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-   -   Aloha clothes? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/aloha-clothes-934230/)

chepar May 8th, 2012 02:41 PM

It is very common business attire for men to wear aloha shirts tucked into slacks - I see shirts much more often tucked in than not downtown. When it's not tucked in IMO it kind of looks like they work at a hotel.

In a casual dress situation the shirt is almost always untucked and paired with khakis, shorts or surf shorts. And slippers.

Tomsd May 8th, 2012 03:04 PM

Atually - Anthony Bourdain is not the "model" type - nor the most pleasant of lads. If you are really stressed about what to wear - just buy a few items before you go and then go shopping at the big Ala Moana Shopping Center, wherever. Ala Moana is only about 10 minutes from Waikiki and has plenty of parking, and is interesting to boot. http://www.alamoanacenter.com/Stores...l-Listing.aspx

winereserve1 May 8th, 2012 03:23 PM

Aloha shirts manufactured for local wear are considered formal wear in business and government, and thus are regarded as equivalent to a shirt, coat, and tie (generally impractical in the warmer climate of Hawaii) in all but the most formal of settings.[1] Malahini (newcomers) and tourists (visitors) often wear designs of many bright colors while Kamaʻāina (or those who have been living in the islands for a long time) seem to prefer less busy patterns. These shirts often are printed on the interior, resulting in the muted color on the exterior, and are called "reverse print". For those not familiar, it may appear to be a defect in manufacturing as the shirt appears to be sewn together inside-out.

Placename May 8th, 2012 03:44 PM

Reyn Spooner makes shirts with a reverse print look. It gives them a faded, worn look. An example:

http://www.reynspooner.com/shop/clas...yage-2607.html

Tomsd May 8th, 2012 03:56 PM

Personally - I think the reverse print look is as bad as ripped jeans. Give me a nice, designer - soft toned Aloha shirt and I be happy. Actually - some of my law school classmates were wearing dress-polo type shirts when I was last over there a couple of years ago. Who knew? :)

They joke about keeping a white shirt and a tie and sport coat in their office closet - just in case they have an unexpected appearance in court. :)

And BTW - it takes a long long time for any non-resident to truly be considered a Kama'aina, if ever.

Placename May 8th, 2012 04:48 PM

All of my left-handed particle physicist friends in Hawaii wear the reverse print shirts.

Tomsd May 8th, 2012 05:50 PM

That's proves it's a lousy fashion statement. :)

Bowsprit May 8th, 2012 05:56 PM

Then my husband might be persuaded...

Tomsd May 8th, 2012 07:23 PM

LOL.

Shar May 9th, 2012 06:37 PM

carolyn... did you buy your shirts at Macy's in hawaii or on the mainland. Hvae not seen any on the mainland where I live.....

Tomsd May 10th, 2012 04:02 AM

See if you can find a Tommy Bahama's somewhere before you go.

http://www.tommybahama.com/

lcuy May 10th, 2012 09:45 AM

Chepar's info is correct.

Real men wear Aloha shirts to work and to dressy events. You will only see suits on lawyers appearing in courtrooms.. The dressier men's shirts are usually oxford cloth (kind of stiff) and definitely reverse printed or muted colors.

You can get some nice ones at Costco for under $20 or get nicer ones at Macy's or Reyn's. Here are some locals at a school trustee board meeting (including billionaire Pierre Omidiyar, founder of eBay)

http://www.punahou.edu/page.cfm?p=3308

Aloha shirts are tucked in unless they are worn with shorts or at very casual events.

Women wear aloha print outfits too; tops or sundresses are usually cut like the clothing you'd see in other cities, but out of aloha fabric.
http://www.blueginger.com/Mandarin_D.../hl151-wop.htm

Flip flops are called slippers, or rubber slippers if being specific. Nothing says "visitor" more than calling them flipflops! Well, walking into a home with them on your feet screams "visitor."

carolyn May 10th, 2012 04:21 PM

Shar, I bought them at Macy's in Hawaii at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, on the second floor where the Pineapple Room is located. It's an Alan Wong restaurant and a lovely place to have lunch. If you go, don't miss the pineapple tea.


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