Guayabera

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source

Hrm, I thought I had made a post already about guayabera shirts. Pete Takeshi purchased one or two a while back--I don't know if he still wears these regularly. I was thinking about them today because it is getting hot again here in the South Bay. If we should be conserving energy, our dress codes will have to be more flexible in response to changes in temperature. (Not that many companies here in California have a dress code--maybe some of the older companies. I've forgotten if HP has a dress code. But most young companies do not have a dress code, and Apple, Google and Youtube don't, as far as I know.)

Even if the use of air conditioning is more efficient in some places rather than others (or they are replaced by air curtains, like in stores in Hong Kong), can we justify the consumption of electricity in such a non-vital way? (Non-vital for most people, that is, who can cope with high temperatures.)

I've seen some of the young adults wearing them around here, especially people who are probably employed in the tech companies. I should see if Macy's carries any (as if that is an accurate way to gauge their popularity).

The guayabera was created for labor -- it seems to be more practical than the modern Western dress shirt, at least the one that is worn with business suits. However, a white guayabera (or one of any other color) being seen with blue jeans would probably discredit the guayabera as a serious clothing option in the minds of some conservatives. Then again, the fact that it is worn untucked may have already done that. (And then there is the ethnic association.)

I can understand that reaction to a degree--an untucked shirt is associated with being messy and careless with one's appearance. In other cultures (for example those of E. Asia), the equivalent to a shirt was worn untucked--and it too was underwear. This remains true with the latest form of traditional Chinese clothing (as exemplified by what Jackie Chan is wearing):



(source and more)

What about the European linen shirt that was the precursor to the dress shirt? Was the chemise tucked? When did the custom of tucking the innermost garment begin in Europe? The guayabera seems to be worn without any undergarments--understandable, if it is particularly suited to tropical/hot climates, and it is unlikely that one would be wearing anything on top of it. But in Europe, with its colder climate, there will be several layers of clothing on top of the shirt, and if one is wearing a waistcoat or a vest, one would probably not want to have his shirt on the outside of his pants and extending below the waistcoat. It would make the wearing of the waistcoat look ridiculous. But if the waistcoat and the modern coat had not come into existence? Would European shirts be tucked?



Yahoo TV, The Tudors

Yahoo Movies, from The Golden Age (All Movie Photos; IGN; RT)

Were shirts always tucked in under breeches and covered by doublets? Were they tucked for the sake of insulation? E. Asian undergarments were untucked and long, because what was worn over it covered the upper body and its length was equal to or longer to the undergarment.

Tuck Your Shirt In: DETAILS Article on men.style.com
Now tuck your shirt in - Times Online
History of the Shirt: Men's shirts through time
Males Vogue: Men’s Shirt’s History
Costumer's Manifesto: Renaissance and 16th Century
(Which reminds me, I should check out HBO's Elizabeth I and Al Pacino's The Merchant of Venice.)


As for the guayabera... does such a shirt look good on someone short and stocky? If it is too big then wouldn't it make someone look shorter or fatter? But if it is too tight, then one's lack of fitness will be obvious. Best to stay healthy and fit.

Apparently it is possible for the bottom of a guayabera to be narrower than the chest.

Maybe I could pick up a panama hat as well.

Are loose shirts more practical than tight ones? Better ventilated? And what's more advantageous if one has to engage in combat? Something close-fitting, or something looser? The dress shirts that I have worn have been somewhat constricting, but maybe they are just ill-fitting since they were all mass-produced.

BDU and ACU jackets seem to be rather loose. What is the rationale, if any, for that?

Army Combat Uniform
Program Executive Office Soldier

Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform
AF ABU wiki

Not easy to find a current German uniform as a comparison. Easiest place would probably be militaryphotos.net.
Germany Army official page (wiki)

Guayabera links:
The Guayabera Shirt Store
MyCubanStore: Beach Wedding Shirts | Guayaberas...
FridayShirts: Beach Wedding Attire | Guayabera...
Debra Torres: Designer Guayabera Shirts
D'Accord Guayaberas
Taste of Cuba
Mexican wedding shirts
CubanBoutique
CaliforniaShirt
WeddingTropics
Guayabera Shirt - Classic Guayabera Short Sleeve (Powered by CubeCart)
LocoStyle

I don't think I'd go for a barong tagalog.

My Barong
Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana Dresses - www.barongsrus.com
Barong, Barong Tagalog, Filipino Wedding Gown, Filipino Clothing ...
Barong Tagalog and me..
BARONG TAGALOG

Sari Sari Online Boutique! Polo Barongs and Men's Indian Kurtas ...
Safari Shirt from Walkabout.com. Shirts for Travel and ...

Hat links:
Panama Hats Direct
panama hats, panama hat
Brent Black Panama Hats
Panama Hat Company of St. Augustine
Montecristi Ecuador Montecristi Panama Hats
Panama Hats from the Village Hat Shop
Panama hat, fur felt hats, and hat bands from Montecristi custom ...
panama hat Home: Buy online a hat from Ecuador
Panama hats including solarbrim sun classic dress for mens ladies ...

Heh. This was interesting, because of the source: The Genuine Panama Hat--Made in Ecuador? - Jehovah's Witnesses ...

Stetson - Legendary Hats Since 1865
Welcome to Stetson
Stetson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HATS - Stetson Hats - Cowboy hats, Dress hats and Panama hats
Mens Hats

Western Wear:
Wrangler® Western Wear
THE OUTBACK TRADING COMPANY LTD. (outlet)
Western Wear at Sheplers
Vintage Western Wear.Com
Western Wear and Clothing
Drysdales Western Wear
Spur Western Wear

Carhartt

Misc:
Tom James - What Is the Best Collar Style for Me?