bl@ster
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Thought it was time for an Aloha shirt thread! Here we can rethink what we all know about the Aloha shirt (the nasty modern stuff dad wears on vacation) and instead concentrate on the beautiful vintage designs of the 1930's, 40's and 50's. Let's use this thread to share pictures and info on our vintage Aloha shirt finds and modern re-pops of these bold patterns.
One really good online resource is the Museum of Hawaiian Shirts: http://themohs.org/
From their Golden Age history page:
Lasting a mere two decades and beginning more than a half century ago, the “golden age” of Hawaiian shirts has left an enduring fashion legacy. Once you have worn a World War II-era vintage “silky” rayon “Hawaiian” or “aloha “shirt,” you begin to understand what attracts so many zealous collectors who are sometimes willing to pay what seems like incredulous sums of money for what many people refer to as “just a shirt.” It is these very qualities, however, that has helped the Hawaiian shirt mystique retain its popularity. [...] In addition to the immense enjoyment that one receives from owning and wearing these shirts is the knowledge that they have proven to be a worthwhile investment, not only financially but to help preserve what has become part of our American heritage.
One of the better books I've found on the subject is a beautiful coffee-table book called My Freedamn! Seven -- Vintage Beach Fashions by Rin Tanaka.
Here are a couple shots from the book to get you in the mood:
One really good online resource is the Museum of Hawaiian Shirts: http://themohs.org/
From their Golden Age history page:
Lasting a mere two decades and beginning more than a half century ago, the “golden age” of Hawaiian shirts has left an enduring fashion legacy. Once you have worn a World War II-era vintage “silky” rayon “Hawaiian” or “aloha “shirt,” you begin to understand what attracts so many zealous collectors who are sometimes willing to pay what seems like incredulous sums of money for what many people refer to as “just a shirt.” It is these very qualities, however, that has helped the Hawaiian shirt mystique retain its popularity. [...] In addition to the immense enjoyment that one receives from owning and wearing these shirts is the knowledge that they have proven to be a worthwhile investment, not only financially but to help preserve what has become part of our American heritage.
One of the better books I've found on the subject is a beautiful coffee-table book called My Freedamn! Seven -- Vintage Beach Fashions by Rin Tanaka.
Here are a couple shots from the book to get you in the mood:
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