Linen: What to Look For

For years, I’ve coveted the summer linen look which I’ve always admired on others.

However, when I’ve tried it, I feel like a rumpled mess that got left in the drier too long.

The best linen garments come from European flax and have a crisp look to them while

being surprisingly durable. Japanese linen is also long-lasting if you want a garment

that’s solely made of linen. Both options are eco-friendly as linen is a natural fiber.

If you feel the wrinkles of natural linen is too much, you have other options. Recently,

manufacturers have added either synthetics or silk to the linen weave to make the

garment more wrinkle resistant while maintaining the linen look. These garments have

more give in them than traditional linen, making them less confining.

When considering linen, keep in mind the garment’s use—for example, if you want only

some wrinkles, consider a pant with a mix of fibers. Wide leg pants with a paper bag

waist may also show less wrinkles than a pair of fitted flat-front linen pants with a strong

line—which seems to highlight the wrinkles more.

Tops may naturally wrinkle less throughout the day so you may want a garment with

more linen in it than synthetic. A linen sweater is also a great summer option, as it

provides some added warmth in an air-conditioned office, while being a breathable

fabric outside the office.

Regardless of your personal preference, there are more choices than ever when it

comes to linen garments and their content to meet not only your needs but your

tolerance for wrinkles.

Tammy’s Truism: If you feel uncomfortable wearing the natural wrinkles of linen where you spend the day trying to flatten them out while wearing the garment, choose a mix of fibers.