Hello-Hello, we’ve lots of little tidbits to share today, beginning with a CNN feature titled “Seersucker’s Shining Moment“. From the story:
The seersucker suit is having a moment.
And if you think seersucker will make you look like Colonel Sanders, Trent Lott or some preppie named Biff, it’s time to think again.
CNN
The caption for the photo above: “Seersucker has moved into the modern era, and seersucker suits and separates are the coolest clothes a man can wear in the summer.”
The story notes the fabric’s roots and its unique American history.
Seersucker is one of a handful of fabrics — like denim and jersey — that has cultivated a distinctly American identity. Even though the fabric has ancient roots in Persia and India… it has been used to outfit men (and women) up and down the U.S. East and Gulf coasts for more than a century, according to Brooks Brothers’ in-house historian, Kelly Nickel.
We have previously chatted about seersucker in this space, most recently in June, when writing about Haspel’s re-launch. Back to CNN’s story.
The 1980s helped develop the association of seersucker with Northeastern preppies, said Nickel. The look emphasized seersucker in a pastel rainbow of colors, even as plaid, festooned with outrageously colored socks and polo shirts.
CNN’s piece brings back memories of seersucker on the silver screen, both from the 1960s. Below left, Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird, on the right we see Dustin (with actress Katherine Ross) in 1967′s The Graduate.
CNN
However, the CNN feature notes that some of the seersucker we’re seeing is much trendier than that shown above, quoting Esquire’s fashion market editor Nic Screws.
“I think seersucker is always having a moment during the hot months,” she said. “The reason it seems like a trend is that menswear (now) has guys upping their game.”
Recently worn by the likes of Jay Z, Kanye West, and Leonardo DiCaprio (as designed by Brooks Brothers in the movie “The Great Gatsby”), seersucker has jumped out of its humble beginnings and into the modern dandy’s closet.
Ahem. The Consort informs me he is more-than-happy with the humble beginnings of his vintage almost antique seersucker suits. Below, three styles from Brooks Brothers that are unlikely to be found in a “dandy’s closet,” that’s a good thing.
Brooks Brothers
To see the story in its entirety, click here.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Next, a sure sign it is mid-August:
Nantucket Race Week Facebook
Yep, it’s time for Nantucket Race Week, a week-long series of races and associated activities that yours truly hasn’t been to in a l-o-o-o-o-n-g time, hopefully some of you will be enjoying the fun.
Chip Riegel/Nantucket Race Week Facebook
The week culminates with Sunday’s Opera House Cup Regatta, beginning with the Rainbow Fleet parade, Rainbows are shown in the picture up above. The Opera Cup features only wooden-hulled boats, Race Week is a benefit for Nantucket Community Sailing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And one last sign of the approaching fall season, those September fashion magazines.
Elle/Vogue
Covers showcase a variety of women this fall. Elle generated a bit of chatter putting Kate Upton on its cover, Ms. Upton is wearing Lanvin. Vogue went with actress Jennifer Lawrence, wearing Calvin Klein Collection.
Harper’s Bazaar went with Sarah Jessica Parker, she is wearing Marc Jacobs. Stand by for 665+ pages of ads in this year’s issue, a healthy increase over last year. We haven’t yet seen a weight for the issue, last year it was 4 pounds 10 ounces, how would you like to be delivering the mail this week?!
Vanity Fair’s cover image of Princess Diana has been seen previously, the Mario Testino photograph dates back to 1997. The cover story focuses on “Princess Diana’s 1995-to-1997 relationship with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.”
Bazaar/Vanity Fair
This is probably out of step with many style readers, the cover photo isn’t all that critical to me. (This disregards newsstand sales, where cover photos have an enormous influence on sales.) The magazine comes in the mail. I read it. Is that weird….?
Hopefully everyone will enjoy a wonderful Monday, we’ll see you again in just a day or two!