Last week, I was advocating for men to wear shorts whatever the occasion. This week, I intend to argue that budgie smugglers are back. If you’re wondering whether this column has devolved into an excuse for me to encourage men to wear as little as possible, the answer is: probably.
But hear me out. First, a disclaimer. The cardinal rule of dressing is not to wear anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, which perhaps rules out Speedos for 70% of British men.
It’s a very different story in France, where swimming briefs are deemed a civic requirement, with . (Because they can be worn outside the pool, they are seen as unhygienic, with the potential to carry sand, dust and whatever unthinkable germs lurk on bus seats into the water.) It follows that the British queasiness around swim briefs is the result of our own neuroticism rather than anything aesthetic.
Still, attitudes are shifting. Asos reports a “significant year-on-year growth in sales of Speedos”, and the iconic swimwear brand enjoyed a 200% spike in sales last summer in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, the UK-founded shopping platform Lyst says searches for “budgie smugglers” are up 89% year on year.
Several factors may . As men spend more time in the gym, they’re increasingly keen to flaunt their physiques. Additionally, the rise of the “reverse male gaze” – the theory that men dress for the admiration and validation of other men – is thought to have led to more daring swimwear .