Florals: 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.