This is just one installment of 37 Things a Man’s Gotta Do This Summer, our annual compendium of everything worth seeing, doing, eating, drinking and generally making time for in your neck of the woods between now and September.
Every man deserves a vacation.
Given that’s not always possible, here’s the next best thing: the Vacation Shirt, which, if you may have noticed, is having its moment in the sun.
Also known as the Aloha Shirt, the style has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a Hawaiian export. But make no mistake of its sartorial sway: the shirt lends its wearer a carefree look with a tinge of 1960s nostalgia. What you’re looking for is a pattern you wouldn’t dare put a jacket over, in a lightweight fabric that won’t weigh you down. We prefer camp-collar styles, but you don’t necessarily have to.
Below, 12 of the coolest shirts you can put on this summer, in a range of different styles and price points.
Statement
You’ll find most Vacation Shirts decked out in eye-popping tropical patterns — this is the style’s most natural state. So don’t be afraid to rock some floral. ‘Tis the season, after all.
Subtle
For a more conservative track, look for micro-patterns or shirts that avoid going bold altogether. The shirts below have just enough oomph to make a statement.
Monochrome
Feeling uneasy about all these colors? Perhaps the safest way to play the Vacation Shirt is by going monochrome. You’ll get all the sartorial benefits of the style without hogging all the attention.
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