Pancho Duque of 'Cane'
Many of you have finally come to grips with the fact that it is freaking cold outside. You've put away your shorts, your linen shirts and your flip-flops for the next six months. But for those living in the South or out West, stylish clothing options remain.
And on "guayabera. Though the origin of the shirt may be disputed -- Mexico and the Philippines both claim that honor -- it is most closely associated with the Cuban community in the United States.
Perfect for everything from business to pleasure, the guayabera is recognizable by its front patch pockets and two vertical rows of tiny pleats balancing the buttons, which may or may not be covered by a placket.
Of course, if you were the founder of a rum company in southern Florida who recently found out he had just months to live, you'd never take off a guayabera. Made of the finest quality linen (well, Pancho's are), a loose-fitting guayabera feels like wearing nothing at all. They are light, open and movable. Linen breathes better than cotton and much better than blends and synthetics. And unlike traditional dress shirts, they are not meant to be tucked in. They feature a squared-off bottom hem with 3-inch slits on the sides -- in case you feel the need to get your car keys out of your pockets.
Very similar to the cabana shirt, the guayabera was the direct inspiration for American camp shirts, which became popular in the 1940s. The most proper guayaberas feature traditional collars -- not banded -- and are short-sleeved, but they can come in long-sleeved versions with either barrel or French cuffs. But if you're working in the sugar cane fields of southern Florida -- or doing anything in southern Florida -- we'd say less is more.
And though linen wrinkles like a grandmother in the bathtub, the steam from a shower or the humidity of the tropics helps those wrinkles fall right out.
You can pair the shirt with linen pants for a casual and comfortable look or dress it up with tropical trousers from Ben Sherman, Island Soft or Michael Kors.
These are the perfect choice for vacation wear -- assuming you're hitting the beaches this holiday season and not the slopes. And remember, if they're good enough for Pancho, they're good enough for you. Just grab some rum and never look back.
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