ready for a swim? (part 2: boys)

It is certainly easier to find boys' swimwear that is suitable and provides coverage than it is to find girls'.  But by the same token, it can be harder to find boys' swimwear that is particularly cute and stands out from the crowd.  Gap and Old Navy are generally reliable and affordable, as is H&M, but you may have difficulty distinguishing your son from every other boy on the beach in his Gap swimsuit.

If you want your son to stand out, Charlie Rocket offers some fun swim trunks that are widely available in children's boutiques and online.  These can be paired with a t-shirt and your son is ready to go.  But I'm a big fan of the boys' board shorts paired with a rashguard top.  Let's face it, surfer and skate punk style is entirely on trend right now, so you can cover your son from neck to knee while he looks impossibly hip.  

Chasing Fireflies (available by catalog and online at www.chasing-fireflies.com) has some cute and unusual boys swim trunks and tops, but most of them are quite pricey.  If price is not a major impediment, I encourage you to check out the site (the eyes see swim trunks, pictured below, are $44 and are really too stinkin' cute).  Personally, I find that sometimes boys' swimwear is worth a little extra money since it's likely to last for a couple of seasons.

For a more moderate sum, Garnet Hill and Mini Boden are perfect.  Chances are you're not putting a fitted swimsuit on your older son, but for a toddler, Mini Boden's surf suit is absolutely adorable, and for $48 you get both the bottom and the top (and Boden is currently offering an additional 25% off).  While you're at it, why not get their towelling throw-on, simultaneously cute and edgy in a skull print. For an older child, Boden's rash vest ($26) and panel boarders ($28) come in three coordinated color ways.  Garnet Hill carries a very classic and handsome rashguard and swimtrunk set by Sun Busters (the top is currently on sale for $24 and the trunks are $29).  Or match the blue rashguard top with Speedo's graphic flame board shorts on sale at Garnet Hill for the low low price of $14.  But my absolute favorite of the boys' swimwear this season (available at Garnet Hill for $58 for the set) is the Cabana Life striped ship swim set.  The picture (above) does not do it justice.  With a zipper down the front of the rashguard top, sophisticated and very wearable colors, and a terrific graphic of a ship on the side of the leg, this set is truly fabulous.  In fact, although my youngest has plenty of hand-me-down swimwear for this summer, I think I have to cave in and buy it right now.