According to the United States Senate, a New Orleans clothier designed "a lightweight suit in pale blue and white striped rumpled cotton fabric" early in the 20th Century "to make summer wear more comfortable." The fabric, called seersucker, became so popular that the Senate set aside "Seersucker Thursdays" for its members to wear the cool suits.
The New Orleans clothier credited with popularizing seersucker was Joseph Haspel. He started his company in 1909 and Haspel clothiers was still operating a century later, offering "100% pure combed cotton - for the ultimate in summer cool."
The seersucker suit was introduced to Washington by Southern Congressman who valued the fabric for its light weight, its plisse finish and its wash and wear, drip and dry maintenance. The Senate tradition was started because of the intense summer heat in Washington, but it continued even after the Senate was air conditioned.
Brooks Brothers Imported Seersucker in 19th Century
Brooks Brothers reportedly imported seersucker in the 19th Century, then gave up on the fabric for years. In 2009, however, it was offering two-button seersucker suits for $398 and another for $598. Men’s seersucker suits were advertised elsewhere for as low as $99and as high as $800..
Brooks has tailored a seersucker jacket for the winner of the Stanford St. Jude Championship golf tournament in Memphis. As official sponsor of the PGA event it has also outfitted tournament volunteers and staff "in the distinctive blue and white stripes."
While they are no longer considered "cheap" suits, seersuckers are still inexpensive compared to linen and some other cotton fabrics used in summer suits. They may enjoy increased popularity in the 2009 recession. Shoppers say steep discounts are available after Labor Day, which is generally the end of the seersucker season.
Sippin in Seersucker
As in the golf tournament at Memphis, seersucker has become a theme for galas and fund raisers. In New Orleans, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art takes advantage of the city’s penchant for the cotton fabric by conducting an annual "Sippin’ in Seersucker" fund raiser.
Although it was once a Southern tradition, stereotyped by descriptions of Southern gentlemen sipping mint juleps in their seersucker suits, the fabric has spread to other segments and sections of the nation.
Midway in the 20th Century, college students and New York Columnist Damon Runyon adopted the cheap fabric as something of a fashion revolution. Runyon wrote that his friends could not decide "whether I am broke or just setting a new vogue."
The Village Hat Shop in San Diego now offers a $20 seersucker ivy cap and a $120 Jaxon seersucker trilby. It says the trilby might have been seen on Tom Wolfe sipping at the Napoleon House in the New Orleans French Quarter.
Seersucker suits are now even offered by the Cheyenne-based Sierra Trading Post, but with some confusion regarding its history. In its webpage description of the suit, it says "no longer the exclusive domain of the Savannah gentleman, this seersucker suit from Haspel has come of age among the GQ set."
Women’s Seersucker Uniforms
Women were introduced to seersucker during World War II, when the Army Nurse Corps used the fabric for its nursing uniforms and jackets. The first Marine women’s uniform was also made of seersucker.
Some manufacturers produce seersucker shoes for ladies.
Numerous seersucker dresses are offered on the Internet, some for $168. Women’s seersucker trousers are priced for as much as $148.
References:
- Brooks Brothers.com
- Memphis Biz Journals.com, 5-5-2005
- Ask Andy About Clothes.com
- Village Hat Shop.com
- "Suitable Seersucker," by Susan Langenhennig, The Times-Picayune, 5-16-2008
- "Cigar Aficion.com
