At one time or another each of us has dreamed of sitting in a lounge chair on a white sand beach enjoying our Tiki drink, marveling at the bluest skies and the most sublime weather we’ve ever imagined. If that’s true, Hawaii may be the destination for you and your family this summer! But, then again, if you’re a little short on cash during these tough economic times, you may want to aim for bringing the tropics to you. What about having a tropical-themed luau party in your own backyard? One thing you’ll need is a Hawaiian-print shirt or other clothing item to get the soiree started. The colorful designs, (some might argue gaudy) and the “on vacation” feeling they evoke can be yours simply by shopping at your local Goodwill store for dresses, sarongs, shirts, and any and everything else that might fit your humid theme.

When commercial travel became more common for people of all walks of life in the 1930’s, the destination of choice for honeymoons and languorous vacations was what would become the state of Hawaii and all of its gorgeous islands. The prints the islanders wore in their daily life became an official souvenir of sorts to the multitudes of tourists that took advantage of the ethereal beauty this part of the Pacific. Regular folks would scoop up the tropical wear to take home, and thus a cottage industry was born. It’s flourished ever since. To this day, whenever I see a beautifully patterned shirt or dress on the racks at Goodwill I check the label to see if indeed it was made in Hawaii.  More often than not it isn’t manufactured there, but in the end it’s the print that counts. Traditionally the print is of a Hibiscus flower, but there are also sea-inspired prints, beach themes, and the list goes on and on. This is a great time of year to seek out those bold prints to either wear to your party, on vacation, or to use the fabric to recover pillows, outdoor seating cushions and lots of other projects.

Wearing these types of prints is not for the fashion faint hearted. Bold colors like these require a little thought when deciding what to pair them with. In my book you always want to temper loud colors with neutrals like white, tan or black.  White will make the colorful creations really “pop,” while tan will ground them a little bit. Black can also be a great way to let the print speak volumes in an ensemble. 

I also love the look of rough-hewn accessories like chunky brown sandals, espadrille shoes, woven hats, and other items that help balance the story the print is telling.    

Socialite turned fashion designer, Lilly Pulitzer can be credited with keeping the bright spirit of the islands alive in her signature colorful designs that celebrate the playful Hawaiian style. Tommy Bahama is another name that comes to mind when colorful floral prints are in view.

So go native and stop by your local Goodwill Store & Donation Center to see what amazing things you can find to have your own luau. While doing so, you can also celebrate your generous support of our mission to help those in need of job training, as well as all the other good things that Goodwill does right in your own backyard!