On this planet of basic menswear, the Hawaiian shirt is the eccentric outlier. Unapologetically wild and rambunctious, it flies within the face of conservative type with its free match, vibrant colors and tropical patterns. It’s arguably the unique assertion garment – one thing that may deliver a pedestrian look to life with one snap of its floral fingers – and it’s truly a hell of much more versatile than you would possibly first assume.
Hawaiian shirts don’t need to be teamed up with board shorts and flip-flops. Certain, you possibly can put on one on the seaside whereas parading round in your trunks, however they can be teamed up with tailoring to place some spring in a proper outfit’s step, styled smart-casual for summer time dates or dressed down with sportier items.
Considering of including a Hawaiian shirt to your warm-weather wardrobe? We don’t blame you. Hold studying to be taught extra about this vibrant trendy basic, together with historical past, what to search for and which manufacturers are greatest to purchase from.
What Is A Hawaiian Shirt?
Onia
So what precisely makes a shirt ‘Hawaiian’? Effectively it doesn’t need to be from Hawaii for a begin. Also called ‘Aloha’ shirts, they’re now made all around the world. The factor that unites them is a cushty match (by no means too tight or fitted), shorts sleeves and a vibrant all-over print, which is normally floral or tropical in its design.
No person can pinpoint the precise second at which Hawaiian shirts got here into existence, however it’s theorised that it may have occurred when a Japanese tailor residing in Hawaii reduce a shirt from kimono material. Others recommend the type might have its roots within the Philippines, or presumably Tahiti, the place material was usually printed with vibrant photos of hibiscus, fruit and different unique motifs.
Folks usually confuse Hawaiian shirts and camp collar shirts, however these are two various things. A camp collar shirt is identifiable by its flat, open collar. A Hawaiian shirt is identifiable by its vibrant all-over print. It could or might not have an open collar, and a camp collar shirt might or might not have an all-over print.
Hawaiian Shirt Shopping for Concerns
Match
Orlebar Brown
Historically, Hawaiian shirts match free. This makes them breezy and cooling to put on in sizzling climates and provides to their laid-back vibe.
That being stated, if you happen to’re planning to put on yours tucked in or with tailoring, then it is smart to go for a barely extra fitted design.
Color
Frescobol Carioca
Hawaiian shirts range an excellent deal when it comes to the colors on show. It’s as much as you simply how vivid you need to go.
If you wish to preserve issues understated (nicely, as understated as you will be whereas sporting a floral shirt) follow two-tone designs and darkish florals.
Sample
Onia
Hawaiian shirts normally characteristic prints which can be tropical in nature. These could possibly be flowers, palm bushes or fruit. Nevertheless, because the type has developed, Hawaiian shirt prints have turn into rather more various.
You’ll find just about something printed on one today, however we are saying so long as it’s vivid, summery and enjoyable, it nonetheless counts.
The Greatest Manufacturers For Hawaiian Shirts
Tori Richard
- Tori Richard Watermark
- Tori Richard Solar Print
Based mostly in Honolulu, Tori Richard has been making garments out of lovely printed materials for over 60 years. Hawaiian shirts begin at round £100 and vary from tonal floral prints to gorgeous large-scale illustrations.
There are a whole lot of types to select from and so they’re all handmade in Hawaii. It doesn’t get rather more genuine than that.
Store now at Tori Richard
Onia
- Onia Trip Camp-Collar Printed Linen-Mix Shirt
- Onia Viscose Convertible Camp Shirt
Onia is one in every of our favorite premium resortwear labels. It has made a reputation for itself creating upscale, high-quality variations of breezy seaside classics like swim shorts, linen pants and summery all-over print shirts.
A lot of the model’s short-sleeve shirts characteristic a camp collar design with a barely fitted reduce that may go well with these in search of one thing trimmer and extra flattering than a conventional dishevelled Hawaiian shirt.
They begin from round £100, and patterns vary from tonal and understated to wild and vibrant, however all the time tasteful.
Store now at MR PORTER
Portuguese Flannel
- Portuguese Flannel Tropical Convertible-Collar Printed Linen and Cotton-Mix Shirt
- Portuguese Flannel Sea Weed trip Shirt
Portugal is changing into more and more often known as Europe’s premier vacation spot for high quality textile manufacture. Working example: the incredible shirts they’re churning out at Portuguese Flannel.
The model makes all kinds of shirting and casualwear, from Oxford button-downs to overshirts, however it additionally produces some incredible short-sleeve patterned choices that fall firmly inside Hawaiian territory.
Once more, most printed shirts within the vary are camp collars, and there are some incredible types to select from. We’re significantly keen on the extra summary, tie-dye variations.
Store now at END.
Orlebar Brown
- Orlebar Brown Hibbert Bandana Camp-Collar Floral-Print Voile Shirt
- Orlebar Brown Hibbert Camp-Collar Floral-Print Voile Shirt
You would possibly know Orlebar Brown because the model that popularised tailor-made swim shorts, however the British label has an entire vary of fashionable seaside and casualwear, together with Hawaiian-style shirts.
On the entire, you possibly can count on the patterns on supply right here to be a bit extra refined and subdued than what you would possibly discover elsewhere, however the high quality is on level and the matches are flattering.
Store right here if you happen to’re in search of a contemporary, versatile tackle a basic Hawaiian shirt, with a trim match and tasteful color palette.
Store now at MR PORTER
Frescobol Carioca
- Frescobol Carioca Roberto Linen Shirt Leaf Print
- Frescobol Carioca Roberto Camp-Collar Printed Silk Shirt
In search of an opulent spin on this trip basic? We’d advise you to try the silk choices out there from Frescobol Carioca.
The Roberto silk shirt is obtainable in a few beachy summary prints, and the material is delicate and cooling to maintain you trying sharp even in sweltering temperatures.
Store now at Farfetch
Gitman Classic
- Gitman Classic Crimson Duke’s Pareo Popover
- Gitman Classic Brief Sleeve Camp Collar Jamaica Shirt
Gitman Bros. is a historic American shirtmaking establishment, and the Gitman Classic line takes inspiration from the model’s archives to recreate basic types with modern twists.
The label’s short-sleeve shirts can be found in some fairly outrageous patterns that change from one season to the following, however all the time characteristic eye-catching imagery and daring, vibrant colors.
Store now at END.
Countless Pleasure
- Countless Pleasure Rangda Aloha Silk Shirt
- Countless Pleasure Palma Trip Shirt
Countless Pleasure’s uncommon designs are impressed by mythology and Balinese tradition. These are certainly not your run-of-the-mill Hawaiian shirts. They’re putting, darkish, usually barely macabre and in distinction to the floweriness of the standard garment.
That being stated, there are nonetheless loads of vivid and vibrant choices if that’s your factor.
Store now at SSENSE
Go Barefoot
- Go Barefoot Island Pareo Convertible-Collar Printed Cotton Shirt
- Go Barefoot Camp-Collar Printed Cotton-Poplin Shirt
When you’re after the actual deal, Go Barefoot is without doubt one of the greatest manufacturers to purchase from. It’s one of many final remaining authentic and genuine Hawaiian shirt corporations, conserving the basic type alive.
With free matches, basic collars and attention-grabbing floral prints, these shirts are the actual deal, with each garment designed in Hawaii and handmade in California.
Store now at MR PORTER