It’s beach season again and the age-old debate about whether men should wear speedos begins once more. This being a World Cup summer, the debate has somehow intensified. All the women’s magazines are posting pictures of our favorite soccer stars and in some cases in very low-cut shorts. Why soccer would encourage men to wear speedos, we don’t know… but what we do know is women’s interests have peaked for this clothing phenomenon.

With that said, what are the pros and cons of a Speedo? When should you wear one – if at all that is…

Truth be told, culture plays a big role in the debate. If you’re in the South or on a Mediterranean beach, a speedo is not a bad idea – it’s culturally accepted and a lot of men boast the look. In North America, you’ll definitely turn some heads. Most men will avoid the look in the US and Canada… this is not to say that they’re any less confident than their South American counter-parts, but rather that they feel that it is a social stigma. It’s more of a fear of “what will my guy friends think?” and “is this the type of look I should be going for in a place where there are children?” Somewhat comical? Yes, indeed… but true nonetheless.

Culture aside, are there any benefits to the speedo? Well, yes…. it is great for speed and more flexible in the water as compared to baggy shorts. Speedos do also dry faster due to their sparse nature and also due to the type of fabric that is usually used for their construction.

Downsides? Well… for one thing, it is quite revealing… if you’ve been working on that beer belly year-long, it’s probably best that you avoid the speedo… If you’ve got a six-pack to show and maybe you want to get a better tan, the look may work.

With all of this said, it still comes down to culture. If you’re in North America, we would recommend mid-thigh length trunks – nothing too crazy in color and with minimal writing and graphics preferably. In most articles, we conclude by saying that if it resonates with you, you should do it since that is what fashion’s all about… In the case of a speedo, more considerations are needed.

Happy Beach Season!

I Luw Fashion: http://iluwfashion.blogspot.com/
General Men’s Fashion.

The Urban Gentleman: http://theurbangent.blogspot.com/
The Urban Gentleman is the modern gentleman. He is a man of style, class, culture, and of course he has a bit of swag.

French Tuckers: http://www.frenchtruckers.com/
French Truckers is a collective weblog about Fashion, Beauty, Health and Seduction for Men. It’s the English version of the famous French website “Comme un camion” (“Like a truck”) taken from the French expression “to be handsome as a truck”.

Metro Style Men: http://www.metrostylemen.com/
The stylish opinion and advice from a Metro Man! Helping men look good.

She Knows Best: http://www.sheknowsbest.com/
Every man needs a little fashion help. Get lifestyle tips for guys and be hot!

Ask Men: http://askmen.com/fashion/
All Aspects of Men’s Fashion.

Mark Simpson: http://www.marksimpson.com/
The Father of Metrosexuality, Mark Simpson, blogs about trends and fashion for men, the self-proclaimed “lesbosexual father of metrosexuality” offers all sorts of advice for men.

The Poste Office: http://leposte.blogspot.com/
A woman’s perspective on men’s clothing.

UndiesDrawer: http://www.undiesdrawer.com/
The essential men’s underwear blog.

Mode Male: http://male-mode.blogspot.com/
Fashion for me. News, pictures, reviews, and the next big thing.

Gear Patrol: http://www.gearpatrol.com/
Gear Patrol. Men’s source for the best gear, grooming, style, electronics, entertainment, women, outdoor, sports, fitness, games and insider tips. We’re in the business of showing you why being a man has never been so good. Updated daily.

Diary of a LabelLover: http://diaryofalabellover.typepad.com/
A.Fashionista ponders about the fashion ecosystem, dishes the dirty details on the shows, designer consignment and most of all how to develop personal style.

See Jack Shop: http://www.seejackshop.com/
Men’s fashion and style on a budget.

Men’s Flair: http://www.mensflair.com/
Men’s style as seen by those living it.

Finally, there is actually a pretty good directory of all the fashion blogs out there (again, this list may miss some): http://www.blogged.com/directory/shopping/clothing/fashion/mens-fashion