28 Aug 2013

Men’s Floral Print Trend – The Key Styles

Posted by Unknown at 16:04 | 0 comments

Are You Man Enough?

Long seen as the domain of the fairer sex and indigenous tribal cultures, floral motifs have been shunned by western men in the past due to their perceived femininity and conspicuous nature.

In today’s globalised world of fashion, perceptions can change in an instant; with the traditional ideals of dressing frequently challenged and a new modern man eager to embrace fresh concepts.
The floral revolution in menswear is the perfect case in point. Following designers’ proclivities for ethnic-inspired prints such as Navajo, Kente and Batik, it was only a matter of time before florals made their presence felt in menswear.
For a number of seasons we’ve watched floral patterns firmly establish themselves in the industry’s design consciousness, filtering down from catwalk to high street. From intricate hothouse blooms to foliage embroidered jacquards and flora and fauna combinations, it seems every designer is getting in on the floral renaissance movement.
But how does the everyday gent work the look into his wardrobe without looking like a walking greenhouse, or undermining his masculinity? Read on for our foolproof guide to men’s florals. Machismo attitude optional.

Aloha Hawaii

Once the uniform of sartorially-inept American tourists, the Hawaiian shirt has suffered a barrage of bad press for decades. The original floral garment for men was the invention of Japanese and Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs of 1930s Hawaii, who began stitching sections of old kimonos together to create colourful and eye-catching garments for tourists.
The bloom prints were heavily inspired by the Tahitian Pareu, a type of traditional Polynesian sarong, as well as Japanese screen-print techniques. The package tourist decades that followed were the sartorial nail in the coffin for the style, with the Hawaiian shirt becoming synonymous with bad taste. However, as fashion is a fickle master, it was only a matter of time before the Aloha shirt made a glorious come back.
The last few spring/summer seasons have seen menswear designers reinvent this eye-catching style with a contemporary cut and a new wave of bold patterns and colour combinations. A confident and effortless way to add a healthy dose of summer inspiration to your wardrobe, a well-cut Hawaiian shirt will make a stylish holiday companion when paired with tailored shorts, or worn to casual summer gatherings with lean-fit chinos and leather sandals.
A plethora of brands have produced styles to suit all tastes – achingly cool London labels Henstch Man and YMC have reinterpreted the style with a contemporary twist, whilst high street favourites Topman and New look have created their own take on the style that won’t leave your bank manager red-faced. For those seeking a little more tongue-in-cheek humour, Orlebar Brown’s Jensen ‘Miami’ shirt is a good option:

Ymc Hawaiian Shirt
Diesel Shirt Short Sleeve T-denmonza Hawaiian Jersey
Native Youth Hawaiian Shirt
American Apparel Tropical Short Sleeve Button-up With Pocket
American Apparel Tropical Short Sleeve Button-up With Pocket
Religion Hawaiian Shirt Vegas
Topman Makahiki Hawaiian Short Sleeve Shirt
Topman Karmakula Hawaiian Short Sleeve Shirt
Topman Makahiki Hawaiian Short Sleeve Shirt
River Island White Hawaiian Print Short Sleeve Shirt
Orlebar Brown Jensen Miami Shirt
Levis Bart Hawaiian Short-sleeved Shirt

Micro-Print Florals

A modern development from the Hawaiian shirt, micro-print florals are an easy way to capture the trend for those who want to take a more subtle approach.
Taking oversized blooms down a notch, micro-print designs range from eye-catching multi-tone styles to muted painterly effect patterns that are much easier to work with.
One of the finest purveyors of floral motif designs, Liberty of London produces a superb range of signature micro-floral print shirts and accessories that epitomise the heritage brand’s hallmark of considered luxury.
Topman, Reiss and ASOS also provide a succinct selection of equivalent styles that will pair perfectly with a tailored jacket or a simple denim and leather boot combination: