Missing the "Good Old Days"

[Speed-Will]

Speaking as an American, I really miss the "good old days" back in the 70's to the 90's - when speedos and skimpier swimwear weren't so "stigmatized". I swam in college and then was on Masters Swim teams post-grad, so wore Speedos as a part of my life. After college I and then after marriage I continued wearing them at the family beach house. Even my father-in-law wore a red speedo at the time (and this was in the deep South). My wife and I (and then our children after they arrived) would travel to tropical climates often and I never thought twice about wearing suits to the beach with sides as small as 3/4" or less (and an occasional thong). The catalog "International Male" opened up the World of more minimal swimwear for men - both gay and straight. I'd wear the same "skimpy" suits when traveling with friends as well - no one cared or said a thing. There were no preconceived ideas, and there were lots more people wearing them. People seemed more accepting in those days and it was more live and let live - without the snide comments about what someone might be wearing.

Somehow when the baggy board shorts came in vogue (about the same time basketball players started wearing their shorts to their knees) everything changed. Suddenly unless you were a competitive swimmer, wearing a Speedo became awkward.

Maybe the pendulum is swinging back some towards Speedos and more minimal swimwear in the Main Stream now - I certainly hope so. I know at my age my time has passed - but for the younger generation I hope you get to enjoy the freedom I had without the feeling of being out of place that seems to have been prevalent during these past years.

[danny108]

Yes it seems the 70's to the 90's was the golden age for men being able to wear swimwear of their choice regardless of how skimpy the suit was. I was a child of the 90's so sadly when I got to my teens and 20's the pendulum had already swung although thankful at least I could still wear regular speedos for swimming. at the pool or beach.

I guess wider fashion trends changed? As you say the dreaded board shorts seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for bikini and thong swimwear for men.

It's fun to look at back at some of the catalogs of brands you mention (I have one or two I managed to get off eBay) and marvel at all the amazing styles and colours that men could choose from.

[Swimmin]

I am not saying there is a definite trend and that fashion is going back to briefer swimsuits for the young 10 to 15 year old boys but I seem to see more and more. And they seem to agree more openly than ever that they are more comfortable. It seems to me it is more accepted and they are less affraid to be made fun of for wearing them.

One of my young friends at 14 which I swam with regularly before the pandemic started wearing a blue and white patterned Nike swim brief. Water polo style I suppose, it is double lined throughout. He likes it very much and wouldnt wear anything else. From the time he started wearing them, his board shorts disappeared.

At one time he tried one of my Seobean suits that ran too small for me so he decided to give it a try. He absolutely loved it. Much thinner and sleeker than the double lined Nike suit. He really liked the color too and he said they felt really good. He now tried to ask his parents to get one in blue and one in red in his size. The XL he tried was just a tad too big on him.

[Schoolspeedo]

seems like we are of the same era. hopefully the pendulum will swing a back a little. already i can wear skimpy speedos to my pool without comment. thanks for sharing.

[dm106]

Originally Posted by Swimmin

I am not saying there is a definite trend and that fashion is going back to briefer swimsuits for the young 10 to 15 year old boys but I seem to see more and more. And they seem to agree more openly than ever that they are more comfortable. It seems to me it is more accepted and they are less affraid to be made fun of for wearing them.

One of my young friends at 14 which I swam with regularly before the pandemic started wearing a blue and white patterned Nike swim brief. Water polo style I suppose, it is double lined throughout. He likes it very much and wouldnt wear anything else. From the time he started wearing them, his board shorts disappeared.

At one time he tried one of my Seobean suits that ran too small for me so he decided to give it a try. He absolutely loved it. Much thinner and sleeker than the double lined Nike suit. He really liked the color too and he said they felt really good. He now tried to ask his parents to get one in blue and one in red in his size. The XL he tried was just a tad too big on him.

Very good to hear that the young guy likes them. I sure did at that age. Is it a trend? Not sure but nice to think so. I was about 13 when I started in speedos.

[Swimmin]

Originally Posted by dm106

Very good to hear that the young guy likes them. I sure did at that age. Is it a trend? Not sure but nice to think so. I was about 13 when I started in speedos.

There is also a 9 year old that wants a real Speedo and his mother just accepted. He is currently wearing a square cut but has been asking for a brief for months now. His board shorts pretty much disappeared too from the moment he got a tighter swimsuit.

Even at 9 he understands he might get some looks or be made fun of but he decided to simply ignore all that. He thinks the brief swimsuits are cool and is determined to try them.

Trend? Probably not as they are still very rare but definitely an option now that we actually see some on young guys.

[dm106]

Originally Posted by Swimmin

There is also a 9 year old that wants a real Speedo and his mother just accepted. He is currently wearing a square cut but has been asking for a brief for months now. His board shorts pretty much disappeared too from the moment he got a tighter swimsuit.

Even at 9 he understands he might get some looks or be made fun of but he decided to simply ignore all that. He thinks the brief swimsuits are cool and is determined to try them.

Trend? Probably not as they are still very rare but definitely an option now that we actually see some on young guys.

Swimmin, how does the 14 year old do in his speedos? Does he manage to "stay in control" in them? That was hard for me at that age.

[TX_Micro]

Same here. I wore my first speedo in the 1980 in Florida. I was immediately hooked on the sense of freedom and sensuality of wearing next to nothing at the beach. Then thongs came along and could hardly wait to buy my first. It took a while for the local beach communities to get repressive and start banning them. I live in the country and have a pool so I am free to wear as little as I desire at home and prefer no more than a micro-suit at the beach.

[Minimalist75]

Originally Posted by TX_Micro

Same here. I wore my first speedo in the 1980 in Florida. I was immediately hooked on the sense of freedom and sensuality of wearing next to nothing at the beach. Then thongs came along and could hardly wait to buy my first. It took a while for the local beach communities to get repressive and start banning them. I live in the country and have a pool so I am free to wear as little as I desire at home and prefer no more than a micro-suit at the beach.

Is as little as you desire at home usually nothing?

[Glenda]

I miss the societal acceptance of being able to either go nude or of wearing Speedos during the 1970's through 1980's. However, being a non-smoker I was surrounded by topless young women (including my sisters) and men whom enjoyed chain smoking. They really chastised me for not joining in on smoking. I usually left my group of friends to go bicycling along the beach. Times have changed and at 63 years of age I'm in excellent health and shape, whereas, most of my group of friends have either died young in their 40's and 50's or are in their 60's today with health issues.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/n...hoto/160751994

The beach attire photo above was taken in August 1970. 50 years ago this month.
As a teenager I spent my entire summer at the beach.