In the evolution of style in swim wear and its habit of crossing over to fashion trends of passing decades, the men's bathing suit is no exception. From its beginnings as an article remarkably similar to the males' undergarments, male swim wear from the onset was an uphill battle to separate itself from underwear and become accepted as a form in itself.

Today, swim trunks has become the staple for men's recreational activities in the water. To reflect men's tastes, hobbies, and preferences, prints have ranged from wild animal prints to polka dots to bright red hearts in celebration of a professed love. While men's swim wear has been restricted to the basic boxer and the brief, cultural allusions have been drawn upon in recent decades to stimulate more interest than mere function.

The popularity of swimming as a sport and as a recreation has not been lost on the changing form of the male bathing costume. With Speedo introducing its skintight Lycra suits for women and men, men's briefs have gotten briefer in the interests of the competitive swimmer -- who is constantly in the need of a skintight suit that would shave the precious seconds off.

In the past, men's swim wear has always closely followed and matched women's styles accordingly. What has emerged in the present is a distinct line that follows the male's body and tastes and has distinguished itself from the female version of the swimsuit.