The Legendary Guayabera

How to look sharp and not die of a heat stroke during summer

Good day gentlemen, I am finally back from a two week absence, where was I those two weeks? well I was back in Mexico, the place where I was born and raised. Those two weeks were amazing, I got to experience so many new things and I got to relive many old memories. One of the new things that I got to experience was the gorgeous state of Yucatan along with its very different culture, food and unbearable heat.

Heat, that is the main word to describe the lower part of Mexico, heat and humidity. Style and class have no worst enemies than heat and humidity; collars get stained, shirts get droopy, and that masculine jacket you had on, well its got to go because you are about to pass out up in here. With that said you would think that men in Yucatan are sweat stained, droopy shirt wearing wrecks of men, well you are wrong. Why? because they have the legendary Guayabera.

The Guayabera is a Shirt made out of either cotton or linen, this makes this garment both light and breathable. It has four pockets, two on the chest and two by the pelvis. This pockets are what is believed to give the garment its name since field workers used the pockets to stuff them with guabas. It usually comes in light colors in order to keep it cool, but if you insist on wearing a black color shirt and melting, then you will be able to find dark colors as well. The Guayabera comes with intricate panels woven into the front and the back, now this might just be me, but it feels like those panels work great at channeling cool breezes down your back and chest.

My first Guayabera.

Panels, light cloth and color, everything you need to stay cool and sharp.

This miracle of the style world has been around since the late 1800s and since then everyone from Presidents to field workers have worn this functional garment. In years past a Guayabera and a hat meant you are a man of status and business, it was a way to tell the workers in the hacienda who was in charge, but as soon as the workers noticed how functional the garment was they begun to wear it for work, making it a shirt that can be dressed up and become formal, or worn out simply because the day is hot. This is one of the reasons I love this garment, it knows no bounds, it is neither a garment for the poor nor for the rich, class does not matter in this, the shirt won't make you look respectable and in authority, your character and how you carry yourself will, power suits are for wimps anyways.

you hot bro? because I'm not.

So lets get down to business and get you in one of these amazing pieces of clothing. First you will need to get one, Amazon.com would be your safest bet if you are here in the states but let me sugest a bit of adventure. Do as I did and travel for it. If you can't leave the states for monetary reasons take a vacation down to Miami, get a tan, enjoy the beach, if you're single get a wife and buy a guayabera. They can be found anywhere there is large populations of coastal hispanics, people of the caribbean or filipinos. If you can travel out of the country then follow the following directions.

1. travel to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

2. hop in a taxi and go to "El Centro"

3. in your worst or best spanish ask for the store named "El Yuca", it is the best service and prices I found.

4. ask to talk with "Baby" or "Baby Face", He is a blue eyed endearing macho man that will make you feel like a king getting fitted in to your Guayabera.

5. pay, be kind, polite, super thankful and listen to a boxing story or two, did I mention Baby Face was a well known boxer.

6. say "muchas gracias!" as you leave and feel the breeze flow across your chest and back, look sharp while doing it.

Baby face in his shop, former boxer and direct descendant to the man that found tenoch-titlan.

How to wear your Guayabera:

Formal, you can easily dress up the guayabera by wearing a nice pair of khakis or slacks, brown dress shoes and a hat, I personally wasn't feeling the traditional hat so I rock out a fedora. You can wear this to a wedding,  a quince, or any other formal event.

Casual, a guayabera goes great with a nice pair of jeans and casual shoes, never tennis shoes! You can wear this to a night out with the guys or simply out about town on a hot day.

A few more tips before I leave, never tuck in your guayabera, wearing a jacket over it defeats the purpose (ask Obama), buy a fedora to go with it and is not against the law to wear shorts with your guayabera but know that you will scream out "tourist" if you do, even in your home town.

I hope you guys enjoyed this piece, let me know if you plan to acquire one or if you already have one, would love to get feedback on this.

A night out with my cousin.

Enjoying the Merida night with my wife.