From Romeo to Elvis: Looking Back on the Best Hawaiian Shirts in Cinema

Film

Published: January 23, 2014

From Romeo to Elvis: Looking Back on the Best Hawaiian Shirts in Cinema

Unfortunately for us, it is no longer 1966. If it were so, and we were in Hawaii, we would probably be celebrating the weekly tradition known as “Aloha Friday,” in which employers allowed their workers to shed their stuffy, formal garb in place of a breezy, casual Hawaiian shirt. But let’s be real, now that it’s 2013 these perfectly patterned shirts—adorned with florals, automobiles, Polynesian motifs, etc.—are perfectly suited for any day, any time. And now that it’s officially summer, I see no reason why everyone shouldn’t be donning their own take on the classic look.

And throughout cinematic history, we’ve seen myriad male characters whose signature style features some variation on the Hawaiian shirt. Those clad in such usually tend to fall into the category of the wild—the outlaws, the druggies, the lunatic—but not exclusively. Some are simply anachronistically displaced and broken-hearted tragic heroes or musically-inclined soliders on vacation, you know? So as continues to be a delightful 15 degrees, and as you begin to dream of trading in your thick layers of black for tropical textiles, take a look back on some of the most iconic Hawaiian shirts in cinema. Enjoy.