An Introduction to Seersucker for Men

Now the warm weather has arrived, it’s time to take the opportunity to introduce to you the wonderful fabric, seersucker. But what is it, and how on earth are you supposed to wear it?
Allow me to guide you through the ins and outs of this ‘spring/summer’ cloth and how you can use it to great effect this season and next.
Let’s kick things off with a quick definition shall we…

What is Seersucker?

Put simply, seersucker is a thin, cotton-based fabric, specifically woven to ensure the threads cluster together thus creating a wrinkly, almost bumpy, texture. This has the benefit of holding hot air away from the body, keeping you cool throughout the hotter months.
It also means you can put the steam press away; your seersucker will never iron flat, so you can save yourself some time and effort and instead enjoy the rumpled puckering of the cloth.

Where can I wear it?

Treat seersucker in much the same way as you would linen. Think afternoons on the beach, summer excursions and barbecues with friends – anywhere that ‘relaxing’ is on the agenda.
While the fashionistas can get away with styling seersucker for more formal occasions, I’d advise against going ‘out on a limb’ for beginners – instead, stick to casual events, or the summer office picnic if you really do insist on using it in a business environment.

What should I avoid?

Keep away from candy stripe colours and all-white ensembles, unless you want to be mistaken for a 1950s ice cream merchant or Colonel Sanders himself!
If you’re thinking about wearing a seersucker suit, chose classic colours like gray and light blue – these look great paired with a crisp white shirt.
Remember not to go overboard by pairing seersucker with excessive patterns. Keep complements to a solid colour, preferably in a light pastel or with a neutral tone.
Finally, seersucker is best worn after Easter. While this rule is somewhat flexible depending on the weather, be sure to have it stowed away again by early September time.

How should I wear it?

Keep things loose and simple. It’s far too easy to go overboard with seersucker. Choose classic accessories like solid coloured neckties, and simple canvas shoes if you have them. Seersucker has built-in flair so don’t feel you have to go over the top. Less is definitely more in this instance.

If you’ve chosen seersucker shorts, stick with basic polo and dress shirts. Be sure to tuck things in though, as the rumpled seersucker can make the look sloppy otherwise.