Here's the most important thing first: red and black both look good on everyone. There's no skin tone that "can't" wear either. What changes from person to person is the effect. One color might make you stand out, the other might make you look sleek and sharp. Knowing which effect you want, and how color plays against your skin, makes the choice easy.
This guide walks through contrast, undertone, setting and mood, so the swim brief you pick looks deliberate on you.
The quick answer
- Want to stand out? Choose red.
- Want a sleek, polished look? Choose black.
- Can't decide? Get both. The Swim Brief Duo gives you red and black for $69.98.
Now for the detail.
Start with contrast
The simplest way to think about color is contrast: how different a color looks from your skin.
- High contrast draws the eye and reads as bold and confident.
- Lower contrast looks blended and understated.
Black creates strong contrast with lighter skin and a sleek, tonal look with deeper skin. Red creates a vivid pop against light and medium skin, and a rich, warm glow against deeper skin. Neither effect is better. They're just different, and you get to pick the one you like.
Then consider your undertone
Undertone is the subtle color beneath the surface of your skin. It stays the same whether you're pale in winter or tanned in summer.
How to check your undertone:
- Look at the veins on your wrist in natural light. Bluish or purple veins suggest a cool undertone. Greenish veins suggest warm. A mix, or hard to tell, suggests neutral.
- Think about jewelry. If silver tends to look best on you, you may lean cool. If gold does, you may lean warm. If both work, you're probably neutral.
- Think about white. If bright white suits you, you may lean cool. If off-white or cream looks better, you may lean warm.
These are rough guides, not science. Use them as a starting point.
Red or black by undertone
Cool undertones
Cool undertones often pair beautifully with blue-leaning reds, like a true or cherry red. Black also looks crisp and clean with cool undertones. If you're cool-toned, both colors suit you; red brings energy and black brings polish.
Warm undertones
Warm undertones tend to glow next to warm, rich reds. Red can make warm skin look sun-kissed, even in winter. Black works well too, especially if you want a more understated look.
Neutral undertones
Lucky you: most shades of red and black work easily. Choose based on mood and setting rather than undertone.
Red or black by skin depth
Undertone is one half of the picture. Depth, how light or deep your skin is, is the other.
Lighter skin
Black gives the highest contrast and a sharp, graphic look. Red adds warmth and color, which many people with lighter skin like for photos, especially early in the season before a tan. Both work; red will feel brighter, black more striking.
Medium skin
Medium skin tones are versatile. Red reads warm and vivid. Black looks clean and athletic. This is the skin depth where the choice is most about mood.
Deeper skin
Red looks rich and saturated against deeper skin and makes a confident statement. Black creates a sleek, tonal, polished look. Both are excellent choices; it's about whether you want impact or understatement.
Red or black by setting
Color also depends on where you'll be wearing it.
| Setting | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beach with blue water | Red | Stands out against blue and sand |
| Hotel or rooftop pool | Black | Sleek and polished |
| Pool party | Red | Fun, social and easy to spot |
| Lap swimming | Black | Low-key and classic |
| Cruise or boat day | Either | Bring both and rotate |
| Your first swim brief | Black | Understated while you get comfortable |
Red or black by mood
- Red is confident, social and celebratory. It's the brief you wear on the day you want to be noticed.
- Black is classic, minimal and timeless. It's the brief that goes with every towel, shirt and setting.
If you're new to swim briefs, black is the easier starting point. Our first-timer's guide to wearing swim briefs confidently explains why.
What about a tan?
A tan changes your skin's depth, not your undertone. If you tan over a trip, red will often look warmer and more saturated as the week goes on, and black will look even sharper. Many travelers like to start the trip in black and switch to red once they've had some sun. That's another reason to pack both.
Styling each color
Styling a red swim brief
- Keep everything else simple: a white, navy or sand shirt and a neutral towel.
- Let the red be the only bright color in the outfit.
- For more ideas, read how to wear red at the pool.
Styling a black swim brief
- Black goes with anything, so you can play with a patterned or colorful shirt.
- A white towel and dark sunglasses make a classic combination.
- Black looks especially sharp at hotel pools and in the evening.
- For more ideas, read how to wear black swim briefs.
The Mandate Swim Brief in red and black
The Mandate Swim Brief is a low-rise men's swim brief with a contoured pouch and a flat waistband, in bold red or classic black, sizes S to L, $39.99.
- One color: the Mandate Swim Brief, $39.99
- Red and black: the Swim Brief Duo, 2 for $69.98 (save $10). Also available as two red or two black.
- A full rotation: the Swim Brief Trio, 3 for $99.97 (save $20). Choose two red and one black, one red and two black, or all one color.
Not sure about size? The size guide shows how to measure a brief you already own.
Mandate ships from California. Without a discount code, orders over $99 ship free, and orders to Israel ship free over $60.
The short version
- Red and black both look good on everyone.
- Contrast decides the effect: bold or understated.
- Undertone fine-tunes it: cool, warm or neutral.
- Setting and mood settle it: red to stand out, black to look sleek.
- Can't choose? Take both with the Duo.
Shop the brief
Mandate Swim Brief
$39.99
A low-rise brief with a contoured pouch and a flat logo waistband, in red or black, sizes S to L.
Shop the swim brief
Swim Brief Duo
$69.98 for 2
$10 less than two singles. Red and black, or two of one color, in one size.
Shop the Duo
Swim Brief Trio
$99.97 for 3
$20 less than three singles, and over $99, so it ships free without a discount code.
Shop the TrioShips from California. Without a discount code, orders over $99 ship free, and orders to Israel ship free over $60.
FAQ
What color swim brief looks best on my skin tone?
Both red and black look good on everyone. Red reads warm and vivid and stands out, while black looks sleek and polished. Think about whether you want contrast or a more understated look, then choose.
Is red or black better for pale skin?
Both work. Black creates strong, graphic contrast with lighter skin, and red adds warmth and color. Choose black for a sharp look or red for a brighter one.
Is red or black better for darker skin?
Both work. Red looks rich and saturated against deeper skin, and black creates a sleek, tonal look. It comes down to whether you want impact or understatement.
What color swim brief should I buy first?
Black is the easiest first swim brief because it's understated and goes with everything. Add red once you're comfortable, or get both in the Swim Brief Duo for $69.98.
How do I find my undertone?
Check the veins on your wrist in natural light. Bluish veins suggest a cool undertone, greenish veins suggest warm, and a mix suggests neutral. It's a rough guide, not a rule.