Sporting a Hawaiian shirt is a bold fashion move. So if you own one, let’s do you a big solid by telling you how a men’s Hawaiian shirt should fit. This shirt has been in and out of the fashion scene, so you are most likely familiar with it. Its bold, colorful floral patterns often make us see it as a holiday shirt.
As a result, the number one question every guy asks on this is, “should Hawaiian shirts be loose?” Well, not exactly. Hawaiian shirts shouldn’t be loose, neither should they be tight. Instead, go for something straight with structure. This means it should be tailored to your body shape without clinging to your skin.
It’s super important to get the right fit for your Hawaiian shirt, and we will talk more on this as you read on. You want to wear a Hawaiian shirt without looking cheesy, or like you’re in a bad sop opera. And what we’re here for – to help you achieve the right look and take advantage of the revamped Hawaiian shirt look. Aloha!
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How Do Men Wear Hawaiian Shirts?
You can go for a summer look, smart casual, everyday casual, or even a relaxed business look with a Hawaiian shirt.
One key to styling this shirt is by keeping your bottoms simple. This is because the Hawaiian shirt already has a busy pattern, and you want to tone that down a bit. So avoid colorful or printed bottoms.
Another key is to match a color in the shirt print to your bottoms.
Now your bottoms can either be your shoes, pants or both. For example, a Hawaiian shirt with a red and light blue pattern should be matched with a pair of light blue jeans. One with a black background can be matched with black shoes and a pair of white chinos. Then again, both the chinos and the shoes can be black.
For a relaxed business look, you can pair your summer suit with a Hawaiian shirt and sneakers. The idea is to dress up the Hawaiian shirt while dressing down the suit.
You can also pair your Hawaiian shirt tucked in with a pair of chambray dress pants and a pair of loafers. Shorts are also a great look with Hawaiian shirts (a classic look, actually).
Another way to wear the Hawaiian shirt is by sporting the camp collar Aloha shirt style. Camp collars give you a laid-back retro look which is very attractive. A hot style is to wear a Hawaiian shirt-themed polo shirt with dark jeans and sneakers.
A more casual look is to wear an undershirt underneath your Hawaiian shirt and level all buttons undone. Then pair it with Jeans or shorts.
Remember to keep the colors of your pants and shoes simple. For an office look, stick with Hawaiian shirts with a buttoned-up style and a rounded hem.
In all you do with your Hawaiian shirt, always be confident and never doubt your style. Also, avoid stiff fabrics and opt for lightweight fabric like cotton to further achieve a light and free vibe.
What Pants Go Well With A Hawaiian Shirt?
Pants that go well with a Hawaiian shirt are:
Shorts
Without a doubt, shorts are a classic match for Hawaiian shirts. These were originally worn by locals and tourists when the shirt became popular. It’s the most iconic look for a relaxed summer style.
When pairing shorts with a Hawaiian shirt, get a pair of shorts that stops above the knees. Also, the color of the shorts should match a color from the shirt’s print. Alternatively, you can go for white or neutral shorts. This will match any shirt.
Finish off the look with a pair of sneakers or boat shoes. And ditch the sandals for now, except you’re at the beach.
With shorts, it’s best to leave your Hawaiian shirt untucked. Only tuck in if the shirt is too long or if you have a formal event to attend. Oh, wait! You’ll probably not be wearing shorts to a wedding or the office. So don’t tuck in with your shorts.
Pants
Pants with Hawaiian shirts will give you a smart casual look. You can wear regular slacks, dress pants, jeans, chinos, khakis and so on with this shirt. Like shorts, let the shirt be the eye-catcher and keep your pants simple.
A pair of dark jeans or chinos will look great for the office. Then finish it off with a pair of loafers, boat shoes, or sneakers.
You can use a belt if it is not too much because of the shirt. If not, it’s best to lose the belt. And when it comes to a smart-casual look, it’s best to tuck in the shirt. You’ll look neat and presentable.
With the Hawaiian shirt, you can pretty much have fun with your look. It gives a nice fun and free touch to any look, whether you’re keeping it casual or dressing it up a bit. Just remember not to pair a printed shirt with printed bottoms, or you’ll end up looking like you’re wearing Pajamas.
Are Hawaiian Shirts Smart Casual?
Hawaiian shirts can be worn as smart casual outfits. Apart from their bright, bold colors, Hawaiian shirts feature buttons, a collar, and one chest pocket (sometimes). These features can make them pass off as smart casual if worn right.
Also, it depends on the degree of formality required at the office as there are degrees of smart casual.
A nice smart casual look that can survive any degree is to layer your Hawaiian shirt with a crew neck sweater. With this look, only the collars of the shirt are showing. Go for darker prints instead of bright prints and a dark-colored sweater like gray. Then finish it off with dark wash jeans and a pair of oxfords or loafers.
In Hawaii, however, the Hawaii shirts are considered appropriate as office wear even for government officials. In 1962, the Senate in Hawaii passed a resolution permitting Hawaiian shirts to be worn in warmer months. Anyway, you really can’t expect them to wear a suit and tie given the hot weather in Hawaii.
Three years later, the President of the Hawaiian fashion guild led a campaign for Aloha Friday so offices could permit workers to wear the Aloha shirt on Fridays of some months. But in 1970, it could be worn any day of the week. And soon enough, “casual Friday” was born in the 1990s.
Should Hawaiian Shirts Be Loose?
Traditionally, Hawaiian shirts were loose and relaxed, but a more modern look is slimmer and more tailored.
The shirt should complement your body frame in a straight or slim fit to the hips. However, it shouldn’t be so tight that your chest is ripping apart the buttonholes. Remember that Hawaiian shirts have this free, easy, and airy vibe to them.
So avoid the stereotypical baggy shirt with knee-length shorts and sandals tourists look. And embrace the modern tailored look with a straight hem so you can choose to tuck in or out.
What Is The Difference Between A Hawaiian Shirt And An Aloha Shirt?
An Aloha shirt and a Hawaiian shirt are the same things. “Aloha shirt” is what the locals call what we know as the “Hawaiian shirt”. By locals, we mean those who are from the Islands of Hawaii.
You can’t picture Hawaii without the Hawaiian shirt. Beautiful sandy beaches, lovely blue waters, tropical fruit, dark-skinned locals, and a Hawaiian shirt make up a classic picture of Hawaii.
Historically, Hawaiian shirts have Japanese, Chinese, Philippine, and American influences from the early 20th century. This happened when immigrants from these countries moved to Hawaii, bringing with them different clothing styles and fabrics. Things like bright kimono fabrics from Japan, silk garments from China, Barongs from the Philippines, and collared shirts from America.
In 1931, the Hawaiian shirt became popular by a young Chinese man named Ellery Chun. He had returned to Hawaii after attending college in Connecticut and took over his father’s store in Honolulu. He, however, transformed it into a clothing store called Kingsmith Clothiers. And there, he made bright patterned short-sleeved shirts from leftover kimono fabrics.
Chun’s sister, Ethel, redesigned the shirts to feature bright tropical designs, hula girls, and everything Hawaii is all about.
In 1936, Chun registered the trade name “Aloha,” which means hello or goodbye and represents the people’s way of life. The shirt was first advertised in the Honolulu Advertiser in 1935, and it took off from there.
It quickly became a local favorite, and tourists couldn’t resist its charm. Soon, Chun had to constantly make more to keep up with demands, and in no time, big brands followed suit.
Around that time, Musashiya and Surfriders Sportswear, in Honolulu’s Ala Moana Shopping Center, sold the Aloha shirts as “Hawaiian” shirts.
The shirts gained even more popularity when celebrities like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sylvester Stallone wore them. By now, everyone wanted the signature collared shirt with sorry sleeves and bold floral and other patterns. And that’s how the Aloha or Hawaiian shirt we know came to be.
Originally, these shirts were made from silk and cotton fabrics. However, today you can get them in cotton, silk, or synthetic.
How Do You Shrink a Hawaiian Shirt?
The answer to this depends on the material used to make the shirt. Naturally, you shouldn’t want to shrink your Hawaiian shirt. However, you may think it necessary to do so if you get a shirt that’s too big for you. Still, knowing what can cause a Hawaiian shirt to shrink can also help prevent such shrinkage. That way, your properly sized shirt will remain your size for a long time.
- Cotton: Cotton Hawaiian shirts should be cold-washed and air-dried. You can also use tumble dry but at a low level. Where there are wrinkles, a cool iron works just fine.
Some cotton shirts have care instructions that recommend hand wash instead of machine wash.
- Rayon: The same goes for Rayon. However, Rayon stop tends to shrink even with child wash and air drying.
If you put cotton or rayon into a dryer, even at the lowest, they’ll both shrink. Rayon, however, will shrink worse than cotton.
- Silk: Due to the delicate nature of silk, it should be cold-washed and air-dried. You shouldn’t even wring out the shirt to avoid stretching it out of shape. And if you need to iron, use the lowest heat setting to do so.
As a rule, hang dry your Hawaiian shirt, and don’t risk using a dryer if you want to save your shirt. Even if you must use a dryer, use it at the lowest heat possible and don’t leave it in for long.
Now, if you wanted this information to shrink a nice Hawaiian shirt you found that’s not your size, there you go. But be careful, so you don’t ruin the shirt in the process.
Are Hawaiian Shirts Smart Casual?
Hawaiian shirts can be worn as smart casual outfits. Apart from their bright, bold colors, Hawaiian shirts feature buttons, a collar, and one chest pocket (sometimes). These features can make them pass off as smart casual if worn right.
Also, it depends on the degree of formality required at the office as there are degrees of smart casual.
A nice smart casual look that can survive any degree is to layer your Hawaiian shirt with a crew neck sweater. With this look, only the collars of the shirt are showing. Go for darker prints instead of bright prints and a dark-colored sweater like gray. Then finish it off with dark wash jeans and a pair of oxfords or loafers.
In Hawaii, however, the Hawaii shirts are considered appropriate as office wear even for government officials. In 1962, the Senate in Hawaii passed a resolution permitting Hawaiian shirts to be worn in warmer months. Anyway, you really can’t expect them to wear a suit and tie given the hot weather in Hawaii.
Three years later, the President of the Hawaiian fashion guild led a campaign for Aloha Friday so offices could permit workers to wear the Aloha shirt on Fridays of some months. But in 1970, it could be worn any day of the week. And soon enough, “casual Friday” was born in the 1990s.
Are Hawaiian Shirts Back In Style?
Hawaiian shirts are back and better. Although these shirts have been through a rollercoaster, you can’t deny that they manage to always be in the fashion scene.
And now the Hawaiian shirts are back, looking better than before and more modern. In the past, Hawaiian shirts used to be long and loose. But more modern adaptations have a straight fit to the hips and more contemporary designs as opposed to traditional floral prints.
The Aloha or Hawaiian shirt is a lovely addition to every guy’s wardrobe. Not only is it bright, colorful, fun and relaxing, but it also brings the Aloha touch to your wardrobe.
And there you go. Everything about the Hawaiian or Aloha shirt and how they should fit. So have a blast styling your Hawaiian shirt and while you’re at it, check these out: (Aloha!)
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