(above: Olasul trunk and tee)

Mens swimwear has taken a short cut this season, literally! 

Gone are baggy board shorts, replaced by more fitted styles whose hemlines hit just above the knee and compliment the masculine silhouette.

This seasons swim trunks draw inspiration from the 1960’s and 70’s.  Picture surfers with sun bleached hair, bonfires, lazy days on the beach, sun-kissed skin and longboards.

 Retro-inspired is the key to style this summer and  Olasul– surf-wear with a story- is the “it” brand to wear!

“The synthesis of Ola, meaning “wave,” and Azul, as in “blue,” we hope the name will transport you to the inspiration-point of the brand, the Peruvian coast. Surfing is deeply ingrained into the culture here. It’s a place where inhabitants of the Viru Valley rode waves during Pre-Colombian times, about 3000 BCE. Modern surfing has been a part of the landscape since the 1930s, when the first wooden surfboard was brought over from Hawaii. Today, the ritual continues with surfing enjoyed by Peruvians from all walks of life.”

(above: Olasul Marino trunk)

(above: Olasul trunks)

I sat down with Lorenz Korder Fort, founder of Olasul to find out how to ride the waves this season in style:

Q: Based in the swim shows, I noticed 2 top trends this season in mens swimwear: mens hemlines are shorter than previous seasons and trunks have a vintage feel to them.  Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

LKF: Even though Olasul is a contemporary brand- our shorts are made of the latest fabrics with a modern tailored fit- we find inspiration in the surf culture of Peru during the 1950’s. 60s, and 70s.  In 1965 Peru hosted the first World Surfing Championship in Punta Rocas, just outside of Lima.  It’s 1,500 mile coastline played an important role in the emergence of surfing as a mainstream sport.  In the early years, world class surf breaks were virtually unknown; the discovery of these waves by the first Peruvian surfers embody the Olasul spirt and lifestyle.

Q: How do you transition the average men’s mindset from longer to shorter hemlines on trunks?

LKF: It’s not only about the length of the hemline, it’s about the overall fit.  Men should concentrate on finding well-fitting clothing, the mindset will follow.

Q: Any tips on how a man should select length/style of swimwear?

LKF: Different body types look better with different trunk styles/lengths. Tall men should look for shorts with a longer hemline, while short men ones with a shorter hemline. As a rule of thumb, I would recommend looking for trunks that are at least a few inches above the knee; these deliver a slender and elegant look.

Q: If Olasul trunks are the entree what would the side-dish served with them be?

LKF:  Soludos espadrilles, they are my summer staple shoe. Find them at soludos.com

Q: Does the Olasul man prefer blondes, brunettes or redheads?

LKF: The Olasul man prefers women that share his love for the ocean.

Olasul surf-wear is made in Peru using fair-labor practices, local textiles, and incredibly soft Peruvian prima cotton.

Pick your length.  Olasul offers shorts in 8″ or 5″ .  If you want to look as cool as the guys riding the big waves this summer grab a pair today at Olasul.com , Ron Herman or Scoop.

For 10% of your order at Olasul.com Use DISCOUNT CODE: CHRISTIE

Olasul wants to take you to the Ocean.  1 lucky winner will receive a 8″inch Sunset trunk (pictured below).

To ENTER:

First if you haven’t already subscribe to this blog (you can subscribe via email at the top right of sidebar)

NEXT

Visit the Olasul website and check out the collection-then leave a comment on this post between June 5 and June 11 telling me which Olasul trunk is your favorite.

Use DISCOUNT CODE: CHRISTIE for a 10% discount on your order!

Good Luck and Thanks for reading. Last weeks lucky winner is Kari Phillips!  Congrats!