It may be true that no man is an Island, but it's okay if you just want to be an islander.
We've all got it in us to fantasize about dropping everything where we stand so we can just eff off to some minuscule haven nestled deep in the tropics. And should you be lucky enough to actually make that happen, the latest trend in men's fashion will have you looking the part.
Afends Depths Baywatch Short in Floral
From floral and botanical motifs to palm trees and ukeleles, this season's menswear is awash in a lush display of bold Tropical prints. No worries, though, 2014's island prints are a far cry from the Hawaiian shirts your dad wears on vacation.
Menswear designers like Michael Bastian, Alexandre Mattiussi, and others have brought a high-end appeal to this trend, with more slickly designed graphic elements, adventurous color, and gutsy all-over prints on larger scale items, like pants.
Penfield Grafton Bermuda Short in grey
In fact, bottoms are a big deal for this summer's tropical print menswear, with not only trousers but shorts and swim trunks getting the island treatment too, in prints ranging from pineapples and leis to florals and palm fronds.
Alexandre Mattiussi AMI Spring Summer 2014
Michael Bastian Spring/Summer 2014
Penfield Teaford Shirt in Light Blue/Palm Print
But be it in pants, shorts or tops, the look has definitely hit it big, with men's fashion editorials, blogs and street fashionistos all highlighting the densely patterned cool of the latest Hawaiian prints.
It's of course hit Buzz Jeans too, with some of our favorite labels, like Penfield, as well as newcomers like Afends and Deux Ex Machina all getting in on this summer's tropical trend.
David Naman Spring/Summer 2014
Deus Ex Machina Belbin Shirt in Black
It's a look that's easy to wear when you pair a single printed statement piece with some laid-back solids. But for the more adventurous would-be islander, a mix of prints or even a matching printed top and bottom combo is pretty avant-garde and makes for a much more urban take on this equatorial style.
Give it a try this summer. Because even if you can't escape the country or even the city in order to flee to a hidden tropical locale, at least you can escape a hum-drum summer wardrobe, thanks to some of the freshest and flashiest prints of the season.
