[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Hello AAAC Team,

I am relocating to the idyllic Caribbean for work in a few months and I need to have some casual summer suiting added to my wardrobe. Single breasted, patch pockets, 2 button, double vent, flat front trouser...basic and simple.

I am considering light colors, light weight unstructured cotton/linen as go to options and I have a local tailor who should be able to knock these out at $200 each. Something easy to care for, inexpensive, flexible for use in the office or for social occasions. I have a 3 piece ivory linen suit for more formal events, and I am fully stocked with khakis and blazers but I need to augment my climate appropriate business wear.

I am fine with OTR options as well.

Before heading over to the tailors, I would be interested to hear what you guys have had success with.

AAAC team powers, activate!

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Peak and Pine]

Before heading over to the tailors, I would be interested to hear what you guys have had success with.

Not so sure I'm comfy with the phrase knock these out when it comes to custom suiting, nevertheless, consider this. Three cotton suits. One in tobacco. Two (identical) in coffee/cream. Identical because you'll want to rinse and dry after each wear and you'll have a fresh one to wear while that happens. The tobacco one you'll rinse less often.

 

[Flanderian]

If it was good enough for Hank, it's good enough for us!

Then there was this fellow -

Seriously, light olive and oyster are both good colors for poplin suits, if that's what you have in mind. Navy is a dressier option in that cloth, but shows its age quickly. And Frankly, I always preferred quality cotton/poly for the job, though I doubt any of good quality is any longer being made.

Unless you wish to double or triple the cost of the making in cloth, you might be just as well off sticking with cloth the tailor has available. Fine quality true tropical worsted wears much cooler than you might expect, resists wrinkles and drapes beautifully, but it costs. A tan suit is great, light grey works too, and navy is dressy.

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Y

If it was good enough for Hank, it's good enough for us!

Then there was this fellow -

Seriously, light olive and oyster are both good colors for poplin suits, if that's what you have in mind. Navy is a dressier option in that cloth, but shows its age quickly. And Frankly, I always preferred quality cotton/poly for the job, though I doubt any of good quality is any longer being made.

Unless you wish to double or triple the cost of the making in cloth, you might be just as well off sticking with cloth the tailor has available. Fine quality true tropical worsted wears much cooler than you might expect, resists wrinkles and drapes beautifully, but it costs. A tan suit is great, light grey works too, and navy is dressy.

Yes, spot on. The HC Lodge suit in the first photo is exactly it. A simple, unstructured, unlined cotton suit. Perfect. My dear departed Gran could make this on the pedal Singer in a weekend if she were still alive. No need to overthink this.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Where would one each of classic blue/white seersucker, white linen planter style, and tan poplin fail you?

Insist that the locals address you as colonel and you are good to go.

Just don't go too far...

View attachment 29175

My days working on the dark continent are finished. Been there done that. 10 years was enough.

Cheers,

BSR

 

[Dhaller]

I will say that when I was living in Manila and Bangkok (and really, I can just include Atlanta), I found I really preferred just a tropical weight wool suit to poplin, linen, etc. It breathes well, it's wicking, it drapes better than cotton, and it really just looks better (subjective, I know.)

If it were me, I'd have a couple of cotton poplin suits (probably one tan and one light blue) for less-formal-but-still-a-suit occasions, and then round out the business wardrobe with tropical weight wool suits. I'd probably have one dark one (for those occasions, navy or dark grey... I'd probably go navy), an Oxford grey, maybe a Glen check (or plaid or whatever it's called). Thinking on it, tans and whites and blues are better than greys against a Caribbean palette, but if I did a light blue tropical wool suit I would make sure it has a pattern (like a windowpane); light blue looks cheap as a solid (IMHO).

From other pictures, I believe you have the white dinner jacket covered!

I would avoid seersucker in the Caribbean because nothing says "colonial fantasist" like wearing a tradition uniform of the Southeastern USA

DH

 

[mhj]

Ever since I saw someone wear one I have been obsessed with getting a solid navy seersucker suit. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to source one at a reasonable price for something that's only going to be worn a few times a year.

 

[Matt S]

I will say that when I was living in Manila and Bangkok (and really, I can just include Atlanta), I found I really preferred just a tropical weight wool suit to poplin, linen, etc. It breathes well, it's wicking, it drapes better than cotton, and it really just looks better (subjective, I know.)

If it were me, I'd have a couple of cotton poplin suits (probably one tan and one light blue) for less-formal-but-still-a-suit occasions, and then round out the business wardrobe with tropical weight wool suits. I'd probably have one dark one (for those occasions, navy or dark grey... I'd probably go navy), an Oxford grey, maybe a Glen check (or plaid or whatever it's called). Thinking on it, tans and whites and blues are better than greys against a Caribbean palette, but if I did a light blue tropical wool suit I would make sure it has a pattern (like a windowpane); light blue looks cheap as a solid (IMHO).

From other pictures, I believe you have the white dinner jacket covered!

I would avoid seersucker in the Caribbean because nothing says "colonial fantasist" like wearing a tradition uniform of the Southeastern USA

DH

I agree that tropical wool (particularly high-twist wool) is best in tropical weather, but it is not the most casual look. In tan it should look casual enough. Pure cotton can wear very warm, but cotton-linen blends are very nice. They don't wrinkle as terribly as pure linen, and they can have a really nice feel.

 

[Dhaller]

I agree that tropical wool (particularly high-twist wool) is best in tropical weather, but it is not the most casual look. In tan it should look casual enough. Pure cotton can wear very warm, but cotton-linen blends are very nice. They don't wrinkle as terribly as pure linen, and they can have a really nice feel.

Yes, it appears I suffered a catastrophic reading failure, completely missing the "casual" part of the OP. Nothing to see here! Move along!

I tend to dismiss the cotton blends, but it's true they can be cool.

Maybe silk blends as well?

DH

 

[Matt S]

Yes, it appears I suffered a catastrophic reading failure, completely missing the "casual" part of the OP. Nothing to see here! Move along!

I tend to dismiss the cotton blends, but it's true they can be cool.

Maybe silk blends as well?

DH

Well, a tan suit will look fairly casual, even in worsted wool, but it won't really be a casual suit. Slanted pockets or patch pockets (though I'm not a fan of them on worsted suits, no matter how trendy that is right now) will help the suit to look less formal.

Silk blends can look very nice, but I haven't found them to be comfortable in tropical weather. They're not easy to wear in New York's hot and humid summers.

 

[Peak and Pine]

The care issue is not being addressed here. Light clothing, hot weather, sweat, ring around your everything and mango juice spills. These suits will require daily rinsing. So I'm bumping my original reply. Go cotton drip 'n dry.

Three cotton suits. One in tobacco. Two (identical) in coffee/cream. Identical because you'll want to rinse and dry after each wear and you'll have a fresh one to wear while that happens. The tobacco one you'll rinse less often.

 

[eagle2250]

I will say that when I was living in Manila and Bangkok (and really, I can just include Atlanta), I found I really preferred just a tropical weight wool suit to poplin, linen, etc. It breathes well, it's wicking, it drapes better than cotton, and it really just looks better (subjective, I know.)

If it were me, I'd have a couple of cotton poplin suits (probably one tan and one light blue) for less-formal-but-still-a-suit occasions, and then round out the business wardrobe with tropical weight wool suits. I'd probably have one dark one (for those occasions, navy or dark grey... I'd probably go navy), an Oxford grey, maybe a Glen check (or plaid or whatever it's called). Thinking on it, tans and whites and blues are better than greys against a Caribbean palette, but if I did a light blue tropical wool suit I would make sure it has a pattern (like a windowpane); light blue looks cheap as a solid (IMHO).

From other pictures, I believe you have the white dinner jacket covered!

I would avoid seersucker in the Caribbean because nothing says "colonial fantasist" like wearing a tradition uniform of the Southeastern USA

DH

Confronted with the combined heat and humidity of our first central Florida summer, I found my cotton poplin suits in khaki, Loden, and navy hues, served my hot weather suiting needs more than adequately! Though I must admit that my needs for a suit these days seems limited to Sunday mornings. Alas, the navy version is now more of a bluish grey.

 

[Mike Petrik]

Ever since I saw someone wear one I have been obsessed with getting a solid navy seersucker suit. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to source one at a reasonable price for something that's only going to be worn a few times a year.

I own such a suit as well as an unstructured navy blazer -- the suit has enamel green-on-white fraternal buttons, and the blazer classic MOP. Both are custom as you suggest, and both get good use -- especially the blazer.

 

[FiscalDean]

I would avoid seersucker in the Caribbean because nothing says "colonial fantasist" like wearing a tradition uniform of the Southeastern USA

DH[/QUOTE]

How would a cotton pincord be viewed?

 

[Oldsarge]

Perhaps it's just me but when the temperatures climb above about 80º, the whole idea of a suit goes out the window. Of course, I am not still in the work force so my entire wardrobe can be a GTH. OP tells me he is approaching that state but hasn't arrived, yet. If you have to dress for work in the tropics, I agree with the majority, light tan or olive poplin.

 

[215339]

Fresco? Open weave, light, but drapes like a heavy fabric.

It's expensive though.

 

[ran23]

Going to have to re think my Las Vegas Spring trip outfits.

 

[ItalianStyle]

Go full polyester suit... after a few minutes sweating in the sun you'll look like them there modern fit guys...

 

[CLTesquire]

Fresco? Open weave, light, but drapes like a heavy fabric.

It's expensive though.

Vox has some sweet suits.

But Fresco is not the end all be all for hot weather. I still find it warm when it's humid out in June through August down here.

Tropical wool

Linen

Hopsack blazers

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

Regardless of what it may scream or whisper, I am a fan of a grey and white seersucker. That, an oyster poplin, and olive poplin constitute my rotation, but I am not sure where to find the double vents other than J. Peterman. I love the lightweight offerings from Hunter and Coggins. Not quite as dressy, I’d also consider grey tropical worsted trousers with a natural linen jacket.