Aloha shirts have long been the side joke of Summer fashion and I’m tired of it and I’m calling you out. Deep down you know you love wearing them, in fact you have some in your closet and can’t wait for the inevitable Aloha themed Summer party you pretend to hate.
Bring those shirts out from the back of the closet and bring a splash of color to your Summer clothing routine.
The golden era of the aloha shirt would last from the ’40s through the ’50s, the decade when Hawaii’s tourism soared from 50,000 to 250,000 visitors annually. Tourists and servicemen aside, A-list celebrities popularized the aloha shirt as well. There was Bing Crosby in the 1930s. Hawaiian waterman and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku in the ’50s. Montgomery Clift in 1953’s From Here to Eternity. Elvis in Blue Hawaii in 1961. Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower even stepped out in the shirt, increasing its visibility world wide. Magnum would bring it back in the 80’s and the Montague boys and Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) would bring it back in the 90’s.
Now if the strict version of the Aloha shirt isn’t your cup of tea then “Aloha style” or “Hawaiian adjacent”type of shirt may suit you more. Bright patterns with flowers and animals can be found in a lot of designer’s Summer look books and can be a gateway to the more fun and expressive Aloha shirts. With that being said, try your best to source from authentic Hawaiian designers as since the 50’s major fashion labels have stolen designs from local Hawaiian designers and appropriated the culture for their own gains. The shirt’s origins are from 1935 from a local Hawaiian designer selling them to tourists and servicemen and helped the now exploited and subjugated native Hawaiians make some money.
Treat yourself to a little fun this Summer and buy yourself a Aloha shirt. If you’re the stuffy sort they look great with dress pants, just ask Frank and Leo. If you’re looking to have some fun on a day trip just throw on a pair of jeans like Brad, maybe culottes or shorts like Mads.
Have fun, be colorful and enjoy the smiles and nods you will get with your proud, loud and stylish fashion choice.
