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.