Second-hand men's swimwear

Swimwear is the piece whose condition you can judge fastest, because what gives way is never the fabric. It is the waistband elastic and the drawcord: once slack, they cannot be rescued, and the garment no longer stays up whatever its apparent condition. Then check the inner lining, which tears before the outer fabric, and look for areas faded by chlorine, usually on the seat. On surf models, the side seams and the pocket fastenings deserve a check: these are the stress points. Surf brands often give US sizes and run roomy, where classic swimwear follows European sizes and cuts closer to the body.