Why a linen shirt is worth having
- It is cool. Linen lets air pass through. It is one of the best fabrics for hot days.
- It dries fast. This helps when you sweat, and when it rains.
- It gets softer. A linen shirt feels better after every wash.
- It goes with almost everything. Jeans, shorts, a skirt, a suit.
Linen has one problem. It wrinkles. We will come to that below.
Pick the right shirt first
- Fit. A linen shirt should be a little loose. The line where the sleeve joins the shirt should sit at the end of your shoulder.
- Color. Start with white or light blue. They go with everything. Beige, olive and soft pink are good next choices.
- Fabric. A shirt made only of linen is the coolest, and wrinkles the most. A mix of linen and cotton wrinkles less.
Seven easy outfits
| Wear it with | How | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Blue jeans | Shirt out, sleeves rolled, white sneakers. | Every day |
| Chinos | Shirt tucked in, a belt, loafers. | The office |
| Shorts | Shirt out, neat shorts, sandals or sneakers. | A hot weekend |
| A T-shirt or tank top | Shirt open on top, like a light jacket. | A warm evening |
| Linen pants | The same color, or two colors that are close. | A holiday, a dinner |
| A long skirt | Shirt tucked in, or tied at the waist. Flat sandals. | Lunch, a day out |
| A blazer | Shirt tucked in, dark pants, leather shoes. | A night out, a meeting |
Tucked in, or out?
- Out when the bottom edge of the shirt is short and straight. This is the relaxed look.
- In when the shirt has a long, curved bottom. Also for the office and for dinner.
- Half in. Tuck only the front. It looks relaxed but neat.
How to roll the sleeves
- Open the button at the end of the sleeve.
- Fold the end of the sleeve back once.
- Fold it one more time, to just below your elbow.
Do not make the roll too neat. Linen looks best when it looks easy.
Which colors go with it
| Your shirt | Wear it with |
|---|---|
| White | Any color. Blue jeans, beige, navy, black, olive. |
| Light blue | Beige, white, navy, gray. |
| Beige | White, olive, brown, dark blue jeans. |
| Olive | Beige, cream, white, dark blue jeans. |
Not sure which colors look good on you? Read our guide on what colors suit you.
What about the wrinkles?
All linen wrinkles. A few soft wrinkles are part of the look. Deep, sharp ones are not.
- Hang the shirt up as soon as it is washed.
- Iron it while it is still a little damp.
- No iron? Hang it in the bathroom while you take a hot shower.
- For the office, pick a mix of linen and cotton.
Let an app do it
Ukti is our app. You take photos of your clothes. Then open your linen shirt in the app and ask for outfits that use it. Ukti builds outfits from your own clothes around that one shirt.
It also picks one outfit for you every morning, so you do not have to choose.
Living in a hot city? See our guide on what to wear in the Delhi summer.
