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Made out of flax, which has been cultivated and used for textiles for thousands of years, linen is a natural fabric that is ideal for hot summers, thanks to its thermo-regulating properties. It can help you beat the heat and absorb sweat, as well as keep you warm on cooler days.
Linen is strong and durable. After all, it was used to wrap mummies in ancient Egypt. It’s also soft, flowy and feels luxurious. Flax is a more sustainable fibre that can be grown without the need for pesticides or much fertilizer. Look for organic-linen garments if you want to be sure that pesticide-free flax was used. It’s also a less water-intensive crop compared with cotton, requiring three times less water to produce the same amount of fibres.
Whitney Westwood, founder of Toronto-based fashion and home-goods brand Whitney Linen, recommends looking for clothing made with 100-per-cent linen, especially to absorb sweat and stay dry in the summer. Sometimes, a garment that’s marketed as linen may contain polyester, cotton or even hemp when you read the fabric label or online product description closely.
If you’re shopping in person, Westwood suggests touching the fabric and looking for an “easy breezy” feel, and avoiding anything that looks stiff or feels itchy.
“If there’s a linen shirt or whatever at a store, just crunch it up in your hand,” says Westwood. If that creates “severe wrinkles” that don’t dissipate when you open your hand, it’s a stiffer linen fabric that won’t be as comfortable to wear. High-quality linen doesn’t crease, it’s not itchy and it doesn’t have to be pressed all the time.
Six buys to try
Linen can be an expensive fabric. According to the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp, the average price for some European flax fibre increased by 55 per cent since last year. But it can be a worthy summer wardrobe investment if keeping cool in the heat is a priority.
In the women’s section
(Left) Prewashed and intended to have a relaxed look, this affordable, 100-per-cent linen shirt looks good on its own. It can also be worn unbuttoned as a casual top layer.
Muji washed linen shirt, $64.90 through muji.ca.
(Centre) Available in four colours as well as a stripe print, these pleated linen pants are great for the tailored look on a hot day.
Reformation Alex mid-rise linen pant, $288 through thereformation.com.
(Right) This striped shirt dress is made in Canada using 100-per-cent linen, and features contrast cuffs, collar and placket detailing.
Whitney linen stripe popover shirt dress, $365 through whitneylinen.com.
In the men’s section
(Left) These unisex, pull-on shorts feature a relaxed fit and are made in Portugal with a 100-per-cent linen fabric.
Kotn Cairo linen short, $118 through kotn.com.
(Centre) Available in five colours and sizes from XS–XXXL, this breezy button-up made with an Italian-woven linen works for both the office and the weekend.
Rodd & Gunn Palm Beach shirt, $149 through roddandgunn.com.
(Right) Highly rated by purchasers, these 100-per-cent linen pants are machine-washable and designed to pair nicely with everything from sneakers to a summer-weight blazer.
J. Crew classic-fit linen trouser, $173.50 through jcrew.com.