June 2, 2004
A Seersucker Suit
I want a seersucker suit. This traditional blue and white ensemble used to be the ubiquitous raiment of the Southern Gentleman, and they are still sold, but the utility has dwindled tremendously.
I blame this on the standardization of business attire, and the inexorable falling away from regional clothing. For a seersucker suit is only worn in the Southeast, and it is seasonal as well. One would look a fool in Chicago or Manhattan in one, but right at home in Savannah or New Orleans or Charleston. Even the old lawyers don't wear them anymore.
The beauty of the seersucker is its light weight, no mean feature on a steamy July day. The suit gained enormous popularity in the 1930's, before the birth of air conditioning, and a lightweight fabric in a light blue color was a godsend.
I used to have one as late as 1986, but they really fell out of fashion before that. I seem to recall Matlock wearing one on occasion, but truth be told I never watched that show. Andy Griffith is a beloved icon of mine, and when he had his eyelifts I was destroyed. That thing on the television wasn't Andy, it was a horrible facsimile. The pod people looked better than that. And that's what clones will be like: perfect in most respects, but with a flaw or two. A sixth finger, no septum, a tit in the middle of the back. Little things like that. I'll call them Matlocks.
Actually, I believe what Andy was wearing is what is often referred to as pincord. Designed to look like seersucker, but without the welts, and wrinkle free. Pincord doesn't breathe, either. As for the wrinkling, that is another superior quality of seersucker: don't bother to iron or press it, because you can't unwrinkle it. So the seersucker suit on the lawyer walking down Broughton Street after a shave and a trim at Jimmy Tagaglio's looked just like the seersucker suit on the drunk just let out of the holding pen. Except for the urine stain, of course.
Seersucker suits conjure images to me of Atticus Finch, with sweatstained underarms, shooting a mad dog. Or Bobby Lee Cook haranguing a hostile witness in a sweltering Fulton County courtroom. Noble images.
The seersucker was traditionally worn with white bucks, a straw fedora, and any color tie you pleased, although a red tie intimated you were a bit of a rakehell, which I like. You could not button a seersucker jacket when you wore a red tie. That cancelled the equation, so to speak. And let's talk about that hat: as I say, it was de rigeur until the mid-sixties, and the straw fedora is yet another of those things that separate the Southerner from the Yankee. A Yankee would wear a porkpie hat, signalling his aspiration to the career of cabdriver, or at best a snapbrim hat. I posit a hat, if worn at all, should have a nice wide brim, for surreptitiously winking at the ladies, or shielding one's emotions at poker.
A brief aside: did you know that's why Muslims wear the fez? Yes. They are not allowed to shield their eyes from Allah. The Omnipotent One might miss the errant wink. Ataturk took care of that with his Turkmen, though, didn't he? Banned the fez, he did, and made the Turks wear fedoras. Ha ha. That explains why there are still ancient Ottomans who secretly wear womens' panties and the fez at home (something I would have liked to have seen more of at Abu Ghraib).
To sum up, then. I believe the time is right. Although wearing a seersucker suit in the olden days of the suit and tie might have been problematic, it could be just the thing in today's business casual environment. Open-collar shirt, keep the bucks, lose the straw fedora, unless I'm going drinking at the beach. Maybe even some suspenders. Not braces, damn it, those are too Queer Eye for me. I mean red clip-on suspenders, to keep my britches up whilst sitting on a park bench.
I've found a few suits, but not the suit. Brooks Brothers has one I may give a try, but it looks awfully tailored. Perhaps a night on that park bench could fix that. Ashford Lane's looks better, as does Joe Bank's.
At any rate, I have found a new pursuit: I want a damned seersucker suit.
Heh, I'm right with you, man. I live in SC where seersucker suits are traditional yet trendy. I have been looking all over for a good suit, but I'm having trouble finding them. Even the big department stores turn up a big fat "No results for 'seersucker suit'" in their search engines. When did southern style disappear?
Posted by: Josh at February 5, 2005 5:56 PMHow do,
I am a cadet at the Citadel (military college of South Carolina) and I am originally from N.C. I remember seeing Seersucker in my hometown but down here in Charleston it is kind of religious. If you want a suit that is like the original thing you need to go to M. Dumas and Son's on King street that is where the original looking suit is to be found. None of that pretty boy tailoring or special "wrinkle free" seersucker b/s but the good stuff. It will also go for about 150 to 160 dollars. There are also some at J. Crew but not quite the same feel.
Cadet Private Hamilton
Posted by: David Hamilton at February 20, 2005 9:16 PMHaspel. Located in New Orleans, this is the original, classic manufacturer/tailer for summer weight suits for Southern Gentlemen.
Posted by: Whiteside at April 3, 2005 12:13 PMI'm rocking the seersucker suit to my man Tony's wedding this weekend. Got it at J. Crew.
Posted by: spook at April 4, 2005 11:20 PMAm buying a tna seersucker at Joseph A Banks online for 147.50 for buddy's wedding in june.. should we go with the straw fedoras"
W
Tan striped I meant!
Posted by: Wilson at May 5, 2005 4:14 PMIf you want a legit seersucker suit you can get one from the J Peterman Company. Thats where I got mine, wore it this weekend at the Derby and got plenty of compliments
Posted by: Matt at May 9, 2005 6:00 PMAs a recent graduate of a prestigous, southeastern University, which, in its spare time, doubles as the final resting place of RE Lee and his horse, Traveller, I, with seersucker-clad arm, salute you.
B
Posted by: blephen at May 10, 2005 11:11 AMPerlis on Magazine St. in New Orleans is the place for seersucker. Probably more options in colors or styles than any place on earth. Ditto white linen suits. Likely they have five models. All of these light suits are designed to be worn in the dead of a thick southern summer afternoon and tossed at the end of the season. Thus the pricing.
Posted by: Michael at May 18, 2005 12:24 PMI agree with the esteemed cadet from the Citadel; M. Dumas & Sons is indeed a deal to beat. Their seersucker suits are original, classicaly designed, and priced to please any true Southern Gentleman. And they have quite a selection of other dapper clothes to boot...
Posted by: Paul at June 11, 2005 5:37 PMI just happened to stumble across this page while searching for a seersucker suit to force my boyfriend to wear. He's a Yankee (I'm from NC), and has probably never heard of such a thing, but I think all guys should be forced to wear them during the summer. They're so handsome... *wistful sigh*
Posted by: Ashley at July 22, 2005 10:27 PMMy husband has two blue and white seersucker suits. He says they have different buttons. Do they make a red and white seersucker suit? I think he looks great in them but recently a banker told him that he used to have one but that they had gone out of style. Wrong.
Posted by: Hubert Moore at August 14, 2005 11:44 AMGood Wall Street Journal Seersucker article - http://www.hunterandcoggins.com/wsj_article.htm
They liked the Haspel seersucker from Hunter and Coggins best. http://www.hunterandcoggins.com/haspel.htm
Haspel's website. No red seersucker, but they do make a pink.
http://www.haspel.com/explore.cfm/home/seersucker
Though I'm from the south, I currently live in Chicago. Wear Haspel cotton and seersucker suits all summer. Like everything else, done with confidence, they works any place that is warm. I get lots of comments and most are compliments.
Posted by: Willie Boy at September 13, 2005 11:07 AM..What kind of place is this? What is this, some kind of blog thing, or are you some kind of sick journalist that has nothing better to do with his freetime? Anyway, I like this crap, good work and keep it up. Mahalo.
Posted by: Crouss at October 7, 2005 11:22 PMI am trying to outfit my groomsmen in yellow seersuckers for an August wedding. Anyone that canb point me in the right direction?
Thanks!!
I called M. Dumas and Son a couple weeks back. They said closer to summer they get a big variety of colors. I don't have the number off hand, but just do an internet search.
Posted by: Jared at February 28, 2006 5:51 PMwhat about seersucker suits for women?
Posted by: jennifer at March 29, 2006 9:32 PMDon't know where you live, but I've seen them from Calvin Klein and Tahari in Century 21 in New York. I've also seen them online at Banana Republic. I think they're fabulous, but for some reason, I've been debating for a month about whether to buy one. It takes a lot of confidence to wear one of these.
Posted by: Debra at April 18, 2006 1:14 PMI just got my seersucker suit. I was going through a Jos. Banks catalogue and saw it jumping off the page. Had to have it! On the way home I realized I also had to have a pair of bucks. I think I'm flippin' out. My wife is convinced I've lost it. I live in a small NC town, but hardly anyone wears a suit. My biggest challenge, however, is you can't just wear the damn thing you have "be the suit." What makes it worse is that I really went overboard and got a double breasted. I've got the red tie, and the suspenders. I put a starched linen hankerchif in the breast pocket. I knew an old county attorney years ago (white hair, big red nose, huge cigar)who wore the same suit everday. Could use help effecting the right attitude. Any help?
Posted by: Bob Bridwell at May 1, 2006 10:54 PMI'm originally from Georgia & also recently developed a seersucker jones. Got my Haspel suit from Sierra Trading Post in (of all places) Cheyenne WY--you can find them on the web. On sale for only $175, & I'm very pleased with it. White bucks from a place called Roberts Shoe Store in Minneapolis--also on the web. Nicest pair of shoes I own. Usually a Frank Lloyd Wright tie--something a little loud.
My wife also thinks I'm nuts. I get mostly compliments when I'm out, from the folks that actually comment--I suppose the others laugh behind my back. I'll live.
Posted by: tintinmcgowan at June 5, 2006 9:03 PMI've only worn my seersucker a couple of times now. I guess I was a little too sensitive about standing out. A colleague of mine visited the NC General Assembly last week, and said she saw seersucker suits everywhere. Now I'm even more concerned. Do I risk being mistaken for a Southern politician or, worse, a lobbyist.
Posted by: Bob Bridwell at June 12, 2006 6:48 PMyou guys will all be mistaken for gay clowns.
Posted by: pasch at July 25, 2006 12:06 PMAs a woman, there's something very elegant and very stylish about a man in a seersucker suit. He's saying, "I know it's hot as hell out here, but I still have to go to work and do my job. And if I do it with style, so much the better." No bow ties, though. Or bucks. Too over the top -- for most men. It's not a costume.
Posted by: peg w. at August 7, 2006 1:52 PMAmusing article on the seersucker, too bad it had to be spoiled by your ignorance on why the Turks wore the fez. The reason was not having to remove it when they prostrated on the ground in prayer. Same reason why traditional Muslim headgear/hats do not have a forward brim.
When Ataturk came, he wanted so much to be like the British and banned it, replacing it with a bowler/fedora. After all, how can you properly touch your forehead to the ground while wearing a bowler? Try it with a baseball cap at home.
Now go buy a seersucker. Stay cool.
I would like to know if it is more appropriate to have the trouser cuffed or uncuffed with a Seersucker suit? Which is more traditional or does it matter?
Posted by: D.T. at November 27, 2006 3:38 PMI live and work at Ben Silver in Charleston,SC. We have a great collection of seersucker during the spring and summer. There is usually a variety of colors, blue, red, yellow, orange, etc. We carry blazers, suits, pants and shorts. Check us out www.bensilver.com.
Posted by: Lorna at November 29, 2006 6:32 PMI'm from S.C., and like alot of the folks that I have seen that have posted comments on this website I have to agree with the gentlemen who say that M. Dumas & Sons is "the place" when it comes to seersucker attire. I got mine about 5 years ago and have gotten as much wear out of it as I could, it's a great suit for around these parts. One thing however that I dont believe anyone has mentioned is that if you are going to truely try to pull off the "southern gentlemen" look one must be willing to throw on the old bow tie. M. Dumas carries a large selection of those as well.
Posted by: C.A. Derrick at February 19, 2007 6:29 PMi just bought my first seersucker suit and i am planning on wearing it on easter...but i dont know what color shirt or what kind or color of shoes...i want to wear a bow tie but i also dont know what color or style or where to find one...SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!
Posted by: c. l. hord at March 20, 2007 9:13 PMLOL, I just bought my son a blue seersucker suit for Easter! We have a couple of dapper young men who still break out the seersucker, at least on hot Sunday mornings in our church. A dear friend of mine, who lives in South Carolina was in search of a pair of seersucker slacks for her DH and was having the hardest time finding a quality pair with the correct lining. LOVE them, myself.
Posted by: Belle at March 21, 2007 5:06 PMWe are thinking of having seersucker suits for our April wedding at a plantation in Charleston. Does anyone think this might look funny at 6:30 at night or would we be able to pull it off?
Posted by: Alex at April 11, 2007 10:48 AMAn Alabama gal myself, my fiance and I will be getting married in the south and he really wanted to leave in a seersucker or white linen suit. I think that he'll do seersucker and I might to a linen summer suit. We are having a traditional southern wedding and I just think it will look so cute. I am glad for all of these feeds on seersucker designers. I think it is a fashion coming back...I saw it at Target and Old Navy even this spring here in the south.
Posted by: Jackie at June 6, 2007 9:41 PMVelociman, your surmise that a man "would look a fool" wearing seersucker suit here in Manhattan notwithstanding, I can assure you that they continue to be widely seen on the streets of the city between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Indeed, anyone looking for them should shop in New York in the spring. They are a perennial at Paul Stuart, J. Press, Brooks Brothers, and the downscale chains (such as Jos. A. Banks) that ape them. They can always be found at a large number of smaller independent gentleman's shops and tailors and often even at brand emporiums such as Hickey-Freeman. The annual ad in the New York Times from Frank Stella announcing that the Haspel Seersucker suits are now available has become an unofficial but widely acknowledged herald of summer.
I should also say that Seersucker suits are not an uncommon sight in New Haven, Boston, and New Jersey. It is sad to hear that the heirs of this delightful garment’s original manufacturers have turned away from it. Rest assured that the heirs of their Yankee clients continue to wear it with glee.
Hello all,
So funny. Back in 1992, when seersucker must have fallen between the cracks, being archaic and not trendy again, I got an awesome seersucker suit at a Polo outlet in Delaware for $90!!!. It fits better than any other suit I own. But...when to wear it, would I get beaten up, would people point and laugh, etc. So I hardly ever wore it. So I decided to go for it and I wear it once or twice a month. But, I wear the jacket frequently, and it works with khakis,and a wacky pair of light blue pants with swordfish "critters". I just don't care anymore. I have 2 kids, I'm turning 40, I'm bald...I can do whatever I want. All you need to do, and I have done this when my boss told me I was dressed like "Matlock" (the TV character) is pull out a brief description of the history of the suit and it's historical and cultural relevance. That felt good.
There are no rules anymore to this stuff. Just wear it like a suit or casual, bow tie, no tie(black loafers, tan bucks, white bucks, Jack Purcells, leather sandals...who cares?) Just do it
Posted by: Matt at June 22, 2007 9:38 AMFor more cool info on seersucker at NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11135560
I LOVE the seersucker suits, but......I only have one and can not find them ANYWHERE!!!!! We wear them at work all the time, only problem is I am a women and no one has them. I shop online and in all the stores. The one I have is great, but the company that made it has gone out of business. I even tried to get tailored for a mans suit , but was told that wouldn't work. I work in a funeral home soooo during the summer we wear them to all the funerals to stay a tid bit cooler. Can anyone help me???????
Posted by: BJT at August 3, 2007 3:47 PMAll the boys in my family at some point must purchase a Seersucker. The ladies all have their version also...a staple for summer and spring baptisms and weddings. The boys go to Perlis (the place that sells all the shirts with the little crawfish on it). You can find Perlis on Magazine Street (New Orleans) and Metairie, near Lakeside mall. You can not be a southern lady or gentleman without a Seersucker!
Posted by: Rachel at April 18, 2008 7:19 AMI have worn a seersucker on an occasion for two years. I wonder if I should wear it when in Italy? Also, Should it be worn at night?
Posted by: George at July 20, 2008 9:49 PMJust got my first seer sucker today, it is a haspel from esuits and I love it. I got the tan and white that I plan to wear with suspenders ( Not the clip ons.)
I live in Florida and even here it is an unique suit.
Posted by: Sly at November 3, 2008 7:36 PMWith the current economic climate - and the winter weather, I am longing to see happy, cotton seersucker.
Posted by: Anne at February 19, 2009 5:23 AMMy son, Liam Robert, will be receiving his first communion in a few weeks. At 8 years old, this will be his first seersucker suit, blue and white of course. As a toddler he wore many a seersucker jumper...blue and white was for his post christening outfit...until such a thing became "too baby". Now his favorite is a pair of kacki and white seersucker slacks from last season. His new Claiborne suit will arrive shortly, but Perlis is still the best source here in New Orleans, where seersucker is certainly still a tradition. He will proudly carry the torch the name of Southern Gentlemen everywhere.
Posted by: Liam Robert's mother at March 25, 2009 4:01 PMI just bought mine, tan and white from K&G, it is going to look great i hope. My though was to wear a pink tie with some black in it, with black captoe shoes and belt. It is for a 6 pm wedding so i figured maybe dress it up a little for that. any comments?