The Distinctive Style Of The Guayabera Shirt
The Guayabera is a shirt with a long history. It has been a popular shirt for businessmen in many Latin American countries for the past 200 years. The shirt has gained popularity in recent years due to the efforts of several fashion designers such as Cubavera. Today the shirt is worn by both men and women of all ages. The Guayabera is extremely popular in warm weather climates like that found in Miami, Fl., where July 1st. has been officially declared as “Guayabera Day” or “El Dia de la Guayabera.”
There is an area of Cuba near the Yayabero River known as Las Villas. The area is famous for its Guava, a very tasty tropical fruit. Back in the eighteenth century a Spanish tailor design an embroidered shirt for one of the area’s land owners. The farmers in the area. impressed with the shirt’s design, copied it and added pockets to its front so they could carry the Guava fruit. The shirt came to be known as The Guayabera shirt.
As Latin American businessmen adopted the shirt for its comfort fit in the humid conditions of the tropics, the Guayabera shirt’s origin came under dispute. Merida, a city on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, made claim to the shirt. They called it “La Camisa Yucatan.” This shirt was an exact copy of the Guayabera shirts worn by the many Cuban tourists that visited the Yucatan. Fleeing from Castro’s takeover, Cubans also brought the shirt to the United States.
The original Guayaberas were white with long sleeves. pleated front panels with 2 breast pockets and 2 waist side pockets. They were usually starched and worn out over the trousers. It gave the wearer a look of distinction and a feeling of power. The designers of today’s shirts have added their own flare and individual styling without giving up the shirts distinctive qualities. One can find Guayaberas in many tropical colors in long sleeves as well as short sleeves.
Regardless of what country claims its origin, the Guayabera shirt has had a long history. Worn by businessmen, politicians and celebrities for gaining public appeal. It is now being worn by everyone. The Guayabera has changed in color and has rolled up its sleeves but its distinctive style will always be in fashion.
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[...] a look of distinction and a feeling of power for over 200 years. Who could have imagined that the guayabera shirt would still be featured on fashion blogs in the 21st [...]