Summer style gets a lot more interesting once the layers come off. When your outfit consists of little more than swimwear, sunglasses, and a breezy shirt, your trunks suddenly have a lot of work to do. Fortunately, this year’s swimwear trends are anything but boring.

From nostalgic patterns to unapologetically bright colors, the latest styles offer plenty of ways to bring personality to the pool, beach, or resort. Whether you usually stick with understated basics or treat vacation as an excuse to wear something adventurous, there’s a trend worth trying.

Here are some of the best swim trunk styles making waves this year.

1. Retro Prints Are Making Waves Again

Everything old eventually becomes cool again, and swimwear is currently taking a trip through the archives. Think groovy geometric patterns, vintage florals, abstract shapes, and tropical designs that wouldn’t look out of place in a 1970s vacation brochure.

For anyone shopping for swim trunks for men, retro prints are an easy way to break away from predictable navy and black without going completely overboard. Pair patterned trunks with a solid tee, tank, or linen button-down and let the print handle the personality.

2. Bold, Bright Colors Deserve Some Pool Time

If there were ever a place to experiment with color, it’s beside the water. Cobalt blue, coral, sunshine yellow, bright green, and fiery red can instantly make a simple swim outfit feel more intentional.

The trick is letting one strong color take center stage. Bright trunks paired with a white T-shirt, neutral sandals, and classic sunglasses create an outfit that feels playful rather than chaotic. Consider your swimwear permission to wear that shade you’ve always thought was “too much.”

3. Shorter Inseams Bring Back the Vintage Beach Look

Long, baggy board shorts aren’t the only option anymore, nor are they on trend. Shorter inseams have returned, bringing a distinctly retro, athletic feel to modern swimwear.

A mid-thigh cut can create a streamlined silhouette while making it easier to move, swim, or play beach volleyball. You don’t necessarily need to go dramatically short, either. Experiment with different inseams until you find the balance between vintage style and personal comfort.

4. Classic Stripes Never Really Leave the Beach

Stripes and summer have been friends forever, and that’s unlikely to change. Nautical lines, colorful vertical stripes, and cabana-inspired patterns all feel perfectly at home near the water.

Choose subtle two-tone stripes for a classic approach or wider, multicolored designs for something more playful. Either way, striped trunks deliver enough visual interest to stand out without chasing a trend that might disappear by next summer.

5. Tropical Prints Get a Modern Makeover

Tropical swim trunks don’t have to look like something you purchased in the airport. This year’s versions give the vacation classic a more modern personality, using abstract botanicals, smaller floral patterns, and unexpected color combinations.

Look for palm leaves, flowers, and island-inspired graphics rendered in muted or unconventional shades. These updated prints are still great for vacation, but they’re easier to pair with the rest of your wardrobe. Add a lightweight linen shirt and sandals, and you’re ready to go straight from the beach to lunch.

6. Color-Blocked Trunks Keep Things Sporty

If all-over patterns aren’t your thing, color blocking offers another way to make swimwear interesting. Contrasting side panels, waistbands, piping, and geometric sections give trunks an athletic look with a subtle retro influence.

The style works well when it combines two or three complementary shades rather than every color in the crayon box. Choose a pair featuring colors you already wear, and coordinating your favorite T-shirts, polos, and casual summer shoes becomes surprisingly simple.

7. Tailored Swim Shorts Go From Water to Waterfront Drinks

Sometimes your beach day doesn’t end when you leave the beach. Tailored swim shorts are designed for exactly those afternoons when swimming turns into lunch, sightseeing, and sunset drinks.

These trunks typically feature cleaner lines, streamlined pockets, polished details, and silhouettes resembling everyday shorts. Once they’re dry, throw on a polo or button-down shirt, and they can blend naturally into a casual resort outfit.

8. Textured Fabrics Add Interest Without Loud Prints

Texture can create plenty of visual appeal while maintaining a quieter overall aesthetic. Seersucker, crinkled materials, subtle jacquards, and other tactile fabrics give solid-colored trunks extra dimension. They’re an excellent choice for anyone who prefers minimalist clothing but still wants something more distinctive than basic flat fabric.

Make This the Summer You Try Something Different

The best swimwear trend isn’t necessarily the loudest or newest one. It’s the style that makes you excited to put on your trunks and head outside.

Try a shorter inseam, experiment with a vintage floral, embrace a color you’d normally avoid, or upgrade your favorite solid shade with an interesting texture. Summer style is supposed to feel relaxed and fun, so don’t overthink it. Pick the trunks you like, grab your sunglasses, and get in the water.