In the past, a seersucker suit was something you’d wear to the Kentucky Derby, to your barbershop quartet practice, or to court, if you were a sassy Southern lawyer named Ben Matlock. These days, the textured, lightweight fabric has come a long way, baby.
Seersucker makes for ideal spring and summer suits for occasions ranging from weddings to work weeks. As soon as the weather warms up, it’s seersucker season. Made from cotton fabric, the smooth-and-puckered striped texture keeps the already airy fabric away from your skin, so rather than sticking to your favorite khaki cotton suit (that literally sticks to you when you sweat), embrace the beauty of this textured number that boosts air circulation and heat dissipation.
Speaking of fabric, not all seersuckers are created equally, cautions designer Sam Shipley, one half of the designing duo Shipley & Halmos. “Look for something with a nice density where the high/low effect creates lots of puckering,” he suggests. “So much of what you'll find these days is flat and thin, which comes off as too drapey.” Brands like Bonobos, Haspel, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein Collection offer superior texture.
The key to keeping the style contemporary is to choose unexpected hues, such as solid navy, black, gray or beige—rather than the classic white stripes mixed with pastel colors. These updated versions look more stylish and less like an ode to grandpa. Add a simple, solid cotton shirt and a knit or linen tie, and you’re looking sharp.
Once your pick the seersucker that’s right for you, go ahead, show your best dance moves at the wedding reception without sweating—and know how Tom Wolfe and all those Southern lawyers looked cool and kept their cool in the heat of summer.
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