Kin Woo dreams of tropical beaches as his Aloha print Prada Suitcase wins the first Love Vote of the year
It’s raining, it’s cold, the fairy lights are fading… 2014 has definitely arrived and no one’s quite sure how to deal with it. True, we now have many more jumpers/gloves/boxes of liqueur chocolates than a few weeks ago, but the number of unwritten thank you letters pressing on our consciences countermands the pleasure of wearing/eating them. Understandable then, that in the cold hard light of January, our thoughts have dashed away from chilly concrete streets towards gentler, balmier climes, as evidenced by the victory of this tropical Prada Suitcase loved by fashion writer Kin Woo.
If one is taking the sartorial route to happiness, there are few things more cheering than a tropical print. While it is unclear when the style first emerged, it was popularised on Hawaii during the Great Depression, when Honolulu resident Ellery Chun began selling short-sleeved shirts made of leftover Japanese kimono fabric. These featured a range of vibrant designs including palm fronds, hula girls, and pineapples, and were dubbed "Aloha" shirts. The popularity of the colourful and varied prints meant the style has since evolved into all manners of clothing, both becoming a staple of Hawaiian fashion, and a regular sight on catwalks for the likes of Prada, Givenchy, Stella McCartney and Versace.
Woo has good reason to be thinking tropical as he plans ahead for a holiday next month. Here he tells us what he’s excited about for 2014, and what tropical attire he’ll be packing for the beach.
Why did you love this suitcase?
Who doesn't dream of a tropical holiday when it's pelting down with rain outside? Also The Prada men's S/S14 collection was one of my favourites – so evocative of times gone by and cinematic at the same time.
What would you wear with it?
Hawaiian shirt, shorts, flip flops and sunglasses with mojito in hand.
Where would you take it?
On my Mexican beach holiday in February!
What is the best piece of tropical attire that you own?
Actually another piece from Prada, from the S/S06 collection – a shirt with a hearts and stars motif that makes me feel pretty jazzy wearing it.
What are you looking forward to about 2014?
Becoming an uncle for the very first time in March!
What was the last thing you bought?
Two books: Rachel Kushner's The Flamethrowers and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch to bring on said holiday.
