It is growing warmer by the day and looking at the calendar, I see that Easter is ever so close. That means it is almost seersucker time. Seersucker is one of my favorite summer fabrics. It carries a casual yet elegant appeal at all times if worn properly. The fabric comes in various colors, but I suggest sticking to either blue, gray, or tan. Now, after saying that, I admit, I own a seersucker suit in red. To the eye, it appears pink and it has a certain Gatsby appeal. Also, I spied a couple photos from one of my favorite fashion heroes the Sartorialist. The first is the picture above, and the gentleman demonstates how to add flavor to a subtle tan seersucker suit. Seersucker suits look great with white bucks and saddle shoes, but brown dress shoes with a worn panache can look equally elegant. I usually pair mine with bucks for more casual settings, and sport my spectators or slightly worn brown Ralph Lauren wingtips for dressier occasions. I have also included a photo of traditional blue, and a risky color, green. I usually would not even consider a green seersucker, but the gentleman from Sarts blog seems to pull it off. I think his choice of shoe, shirt, and tie is what makes the look work. It is not a classic color, but the gentleman somehow maintains a classic appeal.
Finally, when can you break out the seersucker? Well, I use the climate as my barometer. If it was 90 degrees tomorrow, I would consider seersucker. I also think it is appropriate for Easter. Some say one has to wait until Memorial Day, but I disagree. I may have just opened Pandora's Box.
19 comments:
Funny you should mention seersucker. I actually saw a guy wearing a pair of blue-and-white seersucker trousers yesterday in Newport Coast. I was quite surprised. It's not something I see every day.
I occasionally wear seersucker trousers and shorts. Here in Southern California the seersucker season is longer. I generally don't break out the seersucker until around March. I am considering a 3/2 seersucker suit from O'Connells Clothing. To my eye a seersucker jacket looks best in an undarted, sack style.
Also being in Southern California, the warm weather season is much longer as Trad pointed out. This past weekend nearly got to 80 and if all holds, we should be hitting those numbers in my neck of the woods in a couple of weeks. I do not own a seersucker suit, yet, but have made it a point this year to get one. Blue or tan, I can't decide. Maybe both.
the first photo is perfection. love his look! he's sporting seersucker rather than it wearing him. it feels very subtle to me as well. weather right now in cali is also ridiculously gorgeous.
To chime in with my fellow SoCal sportsmen, we are truly blessed with incredible spring weather, and thus the extended seersucker season. I too break out the seersucker about this time, as well as the white buc's. As I am not a man-of-leisure I am not afforded the opportunity to wear it other than weekends (never worn at night, unless you live in the deep south and have been wearing it all day), but when I do break it out, people seem to appreciate it.
-Brett
www.sportinglifemag.com
I think I am coming to California. All this talk about gorgeous weather is killing me. LA here I come!
Not quite ready for Seersucker here in New York City, but I have made some observations over the past year, and am now prepared to buy a blue/white side vented jacket that I will wear with navy pants and also a pair of blue/white seersucker shorts from Paul Stuart that I will wear with a navy polo shirt and brown driving shoes from Crockett & Jones. I also bought a pair of white Ralph Lauren bucks that's I cannot wait to break out.
Last summer I saw an older man on Madison Avenue wearing a seersucker suit with a madras shirt. He was sheer perfection and looked very comfortable.
The Southern California contingent is strong in these parts.
John ~ The seersucker jacket sounds nice. Is it Paul Stuart?
Trad,
Thank you. I am not yet decided whether it will be Paul Stuart or Ralph Lauren, but one thing is for certain in that it will be custom made.
I'll keep you posted as I will probably have it made in the coming weeks.
Interesting that you mentioned the red/white seersucker, Richard; I myself have one of those, inherited from my father. I tend to wear it on sunny days with a pale blue shirt, bowtie and plain white oxfords. Needless to say, seersucker is even rarer this side of the pond.
Benedict,
Are you wearing it in that photo? My eyes are shot and cannot quite make out what you are wearing. If so, it looks really sharp from what I can make out.
I am indeed, John, and thank you for the compliment.
Sorry for troubling your eyes; the picture quality is abysmal, the product of a mobile phone camera, alas.
John ~ So, you are just getting the seersucker jacket made, and not the whole suit? I too have been thinking about a jacket vs. a complete suit. With a jacket I would be able to choose a natty lining in pink, ruby, butter yellow, or lime green. I've spoken to my tailor about it and he said no problem. Sorry to be such a pest about this, but I am interested.
Benedict ~ Very nice ensemble!
Trad, it's an interesting question and one that I go back and forth on. Truth is, I don't think I look that good in a whole seersucker suit but I do look just fine in the jacket with navy trousers. I saw one person last summer wearing the trousers with a navy blazer and that looked superb. So I guess I'm now leaning toward buying the whole suit but wearing the pieces separately.
Your colored linings sound interesting, and am actually smiling here thinking about it. It sure is liberating to be able to dictate terms on clothes rather than buy off the peg.
I hope some of you guys will consider sending in photos to show off your seersucker suits. It would make a great reader's photos post.
Seersucker was once ubiquitous in Southern Summers, but seems to have taken a near mortal blow from central air conditioning.
I live in Laguna Beach, CA. I always break out the seersucker around March. Typically, I wear it with a white shirt, and a blue bowtie (with white polka dots), and brown saddle shoes. I did a book signing a couple of years ago in LA and wore the above outfit and received many compliments. I would love to wear it at night. Is that a big no no???
Where can I get a Blue/white seersucker in the UK
or shops in the states prepared to send US=UK
Thank you so much for this thread. I live in Charleston, SC and my son graduates from high school this afternoon. At his school, it is customary for the guys to wear seersucker suits. I have a pair of blue/white seersucker pants but needed help on what type of blazer to wear- as I don't own the seersucker jacket. I see mention that a navy blazer should do the trick so Navy it is. Thanks for the validation!
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