National Seersucker Day (Seersucker pants and jacket available now!)
Today is National Seersucker Day. If we don't have much for which to thank the U.S. Congress, we can at least thank them for bringing this holiday back into existence in a rare act of bipartisan cooperation.
Seersucker has been around for a long time, and for good reason. It's the perfect hot-weather cloth. It's breathable, light but durable, and, most importantly, its crinkles mean that it doesn't stick to you or your shirt, even if you're sweaty.
Seersucker takes its name from the Persian šīr-o-šakar, "milk and sugar." With its creamy color and combination of smooth and rough textures, it's easy to see why. (During the Mughal Empire, the use of Persian was in vogue on the subcontinent and many words and phrases entered the dialects of what would become British India, where seersucker began in earnest.)
In the United States, seersucker's roots are in workwear: it was the cloth of choice for laborers, nurses, and engineers before it was adopted in turn by college students, professors, bankers, and senators.
We think that seersucker doesn't have to be worn as a full suit with a bowtie (unless that's what you're into!). As usual, we like the history and origins: it's a practical summer cloth for being active. It can be worn with whatever you damn well please. Whether you're riding a sweltering subway car; sitting in the back of your air-conditioned Rolls; or, hell, jogging to your destination, you'll show up looking remarkably... cool.
The seersucker that we use in our jackets and trousers is woven just for us: it's a slightly wider stripe than your run-of-the-mill seersucker, and a slightly creamier shade of white. We find this makes it more wearable. Like all of our tailored clothing, our seersucker jacket and trousers are hand-tailored in New York City.
Shop our brand new Milk-and-Sugar Seersucker Pants alongside our Milk-and-Sugar Seersucker Jacket. Wear it to a barbecue or (God forbid) on the senate floor.
Illustration by Illya Milstein for Rowing Blazers.