Need Cooling Down?

There is a reason the Hawaiians choose to wear muumuus!  

They are light and bright and easy to throw on and wear!

When the English Protestants came to “civilize” the Hawaiian Islands in the early eighteen hundreds, they were not happy with the fact that the Hawaiian women traditionally wore nothing more than a skirt.  They chose to dress the Hawaiian women in long gowns with long sleeves, high necklines and a wide fit to completely cover them up.   White lace collars decorated these high necklines and ruffles were often put on the bottom hemline.   We can only imagine that these dresses, originally called Holoku when they were introduced in the 1820s, would have been uncomfortable in the heat of Hawaii,  but gradually, they became shorter and more informal….comfy.  Yes, in a word, comfy!

As the muumuu morphed and mated with traditional Asian designs, a unique series of women’s garments emerged. Over the years, women’s Hawaiian clothing has tended to feature floral designs: ginger blossoms, plumeria, hibiscus, orchids and birds-of-paradise but it wasn’t until the mid-1930s that Hawaiian clothing manufacturers decided to produce cloth that was uniquely Hawaiian in design.

When the heat of summer arrives, it is my “go to” attire.  There are many different styles and the choice of Hawaiian prints is absolutely wonderful.  Amazon has a great variety but, if you do not find one that you like there, google “muumuu” and you will find many sites based in Hawaii.  You are sure to find something you love.

Go find a muumuu you love!