There is no doubt that our clothes affect, and are affected by, our mindset. Personal style is a series of decisions, each one reflecting outward a bit of how we interpret ourselves. Our outfit will always reveal a bit of our mood, regardless of any parameters etiquette has placed upon it. This psychological and sartorial relationship is best exemplified by the following example: When you are relaxed and in pursuit of happiness, you put on a Party Shirt.
A Party Shirt, as it applies here, must meet a few specific criteria. A Party Shirt must have short sleeves, a button down front, and a collar. It must also feature some sort of pattern other than monotone stripes or dots. Beyond that, any color or pattern will do and the more ornate and specific to your taste the better.
The best known and most popular iteration of the Party Shirt is the Hawaiian Aloha Shirt. Even this specific category offers a broad range of options from floral patterns and tropical fish to beach scenes and hula dancers. The Aloha shirt was developed in Hawaii around the turn of the twentieth century by adapting Japanese fabrics and manufacturing techniques to traditional Hawaiian culture. As Americans introduced Aloha Shirts to the mainland after WWII, it came to represent the beach and vacation mindset associated with Hawaii.
Party Shirts are generally reserved for warm weather and all the leisure activities that come with it (though they can be layered for the cold as well). Short sleeve button downs are tailored to backyards, beaches, boats, rooftops, and all manner of nature activities. They can also replace polo shirts on a golf course or tennis court to demonstrate that you’re not taking these games too seriously. Most Party Shirts can even go under a suit for semi-formal occasions like outdoor weddings and work parties. The trend toward more laid back vibes in menswear over the past few years can be tracked by the rapid proliferation of Party Shirts across the industry.
As the name suggests, they are ideal party attire but the “Party” in the title refers more to a state of mind than a physical event. Wearing a Party Shirt should induce a sense of stoic leisure, meaning that you should focus on the positive and don’t worry about what you cannot control. For cultural reference, think of Jeff Spicoli or The Dude. This doesn’t mean that you should go nuts and get hammered, it simply means that you should release your inhibitions, keep an open mind, and let go of any stress and anxiety weighing you down. Essentially, your Party Shirt should shelter you from the psychological weight of the world.
Party Shirts are objects of self expression but they double as reinforcement for keeping your mind at ease. Wearing one allows you to make light of any situation like you have taken on the disposition of Matthew McConaughey. This effect is magnified if you have a favorite Party Shirt. A go-to shirt that you have had countless good times in will act like a child’s security blanket. Nothing can kill your vibe when you have that shirt on.
With all that in mind, it comes as no surprise that Party Shirts are among the most popular items in menswear for 2021. Humanity has gone through a tumultuous twelve months and we’re only beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. As our species is prone to do, society seems to be rushing to get back to the party. Summer 2020 effectively didn’t happen so Summer 2021 has double the expectations placed upon it. Everyone wants to cut loose with a collective exhale and we all want to feel safe doing it. Fashion brands everywhere are reading the room and providing more Party Shirts than ever before to outfit the occasion.
An old historical theory exists that claims the cultural boom known as the Roaring Twenties was a societal reaction to the horrors of the previous decade. War, famine, and pestilence all struck the western world through WWI, The Spanish Flu, and The Dust Bowl in America and Food shortages caused by war in Europe. There is considerable evidence to support this theory and if it’s true then 2021 and the following years should make for a hell of a party. Make sure you’ve got the right shirts for the occasion.
Here are some of the best Party Shirts available for Summer 2021:
