these with a mesh tank top for a look that’s as ready for the boardwalk bar as it is the beach.
Photo via Rhone
Rhone 5.5-Inch R&R Trunk
If ever you feel hesitant about trying out a new set of swim trunks, look to a brand that makes some of your favorite workout gear. Stepping into this pair very well might feel more like wearing gym shorts, with their supportive cut and performance fabric, and that’s not a bad thing—even if the most taxing item on your weekend agenda is reaching for another cold one in your beach cooler.
Photo via Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder Montauk Swim Shorts
There’s an easygoing elegance to the way Todd Snyder delivers beach-ready essentials—these shorts feature a slimming vertical stripe design that’s at once retro and current. The 5-inch inseam will pair nicely with leather sandals and an open-weave polo on or off the water, and the brand even included helpful touches like a key loop at the back left of these handsome, tailored swim shorts.
Photo via Orlebar Brown
Orlebar Brown Bulldog Mid-Length Swim Shorts
We have a feeling the legendary British spy would approve of this set of swim trunks: They’re the brand most recently sported onscreen by 007 himself, and beyond that, they’re about as high-quality as it gets, with a mix of tailored touches, a crisp, shorter cut and quick-dry performance fabric.
