We talk a lot here at Esquire HQ about what sets a certain piece of clothing apart from the rest.
You just read it in the italicized passage above. “These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.” And there are a lot of reasons why the products we’re discussing are worthy of a portion of your paycheck. But more often than not, the question I tend to ask myself is, “Will this get our dear reader a compliment or two?”
Yes, there are more important things in life than wearing things that spark inquiry. But a little confidence boost can go a long way in evolving from “Chris, you look nice today!” to “Man, Chris looks nice every day.”
On the day I finally deployed my Tombolo Hawaiian shirt, I had more conversations about it than any other item in recent memory. Even during peak Hawaiian shirt season, Tombolo’s shirts are hard not to notice.
They aren’t like the kind you’re used to seeing at the frat’s luau night (though I expect them to be a staple there soon enough); there’s something more noticeable about them. And there are a couple of fine details that come into play to allow that sort of separation. These unisex, well-draped, and artfully patterned shirts lend themselves to earnest inquiries. Here’s why.
It’s fun, without being a ‘fun shirt.’
I loathe the dude at the function in a “fun shirt.” You know the type: overly washed, only brought out once a year, way too loud, and dying for attention. (And don’t get me started on the shirt he’s wearing.) Practicing the art of standing out and simultaneously blending in looks kind of like this.
But these are the shirts that help you get it done. They’re printed, sure, but a subtle detail like pajama-esque piping can make all the difference in gently whispering, “This is good shit” versus yelling, “Look at me!” Because that quality is so visible, you can even throw one on under a suit for that late-summer wedding or a workday that ends in Y.
