For the second edition of “Know Your Fabrics” I chose to highlightseersucker: a thin, all-cotton fabric made by a slack-tension weave that causes some threads to bunch together, giving it a slightly wrinkled appearance in places. This feature causes the fabric to be mostly held away from the skin, facilitating heat dissipation and air circulation, making it perfect for those hot summer days.
Seersucker is distinguishable by the fabric’s on-grain vertical stripe, typically in white with an alternating color (traditionally light blue). With that said, not all seersuckers are the same. The fabric comes in different size wales (width of the stripes) and with modern dying techniques, can be found in just about any color.
Therefore, in order to change-it-up from the expected blue & white 1/8” seersucker, I designed this suit in a pinwhale (very tight stripe) grey/blue color – giving it a more urban (and less southern gentlemen) feel.
Seersucker suit and red micro-check poplin shirt both by Michael Andrews Bespoke (custom made). Navy silk knit tie by Polo Ralph Lauren (one size). 1”alligator skin belt by Ralph Lauren Purple Label (36). 1” mini tie bar from thetiebar.com. Pocket square by Bounty Paper Towel. Lapel flower from Farmer’s Market. Leather wingtips by Gucci. Shades by Persol. Watch by Montblanc. Bracelets handmade from street vendor in Valencia, Spain.
When wearing a full seersucker suit, I recommend keeping the pieces around it basic and neutral. Solid or micro-pattern shirt, darker tie, simple classic shoes. But after all, it is seersucker, so you can have a little fun with your accessories.
Not just for suits, and not just striped. If you look hard enough, you can find some cool unique gingham seersucker. I used to have an awesome unconstructed blazer in purple gingham…until I left it in the back of a taxi last summer. Somebody got lucky.
Seersucker lax sticks printed pants by Hickey (size 33). Shirt by Steven Alan. Belt by Polo Ralph Lauren. Tortoise aviator shades by Ralph Lauren Purple Label. Sneakers by Converse.
Pair a seersucker pant, like these ones printed with little lacross sticks (which hint to my Canadian roots), with a washed button down shirt and some classic sneakers for a great summer-casual look. Oh, and if you’re going to roll the hem, make sure you don’t do it with too much precision. A pant roll should feel quick and unintentional.
A short sleeve seersucker shirt, a pair of slim cotton pants and a retro sneaker – one of my favorite summer casual outfits to stay comfortable and beat the heat. Just make sure those cotton pants have some stretch if you plan on doing anything active.
Short-sleeve seersucker shirt by Club Monaco (size S). Blue cotton chino pants by Michael Andrews Bespoke (custom made). Sneakers are retro Jordan III. Shades by Persol (649). Watch by Montblanc.
Fun Facts about seersucker:
- Commonly used for nurses uniforms in World War II
- The fabric was originally worn by the poor in the US, until undergraduate students, in an air of reverse snobbery, began wearing the fabric. Now designers like Thom Browne sell seersucker suits for $3,000+
- The US Senate holds a “Seersucker Thursday” every June, where participants dress in traditional Southern clothing
Seersucker Pros:
- Ironing not necessary because of the inherent “wrinkling” in the fabric
- Comfortable and easy to wash
- Generally considered the fabric of a “Gentleman”, especially in the South
- Comes in an array of rich summer colors, making it easy for guys to pull-off suits in light blue, pale green, dusty orange, etc.
Seersucker Cons:
- Only appropriate in one season: summer
- Because it is so traditional, every “stylish” guy has that same blue & white stripe seersucker suit (especially in the southern states)
- Can be tricky to pair with patterned or colorful shirt/ties
- Conservative workplaces might not deem it office appropriate
- Because of its light color, it can get dirty easily
Thanks for reading.
Yours in style,
SB
Dang you got hops bro! Nice j’s too!
Great write-up, thank you!
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I’m new to following your blog but I have to say its one of my favorites. I really appreciate that you give details on the clothes you display.
Also, I’ve been looking for retro Jordan 3′s all summer. Can you please tell me where I can find them online? I’d like the Black/Cement/Red and White/Cement/Blue colorways.
-Thank you
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 02:32 PM
what kind of shoes is clark wearing? are those keds? if so, which ones?
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 02:36 PM
Nice Post….As a fellow hooper myself, let me just say I can appreciate the photo of the slam….nice hops!
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 05:20 PM
Still have the hops SB?
looks like you were going to get stuffed by the rim, lol
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 06:12 PM
To: WillLove
Thanks brother. The IIIs are tough to find. Online, check flight club or ebay…just triple check that they are authentic
To: nuseness
Yup, Keds
To: MH
Haha, thanks. They’re not what they used to be!
To: Thatguy
haha. No worries, I can still get above the rim
Thanks all for reading.
Best,
Dan
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 09:18 PM
While we’re on the topic. I played bball against Dan in highschool and he had one of the most impressive dunks I’ve ever seen (for a 6foot whiteboy). We still tease our 6foot8 center that he posterized! Continue to be successful Dan! -Reader/fan from your hometown
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 09:30 PM
its a little blasphemy to have so few shots of the suit! your best work yet sb- but i like the color scheme on your front page better.
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 09:35 PM
Top 5:
5. Shawl night long (ground breaking mix!)
4. SBs most common style mistakes (so well done!)
3. This One
2. One Bold Suit, five different looks
1. Midnight Navy Suit (sexy young woman!)
Keep them coming!!
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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 09:48 PM
I’ve waited long for your new post and ….
It’s totally WORTH IT!
One of the best post ever!
It’s a very well done post, keep it up!
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 06:21 AM
the Seersucker suit is quite nice just don’t like your Gucci shoes which are too pointy for my taste..( by the way have you ever done a stor about formal footwear)
The yellow flower also seems a bit off… not that it wouldn’t be nice but mixed with the redish shirt is a bit of a overkill, it would look better with a white shirt or something neutral..
The Hickey pants are also great… a nice Preppy summer staple…
Btw: You got some nice Air Time…
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 07:02 AM
Hey SB,
The suit looks really fresh with the purple shirt. This blog is my favorite site on the internet –i check everyday if you have new posts so keep working hard . Off-topic question, I’m looking for a leather watch strap(black), how much would you recommend paying for one and do you know any stores that you would recommend . Thanks George
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 10:55 AM
The Jordans are so fresh. Keep up the great work man, lovin it all.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 12:27 PM
To: dunk
haha! those were the days. Basketball was my first love…i guess style is my new mistress. Thanks for reading!
To: Ark
hah not sure that is the right word…but maybe i’ll feature it again this summer as seperates
To: Post Rankings
Well researched! I think I got some posts planned that will top them all…what do you think of video posts?
To: Zulhilmi, Raje
Sorry to make you wait for so long…been busy with my new line coming soon! Thanks for reading…working on my consistency!
To: SD
Thanks for reading, and for sharing your opinions
To: George
Thanks for the compliments…I have some great readers…its motivating me to be more consistent and post more often. As far as the watch strap…it depends on the watch style/size/brand etc. I usually shop for them online, as straps with the correct specs can be hard to find in stores
To: Michael
Agreed. Thanks for reading.
Best,
Dan
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 05:02 PM
SB…. Would love to school you one on one…hehehe
how tall are you? about 6 ft? Im about 6″1
whats your vertical? back in my late teens I was about 40 inches with a step now 20 pounds latter Im about 30…..
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 05:11 PM
Back in the day I used to think seersucker referred to the style of having the vertical stripes with light blue and white and not the fabric itself. Even when I found out it was the fabric, I didn’t know much about it so this was actually an educational post for me.
Great to see you finally do something about the suit on your blog’s new header. At some point I need to invest in some custom suits from a place like MAB. They look great and I don’t have a clue where you could find ones that are so unique off the rack.
Still wish I could get into the retro Jordan thing. Noticed you snuck in the link on pants rolling, haha.
Great post as always. Video posts would be cool. If you go that way, start a YouTube channel and embed the videos with their codec. Easy to do and will help your exposure. Speaking of which you should also consider a Facebook Fan Page once you launch your line for the same reason.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 05:29 PM
I think video posts would be awesome! Great post btw. I’m curious about which tie bar you got from the tie bar site, I just pulled the trigger on the ‘silver shot’ and I see gq is partial to the ‘one incher’- trivial right?
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Sunday, July 25, 2010 – 12:57 PM
video posts would be great too
sb, can you do something on summer sandals… I always have the hardest time incorporating them in my wardrobe…
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Sunday, July 25, 2010 – 03:41 PM
SB,
Single or double vented suits?
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Sunday, July 25, 2010 – 06:08 PM
This is amazing, elegant and avant-garde. The bouquet on the lapel is just awesome. A true sign of elegance and art and also very understated. It does not really jump at you like a big yellow flower but it is noticed as part of the entire image. Perhaps a 1/4 of inch tube matching the color of the suit could be attached to the flower and connected to a pouch with water right below the pocket square. Very discreet, understated and elegant.
Keep up the good word bro!!!!
You are not only awesome but amazing.
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Monday, July 26, 2010 – 10:58 AM
SB
To: Thatguy
Last time I checked I was a hair over 6ft with no shoes. Oh, I don’t know…I can still get above the rim but certainly not like I used to
To: JMRouse
Thanks as always for commenting, and for the pant roll link. Hope all is well brother !
To: TO
My man. The one I’m wearing in this post is the one incher, but as long as it’s small, simple and not overly embelished, it’s a safe bet (especially for $15)
To: Anon
When I’m designing my suits, it really depends on the fabric, the cut, the styling, etc. – the overall concept for the suit. Generally though, a good traditional guideline is double vents for suits, single for blazers.
To: Colorful
Thanks for the compliments, and great idea for the flower! hah
Thanks to all for reading and commenting.
Best,
Dan
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Monday, July 26, 2010 – 01:49 PM
I was just thinking, also maybe a little pouch underneath the lapel for soil and fertilizer. No one wants to see a limp flower on a lapel. Seriously bro this could be the look of the future. Imagine every guy in this city wearing a flower on the lapel. You know nothing overstated but different colors ….bright orange, fusia, ocean blue, lime. I thinkl yellow is spot on.
We could even have a “wear a flower on your lapel” week. Citywide then nationwide. East and west coast..yeah!!!
We could have contest like “the best dressed man with a flower on the lapel”. I know you would win that one.
Keep up the good work Dan. I am a huge fan.
You have not even scratched the tip of the iceberg.
Looking forward to your next post.
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Monday, July 26, 2010 – 02:18 PM
Hey Dan,
I have dropped some weight recently I am am looking to get custom shirts, at least 10 and two custom suits. I usually use the guys in Hong Kong and also had some suits made by Duncan Quinn. Can you recommend a bespoke tailor?
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Monday, July 26, 2010 – 04:02 PM
To save him time- Dan will most certainly recommend his custom tailor Michael Andrews Bespoke
http://www.michaelandrewsbespoke.com
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Monday, July 26, 2010 – 05:44 PM