The Aloha Shirt: History and Style

How to Design Your Aloha Shirt

Today’s Aloha shirts are generally made from rayon, a cellulose fiber similar to Lyocell, Tencel, and bamboo, but you can recreate the Aloha shirt look with just about any casual summer fabric and the right design details. Cotton and linen blends, pure linen, and seersucker are fair game, but avoid classic dress shirt fabrics like cotton twills and royal oxfords, as these will result in a more formal look.

Fun prints and bright colors are a major defining feature of traditional Aloha shirts. They often depict tropical scenes and ocean imagery, including anything from flowers and surfers to cocktails and tigers. You can, however, try solids or stripes if you want to go a more subdued route. The right design details will help give a less vibrant fabric an “Aloha” sensibility.

Aloha Shirt Design Details

The charm of an Aloha shirt lies in its intricate design details. Here's what to look for:

1. Prints and Patterns: Traditional motifs include tropical flowers, palm trees, ocean waves, and Hawaiian cultural symbols. Modern designs may incorporate abstract patterns or even contemporary graphics.

2. Colors: Aloha shirts are renowned for their vibrant and bold color schemes. From bright blues and greens to warm oranges and reds, the color palette is diverse and eye-catching.

3. Buttons: Classic Aloha shirts often feature coconut or wooden buttons, adding an authentic touch. Modern versions might use plastic buttons for practicality.

4. Collar: The collar style can vary, with some shirts featuring a classic pointed collar while others may have a more relaxed camp collar.

5. Pockets: Many Aloha shirts come with a chest pocket, which can either blend in with the pattern or stand out as a design feature.

Achieving the Relaxed Fit

Aloha shirts are all about comfort and a relaxed fit. Here’s how to ensure your shirt fits perfectly:

1. Shoulders: The shoulder seams should align with the edge of your shoulders, not hanging off or being too tight.

2. Chest and Waist: The shirt should drape comfortably over your chest and waist without being too snug or overly loose. You should have enough room to move freely.

3. Length: Traditionally, Aloha shirts are worn untucked, so they should fall just below the hips. This length ensures a casual look without appearing sloppy.

4. Sleeves: The sleeves should end around mid-bicep and allow for comfortable movement without being too baggy or tight.

How to Wear the Aloha Shirt

How many buttons should be left unbuttoned? To keep with the casual, laidback look, we recommend wearing 1-2 buttons open below the collar. How low you go is primarily personal preference, and depends on how relaxed you want to look. Generally, the collar button and loop on the Camp Collar is simply for show and should never be buttoned.

Tucked or untucked? The Aloha shirt is most commonly worn untucked, especially with shorts, casual pants, or a swimsuit. It pairs well with linen and vintage denim in particular. You can certainly wear your Aloha shirt tucked in—preferably with linen or cotton trousers or unstructured suiting—for a smarter summer look.