seersucker suits

davestlouis · Mar 26, 2010

I've never taken the plunge, but I'm thinking about getting a seersucker suit. Truth be known, I'll probably use it as separates, and never wear it as a whole suit. Two issues/questions: 1.what color/type of shoes and socks work with a blue and white seersucker? 2. is there a reason I don't see many seersucker trousers with cuffs?

Valhson · Mar 26, 2010

I personally wear dirty bucs with the seersucker. I also have a pair of saddles in white and brown that sometimes gets matched but dirty bucs are de rigor I think.

As for cuffs, this is news to me. I grew up in the south and I am sure I have seen the trousers without cuffs, though I can't remember a single time. My grandfathers's, Father's and Uncle's suits all have cuffs. As do mine.

Oh almost forgot. I get a little playful with the socks. try to match them up with the a pocket square or tie/bowtie. If that is too much you could always do something like a light hounds tooth with the color of the shoe in it maybe? something in a light tan or khaki to match up with the bucs?

Someone smarter than me should be along shortly to give you a better sock pairing.

A

Cody Pendant · Mar 26, 2010

Strut your stuff, buddy!

Buy the suit, and wear the suit, darnit! Don't be chicken. If your going to do it - go all the way, thats what I say. Its a summer suit and you will be taking off the jacket at some point anyway.
I'm with Valhason, mine are cuffed and I have never seen them un-cuffed, but do them straight if you want. Not sure where you are looking, if thats what your seeing.
I wear white bucks with mine or suede saddle oxfords. I think I have even worn green suede ones. Just my opinion, but I think because its a soft material it demands a soft shoe. Think more along the lines of something you would wear with jeans.
As for the socks, its all about pastels. Think sherbet colors. Either go for the match the stripe or a sock in a bright contrast color. That goes for the suspenders also.
You will attract some attention, so enjoy it.
Oh yea, be prepaired, for the touching. People rarely see it and they instinctively reach out.

davestlouis · Mar 26, 2010

My wife and I both have 25 year reunions this summer...maybe I should wear it to those events...she might veto it though

4spurs · Mar 26, 2010

Wear the suit, with a white shirt, a Panama hat, tan & white low heeled boots, and a red bow tie.

rmrdaddy · Mar 26, 2010

Just wear it Dave!

I personally only have seersucker pants, but I pair them with white Polo dress socks with the embroidered horse and player on 'em and white bucs. I add a navy blazer, either double or single breasted and either a repp striped tie or something with the aforementioned pastel coloration. Solid look with your favorite Panama or Monticristi :eusa_clap

dhermann1 · Mar 26, 2010

Seersucker is cool, man! Both literally and figuratively. I think any light colored shoes should be OK. I have a nice pair of spectators that I think I might wear with mine. I also have a nice cotton madras tie that goes with it nicely, tho I do think a jazzy bow tie would be great.
Somewhere around here there's a fabulous photo of about 20 US senators all posing together in seersucker suits. If it's cool with the most exclusive club in the world, then it should be cool for you.
I second that emotion about the Panama hat.

MrBern · Mar 26, 2010

Thumbs up for Seersucker during the balmy summer. It travels VERY well.
Some of the more modern designers offer seersucker suits in colors beyond the traditional stripe.
Check the Brooks Brothers website for some ideas on how to wear it well.

Oh, and yes, Ive seen seersucker suits cuffed.

Heres a serious look from BB

Slim Portly · Mar 26, 2010

I wear my two-piece blue and white seersucker (Jos. A. Banks) with white socks, off white bucs (Walk-Over), and a shantung "gambler" panama Dobbs Fifth Avenue. And yes, the trousers are indeed cuffed. I like Valhson's idea of playfully matching the socks with a pocket squre. I shall give that a try next wear.

Tomasso · Mar 26, 2010

dhermann1 said:
Seersucker is cool, man! Both literally and figuratively.

Personally, seersucker (and cotton in general) does not wear as cool as linen and certain tropical wools, depending on the weave.[huh]

cptjeff · Mar 26, 2010

dhermann1 said:
Seersucker is cool, man! Both literally and figuratively. I think any light colored shoes should be OK. I have a nice pair of spectators that I think I might wear with mine. I also have a nice cotton madras tie that goes with it nicely, tho I do think a jazzy bow tie would be great.
Somewhere around here there's a fabulous photo of about 20 US senators all posing together in seersucker suits. If it's cool with the most exclusive club in the world, then it should be cool for you.
I second that emotion about the Panama hat.

This one?

Mario · Mar 26, 2010

I just bought a 1950's Haspel's seersucker suit.

This pic shows the suit without any alterations. I'll need to let out the cuffs (seersucker pants without cuffs...again!) and take in the waist on both the pants and the jacket.

carldelo · Apr 7, 2010

Tomasso said:
Personally, seersucker (and cotton in general) does not wear as cool as linen and certain tropical wools, depending on the weave.[huh]

Agreed - I gave away my blue/white cotton seersucker suit - just too warm for me. I much prefer featherweight tropical wool for a summer suit. I also prefer gray/white seersucker, although you don't see it nearly as much (that may be why I prefer it, I suppose).

davestlouis · Apr 28, 2010

I've seen green and white, gray and white, red and white and blue and white seersucker for menswear. I think I could pull off anything but the red and white...that might be too much.

For years my wife teased me for wearing nothing but blue oxfords with khaki cotton pants, a seersucker suit might just shut her up for good.

David Conwill · Apr 28, 2010

I’ve wondered about this topic, as well as the general historical precedent for seersucker in the upper Midwest. It gets hot and humid here enough for it, certainly, but it seems a very flamboyant fabric for the sturdy farmers and industrialists that lived here in the late-19th and early-20th century.

For my part, I’m very comfortable wearing a tan cotton suit in the summer months, and rarely get a sideways look about it. In fact, I’d buy a few more lightweight cotton suits if the funds were available. I still haven’t written off obtaining another madras jacket, either (my wife talked me into getting rid of a really nice one years ago, and I get sick thinking about it), but that’s another thing entirely.

I have a hunch seersucker wouldn’t go over nearly so well as light-colored cotton does here in Zenith. If I were to wear it, I would probably go the dirty buck route with a subtle-pattern sock matched to the stripe color (if I could find such a creature). A bowtie is a must, IMO, with seersucker, as a long tie looks like you’re trying to hard to make it “normal”. People will pick up on such weakness and eat you alive.

Shirting is something I’m not totally certain of, though, with seersucker. I have a lot of oxford and pinpoint-oxford shirts, but they mostly seem too heavy with a summer suit. Suggestions? Colorwise, I’d think light blue or white would be most appropriate.

I’ll be following interestedly as this thread develops.

-Dave

davestlouis · Apr 28, 2010

Ya know David, I had an olive poplin suit that I got a little chubby for, but it was great for summer. I've never had the guts to wear anything madras except short sleeve shirts...perhaps a madras sport coat would be a cool thing to have. That gets into its own issues with ties and whatnot...

MisterCairo · Apr 28, 2010

MrBern said:
Thumbs up for Seersucker during the balmy summer. It travels VERY well.
Some of the more modern designers offer seersucker suits in colors beyond the traditional stripe.
Check the Brooks Brothers website for some ideas on how to wear it well.

Oh, and yes, Ive seen seersucker suits cuffed.

Heres a serious look from BB

To each their own, of course, but to me, this look says "do not adjust your set"....

carldelo · Apr 28, 2010

DC, there is tan seersucker as well - I've seen it around, although I'm not sure how prevalent it is. It's definitely more stealthy than blue, but no one blinks at seersucker in New York, of course. I agree with the light blue or white shirt when wearing a tie, anything with an open weave would help - Oxford would be a killer. Also agree with a bow tie in theory, although they look terrible on me. If it's hot enough for seersucker, I would go without a tie, and maybe wear a striped shirt that has white or light blue as the dominant color.

Tomasso · Apr 28, 2010

davestlouis said:
I've seen green and white, gray and white, red and white and blue and white seersucker for menswear.

davestlouis · Apr 28, 2010

Lilac and white, lord ha' mercy, I'd sooner die than be caught wearing that!

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