Parke & Ronen make stylish swimwear for men that range from classic preppy to classic board short. Of their four basic types of suit, bikini, 4" swim, 8" swim and snap short, respectively, our favorite is the 8" swim. It's not that we don't care for the other options that they carry, we really do, but frankly, if we tried to wear any of the other styles onto the beach we'd most likely be arrested. Or at the very least ridiculed until we wound up under the pier in the fetal position.

They are for the fit. Daniel Craig fit, not second base on the Styledash softball/drinking team fit.

Wearing a Speedo on a public beach might be a crime against fashion and tastefulness, but should it really be a ticketable offense?

Apparently, some sheriff's deputy in Florida thinks so. Here's the story: Speedo enthusiast and Bonita Beach icon 'Beach Bob' is lying in his lawn chair reading like he has every day for the last few years when the deputy walks up and gives him a ticket for trespassing -- and kicks him off the beach because his swimsuit is 'over the line.'


A judge threw the case out immediately, but Bob's still awaiting his day in court -- because he's decided to sue the sheriff's department on behalf of Speedo-wearers everywhere. Look, Speedos aren't exactly our favorite choice when it comes to men's swimwear, but they're not really much worse than a lot of the other options out there. Our policy is: bad taste in swimwear is an unfortunate thing -- but it's still your choice to make. Best of luck with that lawsuit Bob!

Summertime, and the living is easy. Fish are jumping, and the waves are high. What?

Okay, maybe Porgy didn't surf and Gershwin was probably more concerned with lullabies and crap games than hanging ten, but the opening line to 'Summertime' always makes us crave the sun on our face and sand on our feet. We like to cover the parts in between with boardshorts.

Quicksilver has released their 2008 collection of boardshorts and like the lyrics above, they make us want to embrace the pending arrival of summer and the sand and the stuff.

ORIGINAL PENGUIN® by Munsingwear may have started as a the golf shirt wing of an underwear and military supply company (really), but it's grown to be so much more. Once "worn by the likes of Arnold Palmer, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Richard Nixon," three of which we love, the company was recreated in 2003 to reach the style shakers of today. Penguin is happy "to design collections for people with such great intellect, style and humor." They also design clothing for the rest of us.

Gallery: Penguin

Some girls are born with a delicate, slight build. Others go through life with shoulders like a linebacker. And, while broad shoulders can make shopping for tops, dresses, jackets, and bathing suits a little more frustrating, we want to take a moment to point out that strong shoulders are sexy. So, the first thing you need to do with those broad shoulders is hold them up and back. Good posture, regardless of figure flaws, is always flattering.

Now that you know that, we can discuss specific bathing suit styles. Take a look through the gallery for suggestions of what to look for and, just as importantly, what to avoid. Happy shopping!

Looking for a bathing suit that will stand out from the rest this summer? Check out the stylish swimwear at Anna Kosturova -- you've never seen crocheted bathing suits with this much sex appeal.

After all, quite a few of these suits have been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue over the last couple of years, and if it's sexy enough for them, we think it'll work just fine for us.

When we think of Old Navy's swimsuit selection, our minds instantly drift to preppy pink patters, flirty florals, and a few retro prints rounding it out. Imagine our surprise when we walked in and were confronted with a glamorous metallic, plunging, deep-v neck one-piece!

Famous photographer and surfer, Aaron Chang, loves a sexy beach babe in a bikini (who doesn't?). Apparently, he also has a deep love of the eco-friendly clothing. After an overwhelmingly positive response to his 100% recycled plastic fabric swimwear, he's decided to convert his whole lineup to the recycled stuff.

To look at them, you'd never know that these styles were made out of recycled soda bottles -- and of course that's good. Earth Day is smack in the middle of swimsuit buying season, so why not use it as an excuse to buy a new swimsuit. Rumor has it that Aaron's recycled bikini lineup is heading to a Urban Outfitters this summer.



[via CatwalkQueen]

Victoria's Secret's 2008 swimwear collection has launched! Drop dead gorgeous Marisa Miller showed up for the New York unveiling of the line and posed with the suits to help generate a little buzz -- not that this line needs any buzz. Victoria's Secret should have no problem selling bikini's and one pieces this hot!

Every girl loves to have pretty panties in her drawer, but how many of you like to pay full price for them? Those of you who try to wait for a deal are in luck: Figleaves.com is holding an Easter sale with tons of items marked down as much as 50%!

If you're not familiar with Figleaves.com, let me fill you in -- they carry lingerie, pajamas, swimwear, undies, etc., for men and women, all in brands you love. Say you want a sexy retro bathing suit by Cosabella -- here you go! And you'll save about $50 with the sale. Or, maybe you're a dude who's dying for some bright and funky briefs by Calvin Klein -- you're covered, too.

Start shopping now -- the deals disappear on April 14.

You might be most familiar with Finnish textile company Marimekko because Jackie O wore their patterned dresses during JFK's presidential campaign in 1960.

As you probably already know, fashions popularized during the Kennedy era are becoming hot again this season, so it should be no big surprise that we'll be seeing a nod to the styles of Marimekko.

H&M has checked out the bright patterns and retro prints of the Marimekko archives and has come up with a Tribute to Marimekko, due to hit stores April 10. You can expect to see swimsuits, dresses, scarves, jewelry, tops and bottoms, all available in bold colors and patterns, and priced right ($50 dresses, $35 swimsuits).

You might think that purchasing a reasonably cool pair of men's swim trunks is a pretty easy thing to do, but that probably means you haven't shopped for one recently. For some inconceivable reason, swimsuit designers think that stupid Hawaiian flower designs are the only way to go, and there's no reason to offer much variety. Sure, there's a place for neon flower prints and that place is on cheap beach towels.

For the last couple of years, I've been protesting the swimsuit altogether, opting for cut-offs. Not much better than a pair of 3/4 length board shorts with a fire-breathing dragon print -- I know. It's just that every time I shop for a swim suit, I laugh so hard at the designs that I think I'm going to vomit uncontrollably and I have to leave. Call me conservative or whatever, I just don't want trunks that are so loud that they make me nauseous when I stare at them too long.

Maybe Matthew McConaughey's new line of swim wear won't be so bad, but I have my doubts. He named his brand J.K. Livin' -- after his oft-quoted line in the stoner-classic Dazed and Confused -- "just keep livin'." The more I think about it, the more I'm sure his line will showcase a lot of obnoxious jungle patterns with pot leafs interspersed.

I could be wrong here, but I really don't think that most men want these ridiculous looking swim trunks -- they're embarrassing. What's the deal? Who is it that keeps designing these things?

Some of the swimwear shown by Amaya Swimwear looked like something you might pick up this summer for your neighbor's pool party -- fresh, pretty, flattering, and totally wearable.

Other pieces, however, were High Fashion Swimwear, with capes, cutouts, and details you wouldn't dare get wet -- perfect for days out on the yacht or that A-list pool party in the Hamptons. Seriously fashionable or seriously wearable, all the suits had stunning details and interesting accents.

I loved that they ran the gamut -- it almost seemed like real people could wear even this to the beach, given the proper motivation (like promise of really, really beautiful boys). And, for the most part, the models were beautiful and real; a couple looked underfed, but most of them looked healthy and comfortable in their skin. And that is a Good Thing for those of us feeling just a little nervous about beach season.

Be sure to check out the gallery of these designs and others from Rip the Runway!