What to wear in France, Sweden and Oz

Our essential guide to men's swimwear etiquette around the world:

• In France, it's considered very unhygenic to swim in anything other than the skimpiest smalls, discovers chastened FT columnist Matthew Engel.
• Our US buyer Karen reports that all the cool Swedish boys in Magaluf were wearing logo waistband boxers (mainly Bjorn Borg but also a few Calvins) under their boardshorts, both in and out the pool.
• Newlywed James Packer's budgie smugglers mark him out as a true Australian, notes an approving Melbourne Herald Sun.
• Doesn't matter what you wear - men are banned altogether from Italy's first women-only beach in Riccione, reports The Times. At first glance, a fabulous destination for any woman in a bikini panic; on the other hand, don't you think women are generally more critical?

Any more need-to-know swimwear tips you've picked up on your travels? Share them with us.