Hawaiian shirts (red, thin)

[PacificFlights]

Originally Posted by Tappan Zee

Aren't the "genuine" Hawaiian shirts acceptable office wear such as the Kahala shirts. A buddy of mine move to Hawaii and was told by his boss to ditch the shirt and tie and wear these shirts more often so as not to look so pretentious towards the locals.

Yes, many "corportae" hawaii attire is based on the aloha shirts. However, you have to know the presentation they want. Some could care less what shirt so long as the "look" meets their corporate dress code.

Example, some of those shirst manufactured under the Kahala name are acceptable for busines wear, but some are a no-no because they are too loud. usually the loudness and busyness of the shirt dictates whats acceptable or not.

The comopany that handles our legal documentation and paperwork on Hawaii lets their staff wear aloha shirts, something like the Kahala Kahana or the Hilo hatties island oais would be acceptable, but the kahala
panakani or hilo hatties Purple habiscus wouldn;t be acceptable. Most oft he acceptable business wear is based on the older muted shirts and not these bright loud peacock displayes many think are Hawaii shirts.

the big rise in the shirts came from whenthe resort and hotel industry started to eliminate the traditional mainland unirfrom look and staretd switch all staff over to the aloha look. It use to be that mainly guest or entertainment staff wore aloha wrear but now, just abut everyone doe.

I think that many people confuse Hawaii with the generic Square Shirt look. So carribean wear, mexican wear and all other square shirt styles are thought to be hawaii if it has anything to do with tropical, flowery, sealife, or polynesian. I think it the same with people calling all guyaberas shirts Cuban Shirts.

[Coldjensens]

I love them and used to wear them every Friday to work. It was kind of my signature (I rode my bicycle to work on Fridays as well) I also wore them to church sometimes.

Then I moved from California to Michigan.

After the first winter finally broke and a beautiful warm day arrived, I broke out my best quality Hawaiian shirt in celebration. I wore it to my Rotary Club neeting that evening. Several guys sat with me. I thought surely they will be impressed with my really nice hawaiian shirt and my celebration of spring. They were all smiling, but seemd a little uncomfrotable. Finally one of them spoke and i was expecting kudos for my wonderful choice of wardrobe:

"Did you lose a Bet?"

"no. Why?"

"well then why are you wearing that shirt?"

"It is finally nice again. I am celebraing the fine warm weather."

Smirking: "He lost a bet."

I guess fashion is a little it more formal in Michigan, at least at Rotary it is.

[SpeedyAZ]

Originally Posted by PacificFlights

Yes, many "corportae" hawaii attire is based on the aloha shirts. However, you have to know the presentation they want. Some could care less what shirt so long as the "look" meets their corporate dress code.

Example, some of those shirst manufactured under the Kahala name are acceptable for busines wear, but some are a no-no because they are too loud. usually the loudness and busyness of the shirt dictates whats acceptable or not.

The comopany that handles our legal documentation and paperwork on Hawaii lets their staff wear aloha shirts, something like the Kahala Kahana or the Hilo hatties island oais would be acceptable, but the kahala
panakani or hilo hatties Purple habiscus wouldn;t be acceptable. Most oft he acceptable business wear is based on the older muted shirts and not these bright loud peacock displayes many think are Hawaii shirts.

the big rise in the shirts came from whenthe resort and hotel industry started to eliminate the traditional mainland unirfrom look and staretd switch all staff over to the aloha look. It use to be that mainly guest or entertainment staff wore aloha wrear but now, just abut everyone doe.

I think that many people confuse Hawaii with the generic Square Shirt look. So carribean wear, mexican wear and all other square shirt styles are thought to be hawaii if it has anything to do with tropical, flowery, sealife, or polynesian. I think it the same with people calling all guyaberas shirts Cuban Shirts.

I'm completely ignorant to most of the terms and types of shirts you're referring to. I guess I view anything with some tropical/sea/flowery theme as being a "Hawaiian" shirt.

Can you post some examples for those of us that don't know the difference?!

All of my "Hawaiian" shirts come exclusively from Tommy Bahama because it's acceptable casual office wear with a nice pair of Dockers or khaki shorts.

[shawarma]

I only own one Hawaiian shirt - a green one. I enjoy wearing it - in fact, I own many short-sleeved shirts with buttons all the way down.

Personally I don't worry about the fat part, because I'm not fat!

[robertpolyglot]

My answer is DEPENDS. I had a few growing up, but no longer. If it's a VERY toned-down print, a Hawaiian shirt can be ok with jeans or khaki shorts but, please, NO white socks.

[goldengrain]

Originally Posted by Honeycrisp

I like them - although they do remind me of the nautical shirt/uniforms that the servers wore in Red Lobster a couple of years ago (last time we went, they wore plain white shirts, it was a new look).

Yup. Some of them remind me of hairdressers or orderlys. I like them, though.

[s06]

In Dexter, I think Michael C. Hall's character has worn colorful hawaiian shirts with khaki pants. I thought the outfits looked good on him.

[D217]

I guess they're OK if you wanna look like Joey from Full House.

[Johnny Cash]

ironically, Obama doesn't wear them lol

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by SpeedyAZ

You mean Tommy Bahama?!

And why exactly isn't this type of shirt "Hawaiian"?!

Island State of Mind Camp Shirt

I stand corrected. Thanks, Speedy. (Shows how much attention I pay to that line.)

I guess I'm a purist. PacificFlights pretty much explained what I consider a Hawaiian shirt. We pass them down in my family. DSons wear aloha shirts their grandfathers wore.

I do own a couple of the newer shirts. One has Mickey and Minnie on surfboards. It's not true aloha but I love it.

BUT: Here's what I think it comes down to: If the person wearing it likes it..... I'm all in favor! If you love it, that's all that counts.