Hawaiian, or a Hawaiian-style shirt, is a striking piece of men's summer wardrobe that has not lost its popularity for several decades. Classic Hawaiian shirts have short sleeves, a turn-down collar without a stand, a pocket on the left side of the chest (the pattern of which is inscribed in the general ornament) and, of course, bright colors – all kinds of prints with floral, tropical, marine and other bright motives.
This garment is primarily associated with a seaside vacation, but it may well be part of an urban summer wardrobe to create a bright and slightly relaxed look. Today we'll take a closer look at how to wear a Hawaiian shirt and what to avoid.
Hawaiian shirt history
The multicolored men's shirts familiar to the whole world appeared, as the name entrenched behind them, in Hawaii. History has it that the first examples of such clothing were created at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when the local population began to adopt the American customs and style of clothing, but closed suits of that time, as well as shirts with long sleeves, were not suitable for the hot climate of Hawaii .
The history of the Hawaiian shirt goes back about a hundred years.
The commercial production of Hawaii was established in the 1930s, and the pioneer in the field was the Musashi-ya store in Honolulu, which was founded by a family of Japanese immigrants named Miyamoto. According to some versions, kimono fabric was used for the first shirts with a bright pattern, while the loose fit did not require fit to the figure and therefore was perfect for general sale.
Hawaiian shirts quickly gained popularity among both the local population and American tourists and surfers who discovered Hawaii as a new holiday destination. In the 40-50s, this bright and light garment became associated with the annual cultural festival in Honoul – Aloha Week, and by the 60s it had already firmly gained popularity around the world. Celebrities of that time also played a significant role in this, choosing Hawaiian shirts for concerts and festivals, in particular, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. US President Harry Truman also had nothing against tropical prints.
Elvis Presley in a Hawaiian shirt on the cover of “Blue Hawaii”
Hawaiian shirts have not lost their relevance today: every year, designers include new versions of this popular model in their collections. So even if you're not planning on heading to Honolulu and surfing, you can still choose the right model for your casual summer look.
How to wear a Hawaiian shirt
A Hawaiian shirt is a bright, eye-catching piece of clothing, so there are certain rules to be followed when wearing it.
A Hawaiian shirt with white shorts or trousers is a great leisure set
First of all, it is worth remembering that Hawaiians do not tuck into trousers: their fit and style definitely call for wearing them out. A Hawaiian shirt can be paired with trousers, jeans and shorts, but it's important to remember that the bottom fabric should be solid and neutral. You should definitely not try to pair multi-colored prints in the form of flowers, palm trees or tropical fruits with striped or plaid trousers. The best choice of pants material will be cotton or linen, and colors – khaki, beige, white.
When wearing a Hawaiian shirt, you should avoid flashy accessories. Ties, bow ties, scarves, suspenders and other large details will become superfluous in an image where fabric in the colors of a tropical summer already dominates.
Of the accessories, leather bracelets are best combined with Hawaiian shirts.
For Hawaiian shirts, there are no fundamental restrictions on the type of figure and size: the loose cut helps them fit perfectly on both thin teenagers and large men. But at least a little tan will be quite useful. If a vacation by the sea is still in the plans, try to avoid shades that emphasize a pale complexion.
Where to wear a Hawaiian shirt
Despite the fact that in Hawaii, bright short-sleeved shirts have long been a common attire for work, you should not try to bring this tradition to Russian offices with a classic dress code. Creative professionals can play with this rule carefully by wearing a shirt with a print in muted colors with soft cotton trousers (and only if the thermometer has reached at least 28 degrees!). But the Hawaiian shirt will be an excellent choice for recreation, summer walks and tourist trips, as well as concerts and music festivals.
A variation of a Hawaiian shirt in a discreet color scheme can be suitable for both leisure and work in the summer.
Sometimes in the summer the Hawaiian can also be used as evening wear, but in this case it is worth choosing a model made of a thinner and smoother material, for example, silk. Fantasy prints are appropriate, but should be more discreet than for daytime or beachwear.
Where to buy a Hawaiian shirt
In anticipation of the summer season, Hawaiian shirts can often be found in regular men's clothing stores of popular brands. For a wider selection, it is worth contacting specialized points of sale, including online ones that offer country-style clothing, rock paraphernalia, retro styled models, clothing for motorcyclists or simply a large assortment of summer men's shirts.
Many popular casual brands have variations of Hawaiian shirts (pictured: Topman, S / S 2017)
If you want not just a stylized, but the most authentic Hawaiian shirt, pay attention to the stores that have models from the world leaders in this segment (most of them are located in Hawaii). Some of the best-known brands include Pacific Legend, Reyn Spooner, Tori Richard, Kahala, Paradise Found, Weekender, and more.
Conclusion
The Hawaiian shirt is a bright and often controversial piece of clothing, but what definitely cannot be taken away from it is its ability to instantly create a summer festive mood. Manufacturers offer a variety of designs these days, so you can choose the fit and vibrancy of the prints that suit you best to bring a bit of Honolulu beach to your everyday look.
