There are some occasions when your shabby, stained and garish boardshorts make you stand out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons. It is for these occasions when you really need a pair of MacKeene beach shorts.

The brainchild of a well know swimwear stylist and a professional kite-surfer, these shorts live up to their tagline of ‘sophisticated beachwear’. They come in a choice of long or short versions, available in every colour under the rainbow (almost), and some are even pinstripe. Beautifully tailoured to provide a fit which looks just right, they owe more to the world of bespoke suitmakers than to that of the mass-produced boardshort.

However, it is not just the styling which makes MacKeene shorts sophisticated, but also their technical design and construction. Using materials sourced from Italy, Spain, and Japan, they are quick drying, antistatic and stretch well to prevent rips. The fibers used are very lightweight: to the extent that you could forget that you were wearing them. The flies and pockets use a magnetic closing system which is quirky, innovative, and very effective – not to mention safer than more traditional designs.

Wait. There’s more: MacKeene have achieved all this while respecting the environment. They use environmentally friendly materials and construction methods, and hope to soon offer products which are 100% ecological. This just goes to show that a high quality product doesn’t have to come at a high cost to the environment.

When you are ready to graduate from your boardshorts, invest in a MacKeene swimsuit. Stylish and functional, these shorts help you blend into a different type of surf scene.

Useful information

• RRP €100-140
• Available to buy at mackeene.com
• Colours: almost everything.