My Favorite Hawaiian Shirt Maker
I was going to post my Friday Hawaiian shirt, but I have come to the conclusion that I look like a serial killer in selfies. Perhaps I need to do the teenager thing and practice a selfie pose. Anyway, instead, I will post my favorite shirt-maker, which is Tori Richard. (I am wearing this one today, which has a puckered fabric I like).
One downside of a lot of Hawaiian shirts is that I don't love the fabric. Even my Tommy Bahama shirts, which are expensive, give me problems (the raw silk gets really stiff if I wash it and hang it out to dry -- my wife says ironing it would soften it but forget that). Tori Richard shirts feel great and though they are not on the wildest end of Hawaiian shirts, they look great. I like the fit of the orange label, which are more tailored than the typical Hawaiian shirt.
I tend to avoid the cotton shirts due to the heat. I have found Rayon to be fairly comfortable and cool. You have to watch for shrinking, but they hold up well.
The Rayon ones (sometimes called bamboo fiber, other trends - really just modified celluse fiber) keeps its soft silky feel through more washes than silk. Also I get my hawaiin shirts professionally washed at the dry cleaners - seems to keep them soft longer.
And Rayon shirts are expensive as.well - if that is what you are looking for.
When we lived in Oz we liked the colourful products of Ken Done. Perhaps you might buy some next time you're there.
http://www.kendone.com.au/shop.php
I prefer vintage print Hawaiian shirts myself. I got a great one recently at the Kittery Trading Post in Maine of all places but I don't have it handy at the moment to ID the brand.
I also used to have some 1980s era JAMS shirts which were more surf-punky. These are the guys who basically invented the board shorts of the 1960s.
I've also noticed that sometimes the more super-gaudy, all-poly vintage prints that are a little too loud for polite company, actually look great in black & white photos.
One of these days I'm going to bring back the white linen suite ensemble too:
http://iconicauctions.com/ItemImages/000042/42881a_med.jpeg
I prefer vintage print Hawaiian shirts myself. I got a great one recently at the Kittery Trading Post in Maine of all places but I don't have it handy at the moment to ID the brand.
I also used to have some 1980s era JAMS shirts which were more surf-punky. These are the guys who basically invented the board shorts of the 1960s.
I've also noticed that sometimes the more super-gaudy, all-poly vintage prints that are a little too loud for polite company, actually look great in black & white photos.
One of these days I'm going to bring back the white linen suite ensemble too:
http://iconicauctions.com/ItemImages/000042/42881a_med.jpeg
Just at FYI but Reyn Spooner are the gold standard for Aloha shirts though not sure if available outside Hawaii.
my better half will kill me. retired navy capt, wears t shirts and shorts and sandals. 30 years in and around cali just ruined me for what passes for polite society. It's a new world when you absolutely don't care what people think. Srsly, could not care less.
That selfie serial killer look is from a short focal length. Hand you phone to someone else, tell them to stand back then zoom in a bit. It will look a lot better.
My favorite Aloha Shirt manufacturer is Bishop Street. Very comfortable, pockets always match the pattern of the shirt perfectly. Inexpensive too.
Always carry a selfie stick
I like Royal Creations slit pocket shirts from the 80s. There are usually a lot on eBay. I don't think the later ones with sewn on pockets are quite as nice. For times when I need something a little more subdued, I like the Harriton M560 Barbados. Feels like a Hawaiian shirt, but without the flowers.
I have 3 Tori Richards, two silk and one cotton, all purchased in Hawaii. I always dry clean the silk ones, the cotton one is hand washed and pressed by my wonderful wife. All 3 get raves when I wear them.