The Pitch: Why were you looking for a seersucker suit?

Dave: I’ve been tapped by some old friends to officiate their wedding this summer. I went and did the whole online preacher thing and decided I needed an outfit befitting the role. It’s an outdoor wedding, so seersucker is classically summer garb. And I’ve actually wanted one for a really long time. I don’t know why; they’re just cool in every sense of the word. It’s not like I’m obsessed with southern gentlemen or Matlock or anything. I just thought they were really cool.

So, you went to Dillard’s at Ward Parkway…

Yes, I did. And the guy was like, “We don’t have any of those anywhere. I haven’t seen one in here in like 15 years.” I thought for sure they’d have it cause it seems like something that’s coming back a little bit.

I saw the pants at Urban Outfitters the other day, but no jacket.

I’ve seen it at JC Penny’s; they had jackets but no [pants] … I asked them if they had matching pants, and they kind of laughed. They’re like, “Why would you want matching pants?”

Where else have you looked?

I went to Boomerang on 39th Street. I was sure they were going to have one there, but they didn’t. There, at least the proprietor had a somewhat empathetic attitude. He knew what I was looking for. Actually, they did have one there, but was 100% polyester with just the stripes to make it look like seersucker.

It was fake seersucker!

Yeah! It was cool, but not good summertime (wear)...
I went to a store called Joseph Banks … what I ended up doing was buying it online from them. But I still haven’t gotten it because I got it and I had accidentally ordered the one with pleated pants. So I had to take it back and they’re sending me another one. I don’t do the pleats… but, I did actually touch it and see it and it looks pretty good.

What else do you wear with it? Like, what kind of shoes, tie…?

In my extensive research on the subject, there was apparently this school of thought that says that seersucker can only be worn with white bucks and a straw hat. You know, like those kind of hard-brimmed flat-top straw hats. And that’s kind of the classic … And suspenders – can’t forget the suspenders. Everything I read was like, this is what people say you should wear, but you don’t really have to wear it. So I’m not sure how much that was ever true, but I like to think it was true.

I don’t think I’ll be going that route. I do have some nice white slip-on shoes I’m going to wear with it and kind of a light blue fedora that I think will go well. The tie, I’m not sure yet.

Now you’re set if you ever have to go to a Great Gatsby party.

Exactly!

Maybe you should throw a Great Gatsby party because of the suit.

I know. I should. I’m a librarian -- I’m sure a lot of people would come.