APEC Shirts: Who wore it best?

GlobalPost
The World

President Barack Obama decided to do away with the "silly shirts" tradition at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii this year.

The tradition of wearing shirts of some significance to the summit's host country was started in 1993 by Bill Clinton to lighten the mood before discussing heavier economic topics.  In the past, the heads of state have lined up together donning anything from golden silk robes in South Korea to woven ponchos in Chile.

Some have lamented the lack of color and fun of this year's group photos of the world leaders since Obama asked for a return to the more ordinary business suit and tie.  In light of Obama's more serious attitude toward the summit, GlobalPost has gathered a few photos of the past three US presidents wearing the funny shirts to ask you a very important question: Who wore it best?

More from GlobalPost: Obama nixes APEC tradition

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US President Barack Obama and other world leaders stand for a group photo following an official dinner for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on Nov. 14, 2009, in Singapore. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

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US President George W. Bush speaks with Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit family photo on Nov. 23, 2008, in Lima, Peru. (Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images)

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US President Bill Clinton (R) talks with Thailand's Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai (C) and Taiwan's adviser Koo Chen-Fu (L) during a group photo session with other leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries outside the Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 25, 1997. (Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images)

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