The Tailored Swim Short: How OB Set the Standard (and Everyone Else is Still Catching Up)
Let’s start with the obvious. If you’ve been watching The White Lotus, you’ve definitely seen Orlebar Brown swim shorts. They’ve been quietly stealing the spotlight since season one.
In the most recent season, Lochlan (played by Sam Nivola) wore a pair of Bulldog Drawcord Shorts in bright orange. The kind of colour that says, “I’ve arrived” before you’ve even checked in. And this wasn’t a one-off. Our shorts have made an appearance in every season of the hit show. Theo James wore the botanical print Bulldog in season two. That style sold out almost instantly after the episode aired.
But the real star isn’t the colour, the cut, or the cameo. It’s the tailoring. And that’s where this story begins.
Why Tailoring Matters (Yes, Even in Swimwear)
Swim shorts used to be… practical. That’s the kindest way to put it. They were made to dry quickly, maybe offer a bit of stretch, and not fall down after a dive. Great. But smart? Not really.
Then came Orlebar Brown. We looked at traditional swimwear and asked a simple question: why can’t it look better? Why does getting wet mean style goes out the window?
So we borrowed from tailoring. Literally. Our original Bulldog swim shorts were based on the pattern of a pair of tailored men’s trousers. Side adjusters, a zip fly, a proper waistband with darts at the back. The kind of details you'd normally expect on your favourite suit, not your swimwear.
Suddenly, swim shorts weren’t just something you wore to swim. They became something you wanted to be seen in. At lunch. On the boat. Walking through the hotel lobby. And that changed everything.
How It Started: A Poolside Realisation
Orlebar Brown didn’t start in a design studio or with a moodboard. It started by the pool.
The idea for Orlebar Brown came on holiday. Adam Brown was at a friend’s birthday party in Rajasthan in 2005. When it was time for lunch, he arrived at the restaurant wearing wet swimming trunks. Not looking smart enough, he was turned away. And in that moment the idea for O.B was born – what he needed was not a better swim short - but a short that you can swim in.
The goal was simple: create a swim short that looked and felt like a tailored short. Something you could wear from pool to bar, sea to city, without ever needing to change. And that’s how the Bulldog was born.
The Bulldog Effect
We launched with four lengths: Springer, Setter, Bulldog and Dane. But it was the Bulldog that really hit its stride. Mid-length, classic proportions, fits most body types. It's been our best-seller ever since.
Part of the magic is in the balance. The Bulldog isn’t flashy. It’s confident. The fit is clean, the waistband adjusts, the pockets sit exactly where they should. When we say tailored, we mean it. Each pair goes through a 60-piece construction process and is made with the same level of care you’d expect from a proper pair of tailored trousers.
Over time, we’ve evolved the Bulldog into new fabrics, finishes and colours, but we haven’t messed with the shape. Why would we? When something works that well, you don’t need to fix it.
Copycats Come and Go
It didn’t take long for other brands to notice. Suddenly, everyone was trying to do “tailored” swim shorts. Side adjusters started popping up. Logos got smaller. Fits got trimmer.
Some of them even look quite good. But they’re not the original. You can’t copy heritage. You can’t copy instinct.
What makes OB different isn’t just the fit or the finish. It’s the thinking behind it. This isn’t fast fashion. It’s considered, consistent and confident. Every stitch is intentional. And the truth is, we’re always a few steps ahead.
When others are still trying to figure out what tailored swimwear means, we’re already launching new takes: Bulldog Drawcords for a more relaxed feel, stretch fabrics for movement, limited editions that sell out before the sun sets.
From Poolside to Pop Culture
When you land in a show like The White Lotus, it says something. That you’re part of the moment. That you’ve made it into the visual language of how we holiday now.
It’s not just about recognition. It’s about resonance. People see our shorts on screen, and they get it. They know it’s Orlebar Brown, even without the label in view. That’s what timeless design does. It becomes recognisable through silhouette and detail, not shouty branding.
The Orange Bulldog Drawcord from Season 3? It wasn’t chosen at random. Costume designers pick OB because it fits the world they’re building. Characters that care about taste, detail, lifestyle. It’s more than just swimwear. It’s a signal.
Why It Still Works
The reason the tailored swim short still matters, 15 years later, is because the formula was right from the start.
It does everything you need it to do. It dries quickly. It fits like your favourite chino. You can wear it in the water, at the bar, at a rooftop restaurant, or to a beach wedding. It’s effortless. You look like you know what you’re doing without ever trying too hard.
And that’s probably the key to all of it. Good design makes you feel relaxed. And when you feel relaxed, you look better. The Bulldog takes care of the details so you don’t have to.
Still Leading the Pack
We’re not resting on the original Bulldog, though. Over the years, we’ve built on it. You’ll find the Bulldog Drawcord, which swaps the zip fly for a rope-style waistband. It’s a little softer, a bit more laid-back, but still recognisably OB.
There’s stretch versions for more movement. Jacquard styles with raised geometric textures. Archive reissues with limited prints. Even silk Bulldogs, if you’re feeling bold.
The core idea stays the same, but the range expands with you. Whatever your version of holiday looks like, there’s a Bulldog to match.
Not Just Swim Shorts, But Where It All Began
Orlebar Brown has grown a lot since 2007. There’s linen shirts, knitted polos, travel-ready trousers, and lightweight outerwear. But the heart of the brand? It’s still in that first tailored swim short.
It set the tone for everything else. A commitment to quality, to versatility, to making things that actually make sense when you’re away. Every new piece starts with the same question: can you wear it by the pool, and also to the bar? If not, it probably doesn’t need to exist.
We’ve gone from four colours and one short to full collections, celebrity customers, designer collaborations and TV cameos. But that poolside energy - that feeling of stepping into something that fits perfectly and makes you feel like you’re on holiday before you've even left your room - that's never changed.
A Classic for a Reason
There’s a reason people come back to OB shorts season after season. It’s not just about style. It’s about how they make you feel. Confident. Comfortable. Considered.
You can pack one pair and know you’re sorted for the whole trip. That’s why the Bulldog has stuck. Why it’s been worn everywhere from Bondi to the Bahamas. Why it's become a quiet icon in modern menswear.
And yes, why it keeps popping up on screen - even when the characters are running from something dramatic, at least their wardrobe is under control.
The Tailored Swim Short: Often Imitated, Never Beaten
Lots of brands make swim shorts. Only one started with tailoring in mind. Only one made that the focus, not the afterthought. And only one has kept doing it right, season after season.
We’re proud of that. And we’re not slowing down.
So whether it’s your first pair of Bulldogs or your tenth, just know you’re putting on something that changed how men dress on holiday. Something that looks as good poolside as it does on screen. And something that no one else does quite the same.
