Top 10: Famous Guys in Hawaiian Shirts

Our dudes at designer menswear retailer, Northern Threads, break down the very best ever to don the tropical yardage.

Words Northern Threads

MAGNUM P.I // Let’s pose a question – would you hire a private investigator if he wore a Hawaiian shirt? What about if it was Tom Selleck with a big 70s pornstar ‘stache… still no? Well in the 80s he was Hawaii’s answer to CSI, all while sporting the Aloha colours. No need for a crisp shirt and suit in the tropical heat, you might as well stay cool (and stay looking cool) while busting some skulls.

ACE VENTURA // Staying with the private investigator theme, here’s a less cool version – the pet detective. It must be written into every P.I. job application that a Hawaiian shirt is a prerequisite for the job. Ace Ventura wears his a little unconventionally, with it unbuttoned over the top of a white vest. When doubled up with his tidal wave hairstyle, it’s a bold look he’s pulling off.

LARRY (WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S) // Here’s another guy who enjoys wearing his Aloha shirt open, I mean if you’re attempting to casually pretend a dead body is still alive then it’s a lot easier when you’re wearing a colourful shirt. If you haven’t seen the film then that sentence may read as a little odd – never mind, all you need to be doing is taking pointers on how our boy Larry manages to pull this shirt off.

NICOLAS CAGE (RAISING ARIZONA) // Baby snatchers usually look like Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, but Nicolas Cage as H.I. McDonnough looks really slick! I mean if he came up to me with his floppy hair, killer sideburns and some candy in his hand, I wouldn’t say no to this stranger. The turned up sleeves on his awesome shirts are the pièce de résistance.

ELVIS // Nobody loved a good old Hawaiian as much as The King himself, he loved the damn things! It was more than simply the shirt however; he had fallen in love with the tropical islands themselves – visiting them numerous times and shooting 3 movies there. Each and every time he ensured he was sporting the Aloha shirt, a Lei around the neck and a ukulele in his hand.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO (ROMEO + JULIET) // This is the only one on the list that I’m not entirely convinced by… I mean, does he really pull it off? DiCaprio looks so young in this film that you sorta feel as though you’re watching an awkward teenage love affair and no one wants to see that. But he’s on the list for pure effort, that 10/10 effort that sometimes you just have to admire.

TYLER THE CREATOR // Young Tyler here is proving that it isn’t all an older guy’s game – he’s bringing it to the new generation. He and Odd Future have even included some Hawaiian prints in their clothing range, meaning you can find the young Blogerati looking a lot more tropical these days.

TOMMY VERCETTI (GTA VICE CITY) // Vice City – a place of sun, sea, sex and girls… oh and it was the 80s so it doesn’t take long to guess what kind of shirt its lead character, Tommy Vercetti was wearing. You had the option to change outfits in the game, however why would you wanna do that? It’s much more fun hitting innocent passers-by in the face with a baseball bat when you’re wearing blue palm trees on your shirt.

SCARFACE // Al Pacino doesn’t mess around… one word, badass. If you think Hawaiian shirts are lame - watch Scarface and tell me they’re lame. He almost single-handedly pushed them up in everyone’s estimation, leading to generations of boys (and men) standing in front of their bedroom mirror, Aloha shirt on, uttering the immortal words, “Say hello to my little friend”.

CHUNK (THE GOONIES) // The Truffle Shuffle wouldn’t have the same effect without the shirt and plaid shorts combo; it’s as simple as that really, Chunk is a legend. Although I did a little digging and it turns out the actor who played him is now a 38 year old attorney. Depressing.