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Detail Inspiration: Hawaiian Prints
{Paramount Images – Getty}
Hawaiian prints can either go very wrong, or very right. Because it is such a quintessential piece of summer fashion, designers often attempt to reinvent the potentially tacky print as something new and hip. See Vogue’s top 15 trends from Spring/Summer 2013 below.
But personally, I stick to the classics when it comes to Hawaiian prints. And by that I mean Alfred Shaheen or bust.
To be honest, I hadn’t heard of this 50s/60s Hawaii based designer until a recent trip to Simply Vintage Boutique introduced me to the most exquisite dress I’ve ever seen in my life: A mint condition Surf-n-Sand dress with matching bolero (not pictured).
{Photo courtesy of Simply Vintage Boutique}
I rushed home to read all about the designer and happened upon an old Coletterie post Sarai wrote. Fantastic! Time Magazine also created this great photo gallery of his life and work.
How do you feel about Hawaiian prints in summer?
Comments
Krista
August 7, 2013 #
I’m with you on this. That third image from Vogue–good grief that’s fugly– can’t compare to that lovely Shaheen collection! I have been searching for some time for just the right fabric to sew Gertie’s Shaheen inspired bombshell dress.
Sally
August 7, 2013 #
I have to confess that I have spent my life absolutely hating hawaiian prints, but I have never seen them done so elegantly as on those dresses. I am completely in love with the full length orange one. And that Surf-n-Sand one is stunning. I think you’ve converted me!
Sunni
August 7, 2013 #
I’ll admit that I’ve never really been bothered by Hawaiian prints. My dad used to wear hawaiian print shirts as I was growing up and so seeing these prints always reminds of that. I do love me some good hawaiian print! I didn’t know about Alfred Shaheen either until I took Gertie’s Bombshell dress course. She waxes a little poetic about Alfred Shaheen in it and I can definitely see why! His designs are so much fun and so vintage. Love!
Shannon
August 7, 2013 #
I’d never really been drawn to Hawaiian prints… until suddenly, I was, so when I saw some on sale a few weeks ago, I pounced. I made a Sewaholic Lonsdale, and I’ve worn that sucker a few times since I finished it a week ago (and blogged about it). So to anybody who’s on the Hawaiian print fence, if you’re feeling it, go for it! Summer!
Rachel
August 7, 2013 #
Nicely done! I love that you took care to find a print that compliments your hair color.
Mugsy
August 7, 2013 #
Looks like this could be another polarizing issue… *lol* I myself fell in love with Hawaiian prints thanks to Magnum P.I. There are times when I feel the louder the print the better, and other times where I enjoy a really subtle print too. The Shaheen dresses are drool-worthy, especially the long red-based number with the short sleeves – but then again, it’s too much too. Arrrrgh, brain hurt! Too much thinking before my mid-morning coffee fix! :)
Reb – The Life Nostalgic
August 7, 2013 #
I’ve been hankering for a Hawaiian print, myself, and I think a retro dress is the best way to have fun with one! I don’t like the look of those pieces on the catwalk.
Reb – The Life Nostalgic
August 7, 2013 #
Also: Elvis looks pretty hawt in his Hawaiian. ;)
Rachel
August 7, 2013 #
Hehe, of course he does! That is also a Shaheen by the way.
Lauren
August 7, 2013 #
I ADORE Hawaiian prints and would love to live in Hawaii where it’s acceptable to wear them year round! I admit, when I was 11 years old, I was embarrassed by my dad’s shirts. But I grew out of that and many years later, now that he’s gone, I have his collection and it’s a treasure to me!
Rachel
August 7, 2013 #
So sweet! I like that there have been a few mentions of dads in hawaiian print shirts :)
Julianne Myers
August 7, 2013 #
But WHERE do I buy these lovely Hawaiian prints in decent quality fabric? I have looked all over the web to no avail!
Rachel
August 7, 2013 #
You can actually find Shaheen fabrics from time to time. I would do a search on Etsy and eBay.
Sarai
August 7, 2013 #
Have you tried Hawaiian Fabric Mart?
I haven’t ordered from them, but I came across the site while researching a guest post about Negroni recently. They have all sorts of hawaiian fabrics, and the rayons are particularly intiguing for me.
Donna
August 7, 2013 #
What no mention of the lovely Hawaiian print Hawthorn?!?! http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
I liked her choice of fabric – but bright on black is a fav Hawaiian print for me. But I guess I like loud prints generally, lol.
When I was in Hawaii, I thought long and hard about what shirt to bring home with me (I was in HS living in the Midwest at the time) – and ended up with a white on navy cotton that looked almost like a batik. But I have since had a few in rayon, and made an outfit (romper w/ skirt) that was orange/red/green on tan cotton. I also have a refashion sitting amongst my UFOs – a large pastel (beige/pink/mint) Hawaiian shirt (a “gift”/hand-me-down from mom). It’s only about 3” too wide on each side!
Rachel
August 7, 2013 #
Oh, this one from Liz? http://www.flickr.com/photos/dog-byte/9406294194/in/pool-colettepatterns She did do a great job with that one.
Donna
August 7, 2013 #
Yep, that’s the one. Not sure why Flickr copied the link funky for me.
Stephanie
August 7, 2013 #
As a Hawaii resident it’s embarrassing to admit I’ve never made anything from a Hawaiian print… although I have at least 3 yards of a lovely lime-and-turquoise hibiscus rayon twill somewhere in the stash. Clearly it’s time to drag it out and turn it into something I can wear.
Laura
August 7, 2013 #
I have to admit, being from Minnesota, Hawaiian prints were something we always made fun of people for wearing… there was just never a time that I saw a Hawaiian print on anyone other than on middle-aged white dads, grilling in the suburbs. Generally paired with birkenstocks, or those waterproof velcro-type sandals. Anyhow, what you’ve got going on here is a totally different story! That red dress is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for sharing this!
Miss Crayola Creepy
August 7, 2013 #
I LOVE Hawaiian print fabric! In downtown LA there is a little shop I visit that sells Hawaiian fabric and sports fabric. It can definitely be hard to find!
meredith
August 7, 2013 #
My dad is Hawaiian shirt lover — so much so that he took up sewing in order to have an arsenal of them in any print he fancied! Yes, he wears them year-round. I used to make fun of him a little, but I’ve grown to love them, too.
Rachel
August 13, 2013 #
Oh my word, that is the cutest story I’ve heard all week.
Alice
August 7, 2013 #
While I love Hawaii, Ugh to the prints. Too many ugly shirts have passed before my 68 year old eyes!!!!
Brian Foster
August 8, 2013 #
I have grown to love Hawaiian shirts more and more. My best learning experience is watching “Dexter” on Showtime. Angel has a new flawless shirt every week. Patterns match down the front, the pockets, everything, and the prints are elegant. The lab tech Matsuka is the bad example. Each week, a new shirt that is badly sewn, hideous loud prints, mis-matched at every possible point. The costumer clearly has a ball with these two. I haven’t gone back to the early episodes to see when this convention started, but it’s been going on for a few years now.
Maria Olshin
August 8, 2013 #
I have been blessed with 2 5/8ths yards of an Alfred Shaheen print, with white and lavender orchids on a navy blue background, with gold accents. I think a sheath dress would make the best use of the fabric (I’m a size 16 on my best day). Does anyone have a favorite vintage pattern she could suggest? I love the styles from the 1950s; the 1960s are OK, but the 1970s styles were grim, ugly, dowdy, and hateful (IMHO).
Sunnie Mitchell
August 13, 2013 #
I really-really-really love Hawaiian prints and have for 50+years. I had quite a collection of shirts and dresses – used to haunt the thrift shops (starting in the early 70s) for the vintage ones, and I had a nice fabric stash built up too. When I moved to the UK in 2010 I gave everything to my son and daughter-in-law and hadn’t had much luck finding vintage garments or newly milled Hawaiian fabrics until this past season – suddenly Hawaiian print shirts and tops are everywhere on the High Street and in catalogues.
With an interesting twist – a lot of the Hawaiian print RTW here is being sewn with the ‘right side’ of the print to the inside of the garment! It gives a nice vintage look and tones down some of the wilder stuff (I found a pink-fuchia-green-brown that can only be called ‘lurid’ from the ‘right side’ but is gorgeous ‘inside out’.)
If I can ever find a source for fabric here, I will be giving this twist a try.
Rachel
August 13, 2013 #
Ooh, that is an interesting twist. I’ll have to be sure to look at the wrong side next time I’m unsure about a bold Hawaiian print. It could be lovely!
Laurel
August 13, 2013 #
Here in Los Angeles, both the Pasadena City College and Fairfax High School swap meets regularly have racks and racks of Hawaiian shirts – often on sale for $5 or less. I hear swap meets in Long Beach and other venues do too. (May be it’s the same vendors who make the swap meet rounds.) I buy extra-extra large rayon shirts just for the huge amount of material. and wear some of the small shirts with wonderful prints. Avoid the polyester; look for rayon, silk or rayon blends.
Georgiane
August 16, 2013 #
I absolutely love anything Hawaiian, and I mean anything! If you look for the Pahala Quiltng store on line you can find some of the Alfred Shaheen prints that have been reproduced. I was lucky enough to see the Alfred Shaheen exhibit when it was at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center last year – what a delight to see all those beautiful dresses and Aloha shirts up close and personal – a real inspiration.