The Gentleman's Guide to Surviving Summer: The Seersucker Suit

Looking good in the summer months can sometimes be a challenge. We’ve given you some tips to Master the Hot Weather in Style, but we never touched on the best types of suits to wear in the heat.

There are many different styles and materials that can be used to create a cool, breathable suit. However, there is one suit in particular that reigns supreme.

The Seersucker Suit

Humble Beginnings

Shir O Shakar is a Persian phrase that means Milk and Sugar. That is the first we have ever heard of our beloved Seersucker suit. It was developed in East India from woven cotton and linen. When the suits were first created, they were always made with light tan and white stripes. The textures and colors reminded the tailors of smooth milk and bumpy cane sugar. Thus, the name was born. 

The Colonial Era

In the early 19th century, India was colonized by the British. British officials and military personnel were some of the first to wear a full Seersucker suit. The materials were perfect for them to beat the heat in India, since they weren't really used to that type of climate. By the late 18th century, seersucker suits were now available in a new color wave! The ever-so-popular nautical color scheme, Blue and White!

Crossing the Atlantic

In the early 1900s, seersucker suits officially made their way to America. In 1909, a New Orleans native named Joseph Haspel changed the entire suit industry! He noticed that the British used this smooth, bumpy, but lightweight material for their labor uniforms. It was at that moment that he decided he wanted to revolutionize dress wear! He wanted to make suits that were sharp but breathable, and didn't hold all of that New Orleans heat! At that moment, the Seersucker Dress Suit was born! 

Almost 20 years later, the Brooks Brothers decided to get in on the action. In 1930, they released a seersucker suit made of cotton and corduroy! People quickly realized the benefits of this suit and how lightweight it truly was. Shortly after, the seersucker suit was everywhere! In different colors and styles all over the world! Both Haspel and Brooks Brothers still sell these suits to this day! Proving how useful and loved these suits really are!

From India to Great Britain to America! The seersucker suit shows how sensible clothing can also be stylish. What started out as a comfortable fabric for hot weather has become one of the most popular and long-lasting summer suits for men!

Can you see yourself in a Seersucker Suit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!