Seersucker Thursday is an annual tradition in the United
States Congress in which Senators wear clothing made of seersucker on National
Seersucker Day. This light, cotton-based material is traditional in the
Southern United States.
The tradition was started by Republican Senator Trent Lott
of Mississippi in 1996 who wanted to "bring a little Southern charm to the
Capitol" to remind the Senate of how Senators dressed before the advent of
air conditioning in the 1950s. The practice was temporarily suspended in
2012 amid congressional gridlock, but began again in 2014.
While this tradition is an annual event, it is also common
to see congressional staffers don seersucker suits on Thursdays throughout the
year.
Seersucker weave was introduced to the American south,
probably through British colonial trade, sometime in the second half of the
19th century. The cotton weave, which originated in western India, became a
signature look of the United States in the early 20th century because its light
weight and pre-rumpled surface made it ideal for the intense humidity of
summer.
The wearing of seersucker suits declined with the advent of
air conditioning. By the 1950s, air conditioning reached the Capitol, ending
the necessity of seersucker suits there.
Gregory Peck famously wore a seersucker suit in the movie To
Kill a Mockingbird, creating a cliché of how small town Southern lawyers
dressed invoked by later actors such as Andy Griffith. The image of a bow-tied,
seersucker-suited young man in a boater hat is likewise a cliche image of a
recent graduate of elite Northeastern colleges.
History of Seersucker Thursday
In 1996[2] Senator Trent Lott decided to bring the tradition
back. His goal was to show that "the Senate isn’t just a bunch of dour
folks wearing dark suits and—in the case of men—red or blue ties". In
2004, Senator Dianne Feinstein decided to increase participation by encouraging
women senators to follow the tradition. The following year 11 of the 14 women
senators appeared on Seersucker Thursday in outfits received as gifts from
Feinstein.
As of June 27, 2012, Seersucker Thursday was announced to be
discontinued.
As of May 27, 2015, Senator Bill Cassidy successfully
advocated for the return of Seersucker Thursday. Cassidy remarked, "This
uniquely American fashion has a storied history dating back to 1909... Mr.
Haspel said it best, ‘hot is hot, no matter what you do for a living.'
No comments:
Post a Comment