Style inspiration: The men who best wore swim shorts

What does the perfect summer holiday really mean? Some people might imagine daily golf rounds, others might enjoy lovely dinners and perhaps some may enjoy just being able to see the sun and glistening water. If you a part of the latter category mentioned above, then there is a garment whose style level weighs a little heavier than all the others during the summer months, namely the swimming shorts.

If you want to keep the style level high when you’re lying next to the poolside or sea, it is true that swimming shorts are perfect. At the same time, the swimming shorts belong to a category of garments where style and shape have varied greatly in recent decades, often with differing results. To get it right, it may be a good idea to get inspiration from the men who wore them best, and therefore we have collected five examples of swimwear wearers that stood out from the crowd.

Alain Delon

The master of summer style knew a few things about how you dressed for the beach and the poolside. In the aptly named film: The Swimming Pool from 1969, we see Delon spend a lot time dressed in different forms of swimming shorts, often in a 60’s short and tight model. What makes these swimming trunks stand out from the crowd is their loud patterns, which show that a strong colour palette can be a winning concept when the sun is shining.

Donald Glover

The multifaceted actor, artist, comedian and director Donald Glover has become something of a phenomenon since the breakthrough TV series Community. Under his stage name Childish Gambino, he has released a number of acclaimed albums and carried a number of memorable outfits on stage. Above all, it is a pair of swimming trunks worn together with an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and white sneakers that has been a recurring stage attire. Change the surroundings to any beach promenade and you have an excellent example of how swimming shorts can be worn outside the water.

Sean Connery

If you prefer a more stylish outfit, you need look no further than Sean Connery's appearance in Thunderball. The swimming trunks sit as if they were tailor-made and show why a shorter model can be so incredibly stylish if the fit is correct. Combine the light blue swimming shorts with a short-sleeved shirt in a contrasting colour and you are ready for any pool area or beach.

Jude Law

Wearing light-coloured swimming trunks can be difficult and often requires a certain level of tan. But if you succeed, it can be as good as when Jude Law lies on the beach in the iconic summer film The Talented Mr Ripley. The film also contains an abundance of stylish swimwear, where even Matt Damon's neon green pair deserves to be mentioned.

Eddie Murphy

“When you gonna get your trunks on and get in this pool?” The question is asked by Eddie Murphy's character Alex Foley as he leans back on the water wearing a pair of pilot goggles, a Hawaiian shirt and swimming shorts, so short that they are barely noticeable. All packaged by Murphy's typically relaxed and cool attitude. The outfit is a perfect example of how a screaming top can be balanced up by a pair of short and solid-coloured swimming shorts, with successful results.