Summer Suits Advice/Opinion

[Hershy]

Hello its me again, (please dont hate me)

I have recently came across the Houndstooth kid's Etsy Haberdashery and had seen a 60 dollar straw hat. And i was wondering, "in the summer, the suit rules are different, What are they?" A lot of people (Askmen, GQ, Esquire) misinform people about summer suits, i had seen the magazine say that the higher the number the better for summer. However, i was then told by a forum member that Cotton is the way to go. IMO, i think a summer suit should be linen or Cotton. What do you think?

 

[Otateral]

It all depends on what geographic area you are. I'm not familiar with New York, but a linen or cotton suit would be sorta out of place in most of California. How hot does it get where you are?

One thing people have a tendancy to do when it heats up is to remove layers. But you MUST wear a grey v-neck undershirt under your dress shirt, especially if it's hot. The extra layer will not add to your heat, but it will help to prevent sweat from staining your suit. Also, make sure to not cast off the coat for a white shirt/tie combo. If the jacket comes off, the tie should also.

Lighter colors do make a difference. Tan and light grey are good colors to choose for the summer.

 

[Hal]

Also, make sure to not cast off the coat for a white shirt/tie combo. If the jacket comes off, the tie should also.

I don't agree with this at all. So long as the shirt is long-sleeved, and the trousers flat-fronted (i.e. no pleats) and belted, one has a perfectly acceptable summer look. I realise, however, that this is a British and not an American opinion.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

what's wrong with pleats?

Addressing the question: linen is a good option. I tried cotton in late summer in New York, and it was too sweaty. I would also suggest a tropical weight wool suiting as a very, very good option for summer in a humid climate.

Also, don't discard the idea of a nice silk. I've found silk to be fantastic for most all hot climates, independent of humidity.

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

I would also suggest a tropical weight wool suiting as a very, very good option for summer in a humid climate.

even better than linen ? i've never tried a tropical weight wool before.

 

[Nick D]

even better than linen ? i've never tried a tropical weight wool before.

I have a tropical weight wool suit, I find it as good but no better than my linens. It doesn't wrinkle as much, though.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

On a par with linen, but less wrinkle. Silk is my go-to fabric for hot humid summer days.

even better than linen ? i've never tried a tropical weight wool before.

 

[Undertow]

...i had seen the magazine say that the higher the number the better for summer...

Let me be the first to say - STAY AWAY FROM THE "super" NUMBERS!

Super 120's through Super 150's; it's all rubbish. The higher the number, the more likely you'll be in next year for a new suit. Yes, they are "finer" than their lower numbered peers, and thinner, too. They'll get shiny, they'll wear out, they're useless.

Stick with seersucker, linen or tropical weight wools. A well made tropical weight wool will be durable and cool in the summer, with fewer wrinkles than cotton or linen. Watch places like Jos. Bank for cheap seersucker before and after summer. I think they also sell inexpensive linen suits, but I've never tried any on and can't vouch for their quality.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

I've never owned a tropical weight wool suit, or linen, or cotton. I have on the other hand, worn a wool Confederate (and Union) suit in August in Kansas, and it's cooler than wearing all cotton. This stuff was DEFINITELY not tropical weight either. Apparently, it breathes better or something.

Just my $0.02 and worth every penny.

 

[herringbonekid]

I have a tropical weight wool suit, I find it as good but no better than my linens. It doesn't wrinkle as much, though.

On a par with linen, but less wrinkle. Silk is my go-to fabric for hot humid summer days.

what sort of weight are we talking ? 8 - 9 oz ?
i have some vintage fabric of that weight but have been hesitant to use it as i'm used to working with the heavy 18 oz -20oz stuff.

 

[Rudie]

http://www.hfwltd.com/bobb.php?b=jjm&c=7&p=1

 

[herringbonekid]

http://www.hfwltd.com/bobb.php?b=jjm&c=7&p=1

that's what i thought. to me it feels like heavy shirt weight fabric. that's what becomes of living in a chilly place like England.

edit: some of those go up to 15 oz, so must be an open weave thing.

 

[Rudie]

Fresco was invented sometime in the 1910s, I believe. A breeze goes right through and even the heavier weights wear cool. It's also perfect for travel, as it doesn't wrinkle.

 

[Chasseur]

We had some good threads a couple of years ago on summer suits:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?39793-The-Demise-of-the-Summer-Suit

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?48452-Summer-of-39-when-cool-became-cool&

I would second linen, light silk, and open weave wool (like a Fresco). I've had a few cotten jackets and I do not find them as cool to wear in hot weather as linen. If you do not like how linen wrinkles cotton-linen blends do not wrinkle as much. Pleats or no pleats is really your choice and I do not think that has much to do with summer vs. other season wear.

 

[Rudie]

I found this article on Fresco: http://www.gentlemansgazette.com/fresco-wool-fabric-suit-outfit/

 

[herringbonekid]

If you do not like how linen wrinkles cotton-linen blends do not wrikle as much.

someone needs to reweave Palm Beach (30s style) ... probably the ultimate summer non-wrinkly fabric.

 

[Chasseur]

someone needs to reweave Palm Beach (30s style) ... probably the ultimate summer non-wrinkly fabric.

Couldn't agree more. I have one DB shawl collar cream dinner jacket in Palm Beach and I love it. I'd love to have more but realistically the odds of me finding a suit or sportcoat in size 44 are not good and the price would be very high...

 

[Rudie]

Don't remind me of that mint green 1930s belted back Palm Beach I missed a weeks ago because my sniper was jamming...

 

[John in Covina]

Don't know how to spell it - Searsucker. I think that it was light weight cotton. Think it was one that went well with boaters.

 

[Undertow]

Couldn't agree more. I have one DB shawl collar cream dinner jacket in Palm Beach and I love it. I'd love to have more but realistically the odds of me finding a suit or sportcoat in size 44 are not good and the price would be very high...

Chasseur, I feel like a pig but...

I just passed up a 44R Palm Beach suit at goodwill for $5. I promise I will go back and see if it's there. :eusa_doh:

(I wear a much bigger size and thought, "Who would want this?" Oh lord, sometimes I make myself face palm.)