Facts and acceptance

[Torchwatch]

It's still cold in England, it has been raining for months, very few people walking about are wearing shorts.
Since the rain didn't fall today a lot of cyclists are about, many of them in lycra shorts.

A new fashion started over the winter, drainpipe trousers in brown or mustard yellow. The teenagers started the fashion and it is catching on. Not ashamed to show off the shape of their bodies they will want something different to long baggy shorts when the sun comes out.
When teenagers get into a fashion style it spreads fast, all ages adopting it, shops selling off unwanted gear cheap and bringing in stocks of the new fashion fast. The momentum builds ....

Euro 2012 football is starting in June. What will the teams be wearing for summer football this time?

The Olympics are coming to London later in the summer, all kinds of sports wearing all kinds of kit. If sports gear looks good and is available the teenagers will want to wear it. Hopefully some will choose short shorts.

Don't worry Louis, all those short shorts and speedos hidden away in cupboards will start to come out when the sun begins to shine in Europe, and spread around the world.

[louis]

Good excellent, wonderfull, very positive reply Torchwatch.

[California Dolphin]

I posted a comment on this subject on another board:

http://www.swimmersexuality.com/view... c76251d57af0

Just this morning, I noticed that about 1/2 (yes I said 1/2, not 1/4, not 1/8) the guys on the jogging path around the waterfront here in San Francisco were wearing short "Marathon" shorts. It was like a trip back in time and I thought I was living in the pre 90's era!!!

Regarding the fact that most of the "main stream" stores are still carrying only the long & baggy stuff, keep in mind that the general public is not known for innovative thinking and without any real choice, they will continue to pick up anything that's an off-the-shelf product -no matter how dorkey and stupid it looks.

It's kinda like people re-electing lousy politicians over and over again because there's no real choice in who to vote for.

CD

[Byron]

Thanks CD - you made me look at that interesting DE speedo forum to which I see you have made a few posts.
You had put up some wrestler pics I believe and their singlets do seem to be changing when viewing some more recent bouts. The longer thigh-coverage ones are still around but it's good to see the guys appearing more and more with square-cuts to the crotch (or even a few speedo-like high leg cuts too).

There was an amusing contrast however. An Italian speedo lover posted some good pics of himself and said how much he liked his muttandinas (minislips) - BUT, looking at the beach scene, the young guys all around him were wearing boardies !

[California Dolphin]

Here's a practical idea:

If you can't find speedo style swim suits or short running shorts in the main stream outlets (Like Macy's, Sears, Old Navy, Gap, etc.) try sending them an email that your looking for something else other than the long & baggy stuff and you would be happy to patronize their store if they would offer some real choice.

Every store has a "Contact" link on their home page and it's an easy way to voice your opinion about what you do and don't like about their product line. If they get enough complaints about the lack of choice, they'll probably start offering something more than the status quo.

CD

[Torchwatch]

Went for a long bike ride today, now have cycle shorts tan lines. On route I saw a few guys in well above the knees shorts, mostly older shorts brought out of cupboards.
On the beach there were younger people paddling in the sea in their boxer briefs (same design as a square cut swimwear), although they arrived at the beach in longer shorts they had stripped off to swim. If this catches on then swimming in the sea in underwear to save getting "day shorts" wet will bring back square cut swimwear.
The sun only started shining here on Wednesday, it seems to have been too much for some, there were emergency ambulances rushing to calls throughout the day, lights flashing and sirens wailing.
As I left the beach it appeared that something was going on in the Thames Estuary, the Police were supporting Coastguards who were staring out to sea, more Coastguards were rushing to the scene in their 4 wheel drives. I never found out what was happening.

[Byron]

LOL - wonder if the thigh-high guy was out on his roller skates in Paris too.

[JamesSwim]

Originally Posted by California Dolphin

Here's a practical idea:

If you can't find speedo style swim suits or short running shorts in the main stream outlets (Like Macy's, Sears, Old Navy, Gap, etc.) try sending them an email that your looking for something else other than the long & baggy stuff and you would be happy to patronize their store if they would offer some real choice.

Every store has a "Contact" link on their home page and it's an easy way to voice your opinion about what you do and don't like about their product line. If they get enough complaints about the lack of choice, they'll probably start offering something more than the status quo.
CD

Actually buying from the stores send a good message to the buyers than writing to them.

I found that department stores tend to sell fashion swimwear while sporting good stores sell suits for lap swimmers. But department stores web sites also carry briefs and some carry it in real stores. I saw Boss-brand briefs and short trunks from Marc Jacobs in Nordstrom. Zara and H&M also carry short trunks. Late in the season, like in July, they won't have much left but may be on sale.

On Macy's web site, you can see Speedo-brand and 2(X)ist suits. Calvin Klein started to make men's brief suits that Macy's carries (I saw a full page ad of those the briefs in the NY Times)

[California Dolphin]

Hi JamesSwim

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to drop by some of the major department chains here in S.F. and pick up a few suits.

A rather clever improvement on your idea would be to buy several suits each from a different retailer. That would give the illusion that the market for brief style suits is bigger than it actually is!!!

CD