Illustrations by Chandler Bondurant
Few fabrics in the annals of men’s tailoring are as storied as seersucker. Unevenly woven so that it forms two stripes, one smooth and one puckered, its contrasting texture invoked the Persian phrase shir o shakar— “milk and sugar”—hence its famous name.
Aside from that pleasing textural touch (which also means you never have to pick up the iron), seersucker pays practical dividends in that the uneven texture allowed for better air circulation and prevented heat from being trapped on the body. As a result, it became a favorite in Colonial India among British soldiers, and later, Spanish troops serving in the Philippines and Morocco.
During the American Civil War, it was utilized to make the baggy trousers of the elaborately attired Zouave unit the Louisiana Tigers, and later became a default working man’s fabric in the region. In fact, it only took on its present genteel association after New Orleans tailor Haspel introduced the first seersucker suit in 1909, which was shortly followed with similar iterations from Brooks Brothers and J. Press, making the pleasingly bumpy cloth and Ivy style favorite.
Today seersucker is available in its many forms, from the traditional preppy stripe to more modern tonal iterations, from brands like Todd Snyder, Paul Smith, Mr. P and the others listed below.
Brooks Brothers The No. 1 Sack Sport Coat in Cotton Seersucker
Image Credit: Brooks Brothers 
Brooks Brothers has a long history with seersucker, having first begun selling suits made from the fabric in the 1920s. That century-long tradition continues today with a seersucker iteration of its No. 1 Sack Sport Coat, which is itself based on a model from the 1910s with Ivy style bonafides like a 3/2 roll, natural shoulders, an undarted front and two buttons at the cuff.
Drake’s Navy Seersucker Games Blazer Mk. I
Image Credit: Drake’s Drake’s takes a different tack with a solid navy seersucker milled in Italy as the fabric of choice for this version of is Mk. 1 Games Blazer. The casual style features a more generous silhouette with workwear-inspired features like twin needle seams and an unlined construction.
Todd Snyder Italian Seersucker Madison Jacket
Image Credit: Todd Snyder Todd’s updated take on the classic seersucker does away with stripes in favor of a solid baby blue. As one of the label’s Madison jackets, it is cut with a natural shoulder, double vents and a subtly curved barchetta breast pocket.
J. Mueser Seersucker Virgin Wool Suit Jacket
Image Credit: J. Mueser West Village tailor J. Mueser brings a characteristically Downtown edge to the seersucker jacket, making this suit jacket from a solid black virgin wool. Elsewhere, it features jetted pockets and a 3/2 roll.
Mr P. Slim-Fit Pinstriped Wool-Blend Seersucker Suit Jacket
Image Credit: Mr P. Seersucker fabrics are typically striped—but not chalk-striped, which is just one of the ways that this double-breasted, wool-blend jacket from Mr P. defies expectations. It also elects for notched lapels over peaked, the latter being the traditional choice for a DB.
Paul Smith Navy Seersucker Cotton Check Buggy-Lined Blazer
Image Credit: Paul Smith Paul Smith’s solid navy seersucker jacket forgoes stripes in favor of a more subtle, all-over nubby texture. On its inside it features typically cheeky finishing touches from the British designer, including internal binding with contrast color tape and purple sleeve linings.
J. Press Made-In-USA Black Watch Tartan Seersucker Dinner Jacket
Image Credit: J. Press Established in 1902, Ivy OG J. Press knows a thing or two about seersucker. So much so that they can attempt this god-tier deployment of the fabric as a Black Watch tartan dinner jacket with a shawl collar and grosgrain facings.
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