Sport Jackets/Blazers for Florida climate

[Neiru]

I'm new to suit wearing and I live in Florida which is humid and warm practically all year round. I really like the way people used to dress decades ago in the 20's, 30's, and such. It may have seemed like people over dressed but they looked good and carried themselves well. I prefer that over the sloppiness of today. Since I'm new to suit or jacket wearing what are some recommendations for warmer/hot weather climates. I like the more classic look..not the skin tight look.

 

[Mathematicus]

I've worn suits on a daily basis when I lived in Rome (which is one of the hottest cities of Italy during summer) so I can give some advice about suiting in warm weather. I have less experience with extreme humidity, though.

My suggestion is to go with the most breathable and cool fabrics for suiting, shirting and accessories. Light weight of cloth has a more modest impact, but sometimes obviously plays a role (a loosely woven tweed is breathable but definitely not good for summer...). The key is to maximise ariflow and allow your body to breathe naturally; this is done by choosing open weave shirting and suiting materials, like oxford for shirts and fresco or hopsack for suits. Lighter colours help a lot but if you stick to the shade even darker colours are fine. Lining should be minimal and of quality breathable material like Bemberg or good viscose. Banish polyester in every form, even from neckties - they will make your neck to sweat and prick.
Many people will recommend linen as a suiting material but personally I'm not a fan of it because it wrinkles a lot. In several years of work in Rome, taking public transportation and walking around I've never worn linen - it may be suited for humid tropical weather, however.

 

[Zoukatron]

Linen, whilst highly effective at keeping you cool, will wrinkle like an absolute bugger! Be prepared for a lot of ironing. Like Mathematicus says, open weaves are the most important thing to look for. I would add seersucker as a good material choice, especially for shirts, as it doesn't look too bad when it gets wrinkled.

 

[Canadian]

I second seersucker. I wear a seersucker suit to church and occasionally to work when it gets hot.

I have had cheaper seersucker shirts before. I found that they are very much in a situation of "you get what you pay for". If you buy a seersucker suit, and you wear it like I wear mine, expect to buy a new suit every year.

C.

 

[Winston Carter]

Haband has some nice light Blazers for really good price. I like their clothes.

 

[Mathematicus]

I second seersucker. I wear a seersucker suit to church and occasionally to work when it gets hot.

I have had cheaper seersucker shirts before. I found that they are very much in a situation of "you get what you pay for". If you buy a seersucker suit, and you wear it like I wear mine, expect to buy a new suit every year.

C.

Yes, seersucker is another viable option, even though I'm not an expert of it.

The problem with most summer-weight suiting material is wrinkling and wear. Hopsack will fray easily, and cotton blends will show marks. Good linen might be more durable but the wrinkling amount is unbearable for a work suit. The only cloth that is both hard-wearing and summer-weight (and also crease-resistant) is fresco, as far as I know. This is usually reflected in the high price...

 

[Edward]

Pure linen will wrinkle; for some, that's its charm, for others, not so much. A mix of linen and cotton or silk will usually keep the creasing down (though tbh I've always found it falls out pretty quickly anyhow, but it's all subjective). Cotton is also good. SJC do some lovely stuff in either a slimmer (but not ridiculously so) Edwardian / 20s cut, or a wider 30s cut - https://simonjamescathcart.com/collections/tailoring . I have my eye on the 30s cut Riviera blazer.

 

[Seb Lucas]

The high priced lawyer folk I know here tend to wear (lighter weave) wool in summer and it gets to 115 degrees. I've certainly worn wool trousers in summer and they were fine.

 

[Feraud]

As others have said linen, cotton and lightweight wools are the way to go.

I detest humid weather. It makes me miserable. When NYC sees a heat waves I stick to guayabera shirts and linen trousers. Unless a jacket and tie is mandatory for an occasion I see little reason to suffer hot humid weather for fashion's sake. You can dress in a classic style w/out being over dressed.

 

[Mathematicus]

Unless a jacket and tie is mandatory for an occasion I see little reason to suffer hot humid weather for fashion's sake. You can dress in a classic style w/out being over dressed.

Granted. If one wants to put on a suit and a tie just because he likes the look, there is plenty of time during the year to do that without feeling discomfort.
If you work in one of the few offices in which the dress code is strict, of course you need to choose wisely your wardrobe. It's easier if you have just to walk home-car and car-office, while for folks that prefer public transport (like me) it's tougher but still possible.

 

[LevendiPaul]

Just yesterday I purchased a Politix brand summer Blazer / Jacket
Just fell in love with the cut and it’s feel when on, and my 2 daughters gave it a thumbs up
I go on cruise holidays with my wife to mostly warm climate regions

This coat will also double up as a regular rotation garment as we live in Brisbane Australia it’s subtropical

I intend to wear it with a soon to be purchased Akubra - Balmoral hemp straw hat

Although I purchased my coat in a store
I will post a link for the US based members
https://www.politix.com.au/berwick/VC42B_White.html?dwvar_VC42B__White_color=White&from=Search Results

 

[LevendiPaul]

I went back to try a blazer / jacket that caught my eye on my last visit

Walked out with a smile after I was told it was an end of line special
This one is a cotton / elastin blend
Colour is - Oat and May show a little lighter in the photo from real life
Normal price $249 and walked out with it for $39.00

 

[Edward]

As others have said linen, cotton and lightweight wools are the way to go.

I detest humid weather. It makes me miserable. When NYC sees a heat waves I stick to guayabera shirts and linen trousers. Unless a jacket and tie is mandatory for an occasion I see little reason to suffer hot humid weather for fashion's sake. You can dress in a classic style w/out being over dressed.

I've spent most of the last three Summers in a Marks & Spencer navy linen suit that could almost pass for a mid-later 50s British cut suit (save, alas, no cuffs). I hate going without a jacket - I feel naked without one - but sometimes between London and Beijing one has to be realistic... I plan, once some necessary weight-loss is addressed, to buy or commission a few cotton 'hunting vest' type waistcoats to take the place of a jacket for more casual occasions. Been looking at Guyabaras as a possibility too; I do like the look of one worn with some cotton trousers and a cravat or bandana. Where do you pick yours up? I've looked at a fair few on Amazon that seem reasonably priced, but it's hard to tell...

 

[StevenMason]

Nice submit and informative too

 

[Ivalodgem]

Well, I understood you pretty much as I am also a great fan of the way how people used to get dressed in the '20s and '30s. However, I have to admit that nowadays clothing is way more practical and much comfier.

 

[julianclar]

Well, I understood you pretty much as I am also a great fan of the way how people used to get dressed in the '20s and '30s. However, I have to admit that nowadays clothing is way more practical and much comfier.

Totally agree with you!