Quote:
Originally Posted by
SVS 
I'm spending the summer just outside of Baton Rouge and New Orleans and need some southern clothing. Are seersucker suits and white bucs really common?
In some settings, yes. In others, no. (Although even where they're not common, that doesn't necessarily mean they're inappropriate.)
It's not just a Baton Rouge and New Orleans things. I live in Baltimore County, Maryland. And in the late spring or summer, I'd be perfectly comfortable wearing a seersucker suit with white bucs to certain events, parties, etc. And I'd feel awkward wearing them to other functions at the same time of year.
To give an extreme example of what I mean, there's no way I'd choose to address the Board of Directors in seersucker and white bucs. But I'd happily attend my friends' outdoor engagement part next month dressed that way. Similarly, I wouldn't attend a funeral in seersucker and white bucs (no matter that I've seen plenty of funeral attendees wearing jeans, polo shirts, sneakers, etc.), or consider it my "go to" clothing for an employment interview at a conservative law firm. But I wouldn't necessarily rule them out to wear to many restaurants, afternoon concerts, perhaps even certain religious services.
Since you specifically mention garden parties, seersucker and white bucs are likely a perfectly fine choice.
Pretty much what you'd need in Baltimore or Seattle or Atlanta or Denver or etc. Adopting "regional costuming" is usually not all that great an idea. Many local residents may regard it as a form of mockery, and be offended by it. If you're going to do it at all, do it cautiously.
Assuming you're living in the US, and have an appropriate summer wardrobe for your current place of residence, chances are it will largely suffice for Louisiana.
So, what do you already have, that you'd wear to a summer garden party where you now are? Or haven't you an appropriate summer wardrobe for such occasions, regardless of the region of the country where they might take place?
--
Michael
