Father & Son Matching Swim Trunks: The Ultimate Holiday Style Guide

Father & Son Matching Swim Trunks: The Ultimate Holiday Style Guide

Let's get one thing straight: matching with your kid is not cheesy. Not anymore. Not when it's done right. The days of identical Hawaiian shirts at the hotel pool are behind us. What's replaced them is something better — coordinated style that says "we're together" without screaming it.

At Syd & Rex, matching is in our DNA. Literally. The brand is named after the founder's two sons. Every print we design comes in both men's and boys' sizes, because the whole point was always this: a father and son, same print, same quality, same story. Different sizes.

The Origin Story

Nick Adcock founded Syd & Rex in Ibiza, where he's spent every summer since 1999. The name comes from his boys — Syd and Rex — and the brand grew out of a simple idea: why can't a father and son wear the same premium swim trunks?

Not a "mini-me" novelty. Not a kids' version that's clearly cheaper. The same fabric, the same print, the same attention to detail. SeaQual ocean plastic fabric for both. Custom recycled cord tips for both. The only difference is the size label.

That idea became a brand. And that brand now has nine matching prints for fathers and sons to choose from.

The Nine Matching Prints

Each print tells an Ibiza story. Each one comes in men's (S–XXL) and boys' (ages 2–13) sizes. Here's the lineup:

Solid Rock — Bold, graphic, grounded. Inspired by Ibiza's limestone coastline. Available in six colours: Blue, Green, Red, Royal, Sky, and Yellow. Our widest colour range, so you can match exactly or mix within the family.

Island Lines — Nautical contour lines tracing the coastline of Ibiza and Formentera. For the family that knows these islands by water. Available in Red/Blue and Sky/Blue.

Party Dogs — A tribute to the Podenco Ibicenco, the lean, leggy hounds of the campo. Playful, original, and a guaranteed conversation starter at the pool. Available in Royal.

Brotherhood Camo — Our community icon scattered across a camouflage pattern. Two figures, side by side. Father and son. Brothers. Mates. Available in Blue and Multi.

Birds of a Feather — Inspired by the flamingos of Es Cavallet salt flats. Delicate, unexpected, and a reminder that the best things on this island aren't found in the VIP section. Available in Green.

Brotherhood Scribble — The Brotherhood icon in a loose, hand-drawn style. Like a sketch on a napkin at a beach bar. Available in White.

Island Camo — Ibiza's topography reimagined as camouflage. The island becomes the pattern. Available in Blue/Green.

Island Scribble — The hand-drawn spirit of the island. Loose, imperfect, human. Available in Blue.

Words — A typographic print featuring the phrases and mantras that define island life. "In, On & By the Water." "Sunrise to Sunset." Available in Sky.

Browse the full range on our Father & Son page.

Getting the Fit Right

Men's swim trunks run from S to XXL in a tailored mid-length cut — above the knee, not at the knee. It's the fit that works everywhere from the beach to the bar without looking like you're trying too hard or not trying at all.

Boys' sizes cover ages 2 through 13, with the same mid-length proportions scaled down. The waistband is elasticated with a drawcord for easy on-off (essential when you're dealing with a five-year-old who needs the toilet now).

Check our Size Guide for detailed measurements. When in doubt, size up — a slightly relaxed fit is always more comfortable than a tight one, especially in the heat.

How to Style the Father & Son Look

The beauty of matching swim trunks is that they do the work for you. You don't need to coordinate the rest of the outfit — in fact, you shouldn't. The trunks are the statement. Everything else should be simple.

Beach day: Trunks, a plain tee (or no tee), and slides. That's it. The print speaks for itself. Pack a hat for the little one and you're done.

Beach club: Trunks with a linen shirt, unbuttoned. Boys can go with a simple polo or a Syd & Rex tee. You'll look put-together without looking like you planned it — which is exactly the point.

Boat day: Trunks and nothing else until you dock. Then throw on a lightweight layer for the restaurant. The quick-dry SeaQual fabric means you're not sitting on the upholstery in wet shorts, which the boat owner will thank you for.

The golden rule: Match the trunks, not the whole outfit. Identical head-to-toe is fancy dress. Same trunks with your own style on top is effortless.

The Gift Guide

Matching swim trunks make a genuinely excellent gift — and not just for Father's Day, though that's the obvious one. Here are the occasions that work:

Father's Day: The classic. Buy a matching pair for dad and son. Wrap them together. Watch the reaction. Done.

Pre-holiday: The week before a family trip, hand over a matching set. It builds anticipation and gives the holiday a visual identity before you've even left the house.

Birthday (dad or son): A pair of premium swim trunks is the kind of gift that gets worn constantly and remembered fondly. Especially when there's a matching pair for the other half of the team.

New dad: For the friend who's just had a boy. A men's pair now, a boys' pair for when the little one is ready. It's a long game, and it's a good one.

Not sure which print to choose? A Syd & Rex Gift Card lets them pick their own.

More Than Matching

Here's what we've learned from watching fathers and sons wear our trunks: it's never really about the trunks. It's about the moment. The photo on the beach that becomes the wallpaper on your phone. The "we match!" shout from a three-year-old that makes everyone at the pool smile. The teenager who'd normally rather die than coordinate with his dad, but secretly thinks it's cool.

Those moments are what Syd & Rex is for. We're a conduit to memories. The trunks are just how we get there.

Shop the full Father & Son collection. Same print. Same quality. Same story. Different sizes.

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