In the case of the summer's Hawaiian shirt craze, for instance, clothes made from conception to stores in about a month.

CNN: An All-New Dress For Success

As Thailand's best-known "influential person, " the local euphemism for underworld don, Somchai dresses to character in a loud Hawaiian shirt and heavy gold amulets.

CNN: No More Mr. Tough Guy

But wearing a Hawaiian shirt and pink socks is not misconduct.

BBC: Howell's School, Denbigh: Head wins unfair dismissal case

The aloha (or Hawaiian) shirt, with its hand-blocked patterns of canoes, pineapples and leis was in its infancy, still a made-to-order keepsake for adventurous tourists.

WSJ: Spring Fashion's Endless Summer

It might be a subjective concept -- one man's cool Hawaiian party shirt is another's discarded Christmas gift -- but certain brands do seem to stay in fashion forever.

CNN: Six secrets behind cool brands

"I have retired three times prior, but I am a deal junkie and I love the challenge, " admits Rossi, 66, who on this day has traded a suit for a Hawaiian-style shirt emblazoned with surfboards and palm trees.

FORBES: Entrepreneurs

Wearing a polo shirt in his office rather than the Hawaiian look of the desk staff, Sun sees similarities with retail.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories