How to Buy Men's Swimsuits

For competitive swimming as well as aquatic fitness activities, such as lap swimming and water aerobics, a good swimsuit will increase your efficiency in the water, keep you feeling comfortable during your activity, and stand up better to the deteriorating effects of chlorinated water than most fashion swimsuits.

Determine Your Size

Measuring Tips
Step-by-Step Measuring Guide
Find Your Size

Determine How You'll Use Your Suit

Racing/Competitve Swimming
Aquatic Fitness

When to Replace Your Swimsuit

Determine Your Size

To determine your swimsuit size, you'll need to measure yourself using a tape measure.

Measuring Tips

Take your measurements while wearing only your underwear
Stand in front of a mirror
While measuring, make sure that the tape measure is straight, not twisted
To get an accurate measurement, the tape measure should be snug, but not pinching or tight

Step-by-Step Measuring Guide

Find your natural waistline by bending to one side. While standing straight, measure around your waistline
Men should measure just above the hipbone (or about an inch below your natural waistline) to determine the appropriate swimsuit size

Find Your Size

If you are between sizes, choose the smaller size in a racing/competition suit and the larger size in an aquatic fitness suit
Most men's suits are sized based on waist measurement. Men should choose the size that corresponds with their waist measurements.

Determining Your Suit Size
Men's Swimsuits
Size	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
Waist	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40

Determine How You'll Use Your Suit

To select the right suit, first determine the activity for which you'll be wearing the suit most often:

Racing/Competitive swimming which includes both practicing and racing at either the school or club level
Aquatic Fitness which includes activities such as lap swimming and water aerobics

Racing/Competitive Swimming

For both training and competition, competitive swimmers need high-performance suits that maximize speed in the water and improve glide times by reducing drag and increasing water flow.
Many swimmers buy separate suits for training and competition. For both training and competition, compression, resulting in a tight fit, is the key.

Sizing

For training, buy your normal size, but realize that the fit will be snugger than that of a regular fashion swimsuit
For competition, consider buying a suit at least one size smaller than your training suit

Construction

Support

Swimsuits for both training and competition support through compression

Lining

Suits for top-level competition are not lined, since reducing drag is a priority. However, many men's suits for training are front-lined.
A suit with lining will generally last longer, and hold its shape and color better than an unlined suit

Styling

Men's competition and training suits have moderately cut leg openings, drawcords in the interior of the waistband, and side seams of about 3-inches
For men wanting more coverage, training suits with lower leg openings and side seams up to seven-inches are available, but they are not the norm for training or competition

Fabrication

Although there are many hybrid fabrics for racing/competitive swimming available, most swimsuits for this sport are done in blends of nylon/spandex. (Lycra is a specific brand of spandex made by DuPont and is found in many swimsuits.)
Improvements in fiber engineering have resulted in swimsuit materials that are more resistant to chlorine than ever. Suits for racing/competitive swimming typically use these more durable versions of nylon and spandex.

Aquatic Fitness

For lap swimming and water aerobics, you will need a suit that provides comfort and freedom of movement, plus coverage and support
Men will find training suits designed for the competitive swimmer to be most appropriate for lap swimming for fitness
Fit should be snug but not tight. A good fitting suit will stay in place during vigorous movement, but not pinch, bind or ride up in the seat.

When to Replace Your Swimsuit

Despite the advances in fiber technology, chlorine will eventually deteriorate swimsuit fabrics. When your suit begins to bag or feels looser than when it was new, it is time to replace your suit.

How to Select a Little Girl's Swimsuit

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

It may seem like it wouldn't take much thought to select a swimsuit for a little girl. However, there are several factors that come into play for little girls and their swimsuits. They need to be comfortable, maintenance-free and provide adequate coverage. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Check for comfort and fit. When selecting a swimsuit for your little girl, it's important to try the suit on her. Let her move in it in the dressing room. If it's restrictive in the dressing room, it's not going to be comfortable on the beach. In the same sense, if the straps are continually dropping off of her shoulders, the suit is not going to be comfortable, either.

Step2

Determine the fabric-type and read the care instructions. If a suit is going to require hand washing or special treatment, then it's not going to be a very practical suit for the summer. White or light-colored suits get dirty easier when going to the beach. Darker colored suits endure stains better. However, darker suits tend to fade out more in the sun. A suit devoid of lots of accessories or trim will wash better, too.

Step3

Ensure proper coverage of the suit. If the suit is continually slipping or falling in the chest or bottom areas, it's not going to provide adequate coverage. Additionally, if your child is extra sensitive to the sun, a one-piece suit will be better than a two-piece suit. Some suits come with "extras" such as a cover-up or a sarong. These suits are always good because they provide extra coverage.

Step4

Check the lining. Every little girl's swimsuit should include a lining in the crotch area. Little girls are just as susceptible to yeast infections as adults and need a good lining in the bottoms of their swimsuits, too.

Monday, 20 April 2009

Men's swimwear

Men's swimwear styles run the gamut from trunks, board shorts and jammers (providing coverage from mid-waist to above the knee) to the classic Speedo-style (i.e., miniscule) form-fitting briefs. The more daring guys can opt for the Brazilian sunga, which is popularly referred to as the men’s version of a bikini; the shape of the sunga is similar to the bikini but the side is about an inch thicker.

The most popular trend last summer was the surfer-style board shorts, which flatter almost any type of figure, be it bulky or lean. Board shorts are normally longer than the basic trunks or Speedo styles and sometimes give a loose, baggy effect. Those who prefer to lounge by the poolside can ideally opt for a pair of board shorts that come with cargo pockets so that they have access to their keys, wallet and mobile phone, even by the pool.

Of course, the Speedo swimsuit remains a classic. Young men, who swear that wearing one of these skimpy little bathing suits gets them undivided female attention, prefer Speedo styles. For those men who are not quite ready for the bare-all Speedo style and yet do not like the bulkiness of the board short or jammers, there is always the basic pair of short swimming trunks, which are not quite as revealing as Speedo but have a similar support system. Boxer swimming trunks are quite popular with the older or conservative set.

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