Tropical Print Dresses, Shirts
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Vibrant Florals Rule Tropical Themed Textiles
Bright colors, easy fit, and lightweight sweat-wicking fabrics, such as cotton, are characteristic of the South Seas Island theme in summer clothes for women.The original fabrics that inspired today’s tropical print dresses and Alhoa shirts were the floral kimono fabrics of Japan and vibrantly hued silks from China.
Asia Inspired First Fabrics Used for South Sea Island Clothing
These had been circulating for some time around the South Seas islands and French Indochina, now the countries of Southeast Asia.Polynesian-inspired fabrics for men's shirts were a hit as soon as they hit the Honolulu tourist scene in the 1930s.
1930s Success Story: The Man Who Invented the Aloha Shirt
Some accounts credit dry goods merchant Ellery Chun with the invention of this light-hearted aloha shirt look.Chun took a shirt worn by cane workers and cattle ranchers and made it up in an Asian floral fabric, the story goes.
Films Go Tropical And Create Iconic Textile Trend
Another source says Chun merely popularized a style that had been around for some time.Edith Head turned the Asian floral textiles into iconic women's wear by 1936.
Swim Suit Typhoon Is Initiated by Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour wowed movie-goers in a exotic sarong in the Jungle Princess. Tropical print dresses were born.New York's fashion industry wasn’t far behind, cashing in with a typhoon of swimsuits and other hot-weather fashions.
The craze for South Seas fabrics was in full swing by 1941. On May 18, the New York Herald ran an ad proclaiming that tropical prints “definitely herald spring.”
From Sarong to Boxer Shorts Americans Take to Tropical Prints
The presence of American boys in the South Seas throughout World War II and beyond could only strengthen the nation's taste for exotic ideas from the East.Even boys' boxer shorts were being sold in South-Seas inspired fabrics in the 1950s.
Tropical Prints Are Fun, Glamorous
and Eternally Trendy
Barely a news season passes when one reporter or another does not proclaim that tropical print dresses, Hawaiian shirts, and other vivid clothing is a hot new trend. Bird print fabric dresses in pretty colors and casual outfits in lightweight fabrics are the latest spin on this perennial favorite.
You know better. This is a fashion style that is as much fun as it is enduring.
Cotton, Silk, and High Tech Textiles Create Wide Selection of Summer Styles
Cotton seersucker fabric has served generations of people as cool and cooling summer clothing since ancient times. Shorts, shirts, suits, dresses, and even bathrobes are sought in this popular fabric.Women's silk clothes are appropriate for summer wear if the fabric is filmy and lightweight. Dresses, blouses, silk suiting and blends, such as cotton linen may be added to your warm-weather wardrobe.
Classic Summer Styles Include Nautical Togs and White Suits
For a country look, red checked gingham may be worn for casual wear and weekends.Nautical style has a fascinating history. Find out how you can achieve this look buying separates on sale.
Pretty summer dresses are feminine and cool in the hot sun.
Another sophisticated summer look is
womens white suits.
These require ladylike attention to stains, of course.
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On Summer Fashions
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