THE JOURNAL
3 MINUTE READ
Seven Linen Pieces To Upgrade Your Wardrobe With This Summer
Words by Ms Molly Isabella Smith
4 July 2021
Linen. For summer. Sure, it’s hardly the most original idea – after all, linen has been worn for thousands of years – but it is still a clever one. Strong, sustainable and exceptionally breathable, linen, which is made from the flax plant, dries quicker than cotton and regulates temperature, making it a smart choice in the warmer months. Here, then, are just a handful of ways to put it to good use as the mercury rises.
01.
The unstructured blazer
The beauty of a linen blazer is that it can be put to many uses – you could easily wear this Brunello Cucinelli example to a formal summer wedding as well as an alfresco dinner. The unstructured, unlined cut makes it feel more like you’re slipping into your favourite shirt.
02.
The striped tee
Linen’s texture makes it an interesting alternative to your standard cotton-jersey tee. And trust SAINT LAURENT to put its own spin on the classic marinière (or Breton top, as it is otherwise known). The moody blue stripes look great under a denim jacket.
03.
The Bermuda shorts
As we recently explained in our Ask MR PORTER column, Bermuda shorts are not only a style of the season: they’re a more flattering and forgiving option if you don’t have the thighs to pull off those five-inch short shorts currently taking TikTok by storm. Brioni’s sea-blue pair has a drawstring fastening, so you can even adjust the fit.
04.
The knitted shirt
Séfr, which started its journey as a vintage reseller back in 2012, now creates original pieces inspired by retro finds. Such as this – is it a shirt or is it a cardigan? We’ll settle that and call it both. Wear it alone like it’s the former option now and then unbuttoned over a tee when it gets cooler.
05.
The pleated trousers
If you’re yet to say “yes, please” to pleats, now is the perfect time. By stopping fabric from sitting flat against your skin, they help to promote airflow, making them a great option for warm weather. This pair from LOEWE is part of collaboration with Paula’s Ibiza and is made from a linen and cotton blend, which means the fabric is still light and breezy, but won’t require quite as much ironing.
06.
The lightweight jacket
Baracuta’s G9 Harrington jacket hardly needs an introduction – first designed for golfers on the green, it’s more usually made from windbreaking cotton-twill. In this exclusive iteration for MR PORTER though, the brand has swapped it out for summery Japanese linen for cloud-free days out on the course.
07.
The printed shirt
While we’re a big fan of the versatility of plain linen shirts, a printed one will make your beach get-up really pop. And when standing out looks this good, why not? This garment-dyed short-sleeved shirt from Copenhagen-based brand NN07 epitomises the label’s carefree, relaxed philosophy.