Charlie by Matthew Zink Swim Thong

Brands
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Price: $32-116 (regular price is $85-145)
Size: XS (available in XS to XL)
Color: Navy Scarf, Sunset Scarf, Black, and Others

https://www.charliebymz.com/collections/swim-thong-all

I have mixed feelings about the Charlie by MZ “Swim Thong”. It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite thongs, but it’s difficult to recommend.

Charlie is a fashion brand founded by New York-based designer Matthew Zink. Zink was the Design Director for Victoria’s Secret Swimwear for five years. He left in April 2010 to launch Charlie. Zink was interviewed by The Style Examiner, See (Anna) Jane, and Out Magazine in 2011, but I haven’t seen any more recent conversations with the designer. The brand was featured in Vogue when it was still making women’s apparel, but, as of 2024, only makes menswear.

The “Swim Thong’s” cut is similar to a minimal brief. It has an internal drawstring and is front lined. The fabrics look great and are comfortable. They’re similar to LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ swimsuits from mainstream brands; not as sturdy as polyester, but much softer and stretchier. The patterns are classy compared to some of the more flamboyant prints from other brands. I especially like the scarf collection. The construction is high quality, and they take the time to matches stripes at the seams.

Sizing is consistent. I have the “Swim Thong” in a few different colors, and they all fit well. I usually wear a size small, but prefer the extra small “Swim Thong”. If the same were true for every style, it wouldn’t be an issue. However, I wear the “Boomerang” thong in a size medium. Combined with the fact that thong swimwear is “final sale” and not eligible for return or exchange, buying a swimsuit from Charlie by MZ can be an expensive gamble.

Charlie by MZ’s prices are significantly higher than most other brands. Depending on the fabric, the “Swim Thong” can cost as much as $145. Fortunately, there are frequent sales for up to 40% off and swimsuits are discounted at the end of the season. I’ve paid as little as $32 for a “Swim Thong” on clearance. Standard shipping is usually about $5.

If you can stomach the prices (or wait for a sale) and don’t mind rolling the dice on the size, I think the Charlie by MZ “Swim Thong” is one of the best. But, you could easily end up with an expensive swimsuit that doesn’t fit and cannot be returned.

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I agree. Love their thongs, but they’re too expensive.

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I really want to buy a Charlie Greco Thong, but, even on sale, have always balked at the price.

Has anyone else noticed how expensive BANG! and Sammy have become? Seems to be more than an exchange rate issue.

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Sure have! BANG! was wildly up this past season. I was just looking at a few, and I was not up for that price point.

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I admit I’m a sucker for Charlie by MZ swim thongs. I own about a dozen of their Boomerang series. I’m embarrassed to say that I paid full price for most of their thongs, as well as another half dozen Boomerangs when they were 50% off during Black Friday. I’m a collector, so I view it as an investment. The cut, material, and colors are the best, and the pricing makes them feel more luxurious and exclusive.

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Aren’t thongs a tax write-off for you? Wish I had that problem, lol.

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Just because it’s a tax write-off doesn’t make it free.

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Charlie has some great looking stuff, but I’ll never be able to bring myself to pay those prices. When a thong costs more than one of my utility bills, it’s just not practical for me.

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To me, it feels like owning an art piece, but to each their own.

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I haven’t tried their Boomerang series yet. Still using their older models. :smiling_face_with_tear:

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This is how I feel. Even when they have the 50% off sale, the unfavorable Aussie dollar just makes them prohibitively expensive, no matter how much I really want one!

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It appears, based on their website, that Charlie is phasing out their original swim thong. Does anyone have any inside intel? I agree that Charlie swim thongs are expensive, but the fit and comfort are amazing.

I know Charlie also makes the boomerang style, but I’m not sure I would ever wear one given the skimpy fit and lack of a drawcord.

If anyone knows anything, please share!

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I don’t have any inside information, however, based on what I’ve seen in the past, they tend to put most of their swimwear on clearance in the late fall and bring back sold out styles in the spring. If you sign up for their newsletter, they’ll probably start spamming you with “Back in Stock” emails as the weather warms up.

I prefer the classic style too, so I hope it hasn’t been discontinued.

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They did have a 50% off sale during the holidays, so I bought 2 more.

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Charlie is starting to release new swimwear patterns and sadly all thongs are boomerang style. Hope they bring back the classic style! Maybe I’ll email customer service.

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At some point, I’d like to own a Charlie MZ thong, especially the Boomerang. I like the style and everything I’ve read is very positive. But what’s holding me back is the price, and I know I’m not alone in that. I know they’re on the luxury side of thongs, but I think as men’s thongs become more popular, there will be more competition, and new brands will enter the market offering something similar or the same at a better price, time will tell.

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