What is the point of a cotton jacket or suit?

Gus · Apr 14, 2011

I used to wear cotton suits when traveling for business in the South in the 80's. They just looked right. You looked like you were making an effort to fit in and not trying to be a City Slicker from New York City in the navy pinstripe.

These days I like cotton for the same reason as Parker, it has a casual vibe. Similar to linen. In this day and age of casual dress cotton or linen make smart, choices for jackets except in very traditional, dressy settings. I wa sjust looking at an off white/cream/light beige suit yesterday (cotton). I could mix and match the pants and jackets with polo shirts, jeans or dress it up with a crisp blue shirt and tie.

emptym · Apr 14, 2011

^1 to your second paragraph, G.

I have a thrifted Gant cotton sportcoat and a linen suit from a tailor in Manila. Both are fused and washable. I think you'd be able to get something similar made, Kent. Just ask them to wash and dry all the material first.

Kent Wang · Apr 14, 2011

Originally Posted by __PG__

What about cotton corduroy?
Oh yeah, those are fine too, as is velvet. Both (and seersucker) have their own textures that are quite interesting and have their uses. Plain cotton twill just seems really flat.

IronRock · Apr 14, 2011

A cotton suit from that website of that dude who loves himself:

Gus · Apr 14, 2011

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Oh yeah, those are fine too, as is velvet. .

I was just thinking about having a brown velvet jacket made for next fall/winter. I saw a guy wear one about 4 years ago over several days on a business trip with jeans, grey flannels, solid white & blue shirts and it was a understated dressy look. Brown doesn't scream "velvet" yet looks soft and appealing.

acridsheep · Apr 14, 2011

From today's WAYWRN:

FLMountainMan · Apr 14, 2011

Wearing a khaki cotton suit to a beach wedding this weekend. It was a surprise gift from my girlfriend, so I haven't worn it out yet. It's from J. Crew's Ludlow line. J. Crew's slimt stuff is pretty much thing that fits me off the rack. Pants are a little tight in the thigh, but otherwise good.

Gus · Apr 14, 2011

Come to think of it I wore a navy cotton/linen suit for my daughters beach wedding (May, Mexico..hot and humid)

Achilles_ · Apr 14, 2011

So it would seem that cotton is appropriate for warm summer weather?

AE7 · Apr 14, 2011

I cant find love in my heart for 100% cotton SC's. All the ones I had gave me a feeling of stiffness and constrain. Plus a bit too hot for warmer days.

Flartchy · Apr 14, 2011

Originally Posted by Achilles_

So it would seem that cotton is appropriate for warm summer weather?

well IIRC cotton doesn't breathe as well as light wool or linen, so I don't know boutt hta.

emptym · Apr 14, 2011

Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy

I was just thinking about having a brown velvet jacket made for next fall/winter. I saw a guy wear one about 4 years ago over several days on a business trip with jeans, grey flannels, solid white & blue shirts and it was a understated dressy look. Brown doesn't scream "velvet" yet looks soft and appealing.
I agree.

Kent Wang · Apr 14, 2011

Both acridsheep and that New York guy's photos make the suit look rather like worsted wool, if only slightly more wrinkled and stiff. I would just prefer worsted in each of these cases. Or maybe this is just the case in photos and the difference is greater in real life. I have a cotton sportcoat from Banana Republic:

I dislike the feel of it. Maybe I can try washing it and if it holds up to that I can wear it to occasions when I might soil my jacket, like an all you can eat, all you can drink Indian buffet.

Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy

I was just thinking about having a brown velvet jacket made for next fall/winter. I saw a guy wear one about 4 years ago over several days on a business trip with jeans, grey flannels, solid white & blue shirts and it was a understated dressy look. Brown doesn't scream "velvet" yet looks soft and appealing.
Even looking at emptym's photo, I remain skeptical of this. It looks very velvety to me, which has its place, but I wouldn't wear it on a business trip. But I'll tell you what's great about for business trips: linen. You can let it wrinkle in your suitcase and not worry about it, because linen always looks wrinkled anyway.

OttoSkadelig · Apr 14, 2011

i'd never buy a cotton suit in a dark color - would much rather wear something in tropical wool - really, more comfortable. however, i do have a couple in light colors (a lightish blue-grey, and a creamy khaki) and they're great for garden parties.

that's about the only time i trot them out.

SuitMyself · Apr 15, 2011

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Cotton trousers you can wash, so they make sense. But a cotton jacket can't be washed, doesn't keep you as cool as lightweight wool, and doesn't have texture like linen. What is the point?

Other than seersucker of course, which 1) is traditional and 2) its texture is functional in keeping you cool.

You can't wash wool trousers, either.

What is the point of a cotton jacket or suit?

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