Floral History
It takes a special guy to wear a floral shirt. Although they are largely worn and accepted by a wide variety of genres -- well-dressed Europeans, hipsters, rockers, and even American prepsters -- floral prints are an incredibly personal and specific choice to make. A guy has to know himself pretty well and feel pretty good about his choice in clothes to carry off such a bold print. In my mind there are two kinds of floral shirts. There is the refined, sophisticated version like those made by Liberty or Etro that have a more tasteful effect. And then there is the Hawaiian floral shirt, which seems to say that its wearer cares more about humor than taste -- think Jack Nicholson. In either case, a floral shirt is not a conservative look, but it can fit into almost any style of clothes. And if you're really feeling good about yourself you could mix two prints together like Michael Jackson did in date the 1970s -- it may have been his finest moment.
My friend Bart Quillen wears a floral shirt in a more traditional, unaffected way. The tweed jacket adds a nice preppy contrast. Front Street, Brooklyn, June 2007.
Jeff Beck, lead guitarist with British band the Yardbirds, pulls off a pretty bold floral print. 1966. (Photo: Getty)
Hanging on a rack, this shirt might seem a little feminine for a man, but with its classic shape and his relaxed jeans and messenger bag, it all comes together. Bleecker Street, NYC, September 2007.
Andrew Lloyd Webber looks typically British (i.e., a little eccentric) in his floral shirt and schoolboy blazer. 1979. (Photo: Getty)
I LOVE this man's shirt -- especially because it is linen. Bleecker Street, NYC, September 2007.
American country music star Waylon Jennings has a flower child moment in the recording studio. 1960's. (Photo: Getty)
My four-year-old son, Zachary, embraces his half-English heritage in a Liberty print shirt. Oxfordshire, England, July 2007.
Hawaiian flyweight boxer Salvador Dado Marino gets into his native gear. 1947. (Photo: Getty)
Artist John Currin wears a more modern interpretation of a Hawaiian shirt on the beach in Sagaponack, N.Y. July 2007.
Jack Nicholson, with Anjelica Huston, wears his signature -- a Hawaiian shirt -- at the premiere of Terms of Endearment. November 23, 1983, in New York City. (Photo: Getty)
This picture always makes me laugh. Its my husband (left) and his friend David Macmillan (grandson of British P.M. Harold Macmillan, right) -- both Englishman who are obviously overstating their love for American style, especially David in the Hawaiian shirt. Telluride, Colorado, 1998.
This may be the best picture of Michael Jackson ever taken. His print combo is brilliant. 1970s. (Photo: Corbis)
This picture of the late Brad Renfro reminds me that florals were quite a theme in Western-style shirts as well. 2001. (Photo: Corbis)
Drummer Chris Mars of the Replacements does the grunge rocker thing in the early nineties. It shows you that rockers can just about get away with anything. (Photo: Corbis)
Some of those are really fabulous! And it does take a confident man to pull off florals.
Good one. Where's Simon Doonan? Love the shot's from Colorado too. Very Heath and Jake!