Photo by Muffy Aldrich
The Modern Guide to The Thing Before Preppy

Monday, June 6, 2022

The Seersucker Shirt

A Pink Seersucker Shirt
Seersucker is a light, puckered textile, typically cotton, ideal for clothes in hot and even humid weather.  

It originated centuries ago in the Indian subcontinent, as did madras.  Its puckering, which is part of what keeps the wearer cooler by increasing air flow, was created by weaving together threads of different tensions.   The alternating smooth and bumpy textures are reflected in the origin of its name, from Persian shÄ«roshakar, meaning “milk and sugar.”   Seersucker is classically available in a blue and white railroad stripe.  

I prefer my seersucker shirts to be long sleeve (rolled up), in blue and white or pink and white, and either in stripes or checks.   

Photo Credits:  Muffy Aldrich

  

Rolling up the Sleeves

 

12 comments:

  1. Terrific shirts, and Made in the USA. Never knew the origin of the word until today. Now I'm educated. Thanks.

    Shown here: Mercer and Sons "Pink Sands Seersucker Check," and Navy Regatta Seersucker Check." http://www.mercerandsons.com/swatches_and_pricing-smaller-checks.htm:

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    1. The blue check that Clark is wearing looks larger and lighter than the swatch on the Mercer website. It’s probably my screen or the light, or has the design changed and the website not been updated?

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    2. It is the Cool Blue Seersucker Check: http://www.mercerandsons.com/swatches_and_pricing-larger-checks-and-plaids.htm

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    3. This has got to be the first mistake I've ever made in my life (I knew it would happen eventually). Probably just due to poor eyesight or dirty glasses.

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    4. I was wrong once too. The funny thing was that I thought I had been wrong about something concerning which I actually had been right.

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    5. I've experienced a bit of shrinkage to my Mercer seersuckers that I haven't seen with any of their other shirts. Have you had that?

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  2. Seersucker did indeed ultimately come from Persian shīroshakar, but it immediately came into English from Hindi sirsakar, which is why the English word sounds far more like the Hindi than the Persian.

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  3. Truly a must have! Thank you so very much!

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  4. Seersucker to a southerner is like flannel to a northener. Robes, pajamas, and bedspreads are a fact of life. Great info Muffy. Thank you.

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  5. Being a sucker for seersucker, there are at least half a dozen shirts in the closet along with the seersucker summer blazer and a couple of seersucker pocket squares, all basic New England summer essentials...

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  6. Question -why are rolled up sleeves preferable to short sleeves?

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    1. Because short sleeves look "nerdy" (at least on a grown man...) and if a short sleeve shirt must be worn, one might as well complete the look with a couple of pens and pen protector in and on the shirtpocket... But it does go well with short shorts, black socks and sandals...
      Rolled up sleeves are "cool"...

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