SPEEDOS are back in fashion, with blokes daring to bare on Sydney beaches this season.

A century after Speedo founder Alexander MacRae created the much-maligned swimwear, the skimpy style will be all the rage at pools and beaches this summer.

Sluggos, budgie-smugglers, dick-stickers — whatever you call them — the Speedo has, in the past, divided the beachgoing community, thanks to its revealing and unforgiving shape and regular sightings on such luminaries as Tony Abbott and Giorgio Armani.

But since David Beckham unveiled his six pack in a pair of

Speedos for H&M in April, retailers have seen a boom in sales and predict we will see more budgie-smugglers on the sand this summer. The surge has prompted Sydney event planner Adam Butler to launch Sluggers, a label dedicated to the Aussie bathers.

The swimwear brand sells just one style of the drawstring briefs, made from a non-stretch polyester in various colours inspired by classic ‘80s and ‘90s styles.

“It was so controversial when they were launched and there’s still controversy,” he said. “They’ve always been an eyebrow raiser.”

Mr Butler was initially surprised that young men were switching from board shorts to briefs.

“A lot of young guys are getting into them. I think it’s stemmed from the fitness movement among young Aussies, they are getting more body confident at a younger age.”

Jets swimwear has increased its offering of the skimpy cossie, with David Jones sending out its models in a range of the label’s briefs at its recent spring summer show.