Passion for aloha fashion

June Casagrande

Few fashion statements are so universally embraced by the

generations. Grandfathers in their 80s, executive types in their 40s,

casual guys in their 20s and even self-conscious teens often share at

least one item of closet content: the Hawaiian shirt.

These flashy fashion statements are back in a big way -- even

though they never really went out of style.

“They’re definitely big right now, but they have always been

popular,” said Yvonne Mithrush, owner of Mithrush fashions on Balboa

Peninsula.

Mithrush said the retro look is fueling the Hawaiian shirt

renaissance. Classic island scenes with palm huts and hula girls lead

the pack, but patterns are in too. Hibiscus flower prints make up

another of the shirt’s most popular incarnations.

“I think what makes them so popular is that you can make the style

so individualized,” Mithrush said. “The styles, the colors, the

fabrics. There are so many ways to make the look yours.”

The most popular colors right now are blues and reds, she said,

but only by a slight margin. The rule with Hawaiian shirts is that

there are no rules. Silk is as popular as rayon and cotton. Wild

patterns with many colors have become a staple, but so have two-toned

prints and large scenes depicting life in the tropics.

Mithrush said the customers who come to her store to buy Hawaiian

shirts usually buy about three, and they run the gamut of

generations.

“It’s all across the board. It’s men in their 90s. It’s the young

guys. It’s the teens. There is no typical customer. It’s everybody.

Even bigger guys look good in them. And they’re so comfortable,” she

said.

Strangely, though, the splashy shirts remain a mostly male

phenomenon. While Hawaiian-print skirts and dresses are also

experiencing a comeback, along with some women’s shirts,

manufacturers keep cranking out shirts mainly for men.

“They’re so comfortable,” Mithrush said. “They’re in style for

everyone.”