2009 marks the 100th anniversary of a true American sartorial institution: Haspel, makers of the classic seersucker suit that has come to epitomize elegance in the summer months for dapper gentlemen from coast to coast. The company's history dates back to New Orleans in 1909 when haberdasher Joseph Haspel began making suits in lightweight fabrics, allowing men to remain dressed to the nines even in oppressive climes.

After passing out of family hands for nearly two decades and being allowed to stagnate somewhat, the brand is now being revived on the eve of its centenary by Joseph's great-granddaughter Laurie Haspel Aronson. She is giving the label a much-needed facelift, introducing new clothing lines and updating its storied styles while remaining true to her ancestor's values of maintaining an elegant appearance no matter the conditions.

It was those values married to quality workmanship and classic style that led to Haspel's being favored by the likes of presidents Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as dapper movie stars like Humphrey Bogart, Gregory Peck, who wore Haspel seersucker in To Kill A Mockingbird (1962), and Cary Grant, who sported Haspel suits in Charade (1963), while becoming a staple of Ivy League style on college campuses everywhere.

Brooks Brothers just made their high-end, high-style Black Fleece collection for Spring / Summer '08 available online, and it's certainly stimulating, if perhaps not to everyone's taste. The line, designed by controversial but undeniably au courant designer Thom Browne, features twisted takes on preppy classics with eyebrow-raising pricetags.

Highlights of the men's looks include a "Fun" red, green, yellow and blue patchwork seersucker jacket for $1,900 with matching pants for an additional $700; a suit of cotton madras plaid (jacket $1,500, pants $600); a $2,500 morning coat with grosgrain tipping meant to be worn with a top hat; and an Irish linen trench coat with grosgrain tipping for $2,000. For women, there's a patchwork seersucker shorts suit to match the men's model (jacket $1,900, pants $500) and a cotton piqué patch pocket jacket with grosgrain tipping and sterling silver buttons for $2,100.

While the classic influences are obvious, this isn't exactly the kind of thing one associates with the traditional wares of Brooks -- but that's exactly the point of Black Fleece. Whether you can a) afford it, and b) pull it off is another matter entirely.

Blame it on the changing seasons, but seersucker is back in style this summer. Seersucker is no longer limited to the bold blue-and-white stripes of yesteryear. Instead, this season's seersucker is more refined and available in more styles than ever before, so it looks great while retaining its easy-to-wear comfort and cool, breathable feel.

Etro Seersucker Trousers (pictured) are lightweight, with tan and white stripes that look almost like linen from a distance. Price: $310.

The Façonnable Stripe Seersucker Shirt masquerades as a bright, but traditional, pinstripe shirt with lines of blue, yellow and white in soft cotton. Price: $115.

Kenneth Cole has Flat Front Seersucker Pants that are a pale khaki in color. The cotton cloth"s pattern is so fine that only your comfort will remind you that you"re wearing something so casual. Price: $79.

For classicists, Paul Smith still has a blue and white seersucker suit, but the stripes are narrow and the lines of the jacket and pants are clean and up to date. It's great for a summer luncheon, business travel or ever a daytime wedding. Price: $1,195.