It’s a good time to shop for linen
Linen is a staple in my warm weather wardrobe. Whether it’s already getting hot where you live, or you’re just planning ahead for warmer days to come, the selection of linen clothing is really good now. Here are a few of my picks…
Casual linen clothing for women
There are many reasons to love linen. It’s breathable, washable, and requires less water and fewer pesticides than cotton so is more environmentally friendly. And it’s often lighter than cotton, and dries more quickly, so can be great for summer travel. I’ve found that good linen is quite durable, and has a nice drape and fluidity.
Relaxed fits
My sizes: Petite Small shirt, X-Small tank, Petite Small trousers
Eileen Fisher always does some nice linen pieces, and I think this season’s selection is one of the best yet. There’s a good variety of styles and colors.
I’ve had one of these handkerchief linen shirts in white for several years, and decided to add one in one of my Spring palette colors. This “Absinthe” is very close to Seafoam in my palette, but I think some Autumns could wear it too.
I love, love, love these wide leg trousers, and have ordered a second pair in the undyed natural. Both the trousers and tank are the Espresso color, which works for Autumns too. They’re also available in Black and White, sizes Petite P to Misses 3X.
I featured this Mandarin collar dress in an earlier post, and think it would look great worn open over the pants. Four colors, sizes XX-Small to 3X. (I’m noodling the one in undyed natural as a lightweight topper. And maybe a dress…😉 )
I also love her linen jersey pieces. This little top has a shirred detail in the back, can be worn on its own and will layer nicely under a sweater, jacket or shirt. Sizes XXS to 3X.
(Autumns, this Jewel color looks very close to Kingfisher in your palette. Winters, check out Venus & Raspberry. Springs, Watermelon is good for you. And Summers, you’ll want to look at Dusk and Plume.)
Summers, I LOVE this blueberry color for you! This linen shirt jacket is available in sizes Petite P to Misses 3X.
Here’s another wide leg trouser style that’s less cropped (30″ inseam). This “micro stripe” color is summery but wouldn’t look out of place in the office. 2 other colors, sizes 00-16.
And this “way long” shirt could be worn as shown, or buttoned on its own (though I’d leave the last couple of buttons undone), or as a beach cover up. Great versatile piece to take on vacation! Sizes XXS-XL. (I find Everlane shirts run a size large, at least, so you can probably size down.)
Classic & tailored linen clothing for women
If your style is more classic or tailored, you might like these stretch linen-blend trousers. They’re available in 5 colors, Classic sizes 00-24, also in Petite and Tall. (I have these in stretch cotton and really like them, you can see how I styled them 3 ways here.)
This linen tee is very lightweight and has a relaxed fit. (Suggest sizing down.) It’s available in several colors, sizes XX-Small to 3X.
This oversized blazer is 100% linen, perfect for cool summer evenings or air-conditioned interiors. Two colors, sizes XX-Small to XX-Large. (The dark brown “Coffee” color is good for Autumns and some Springs, the Light Straw looks like a Spring color to me, but I haven’t seen it in person.)
I have not yet tried any of the linen pieces from Quince, but this dress is very well-reviewed, and a budget-friendly option. It’s available in several colors, sizes XS-XL.
This linen-blend tee has elbow-length sleeves and a v-neck, two flattering and hard-to-find details! The color scheme looks cool to me, so think it’s for Winters and some Summers. Sizes X-Small to X-Large.
This classic 100% linen button-front shirt comes in several colors, is very well-reviewed and is under $40! Sizes XS-XL.
I find a long-sleeve linen tee is perfect for those times when it’s too warm for a sweater but too cool for short sleeves. This one has a nice finished look, and is available in 3 colors. Sizes XXS to XL.
Yes, linen gets rumpled, but to me that’s part of its character and charm. You can always spritz with water, smooth with your hands and hang overnight to remove the deepest creases. I usually wash my linen clothing in cold water, line dry, and then use a steamer to smooth it out.
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Hi Susan, when traveling with linen, do you carry a travel iron with you or do you just “wear those wrinkles” as my Mother used to say? I love linen but don’t like the wrinkles and shy away from packing them for travel unless I’m prepared to iron each day.
I never pack an iron, as I find hotels almost always provide them. You could consider a travel steamer like this one or if traveling overseas, pick up an inexpensive one at a drugstore or department store.
I’ve begun packing a little travel steamer like this to quickly get rid of wrinkles in lots of fabrics, not just linen. After being mashed into my suitcase, everything looks better after a few swipes of hot steam.
Love linen but the EF prices are out of the ballpark. Can you feature less expensive linen too?
Yes, take a look at some of the other pieces I’ve included in this post, including Quince. https://bit.ly/3nXoazO
Quince has beautifully made linen pieces. I got both the linen jumpsuit and the linen button-up dress in black, size medium, and while I have not yet worn either of them “out”, they fit perfectly. (I’m 5’9.5″, 140lbs.) Can’t wait for the weather to warm up!
MP I own a couple of the Quince long- sleeved linen shirts, and I can vouch for the quality. I think Quince’s linen pull-on pants worn with their short-sleeved linen camp shirt would have a very similar vibe to EF, and I’m considering giving that a try.
I have a few pieces of the Quince linen collection and am very happy with the fit and quality. The camp shirt in Terra cotta is my favorite so far. It’s a nice, rich color that’s not too orange.
I also like the cropped linen pants. They’re not as wide-legged as some other linen pants, so provide a little different look and fit.
Agree on the shirts and that color. Haven’t tried the pants yet
Hi Susan,
I always add a few linen pieces each year to my Spring and Summer wardrobe. Being in the South, its a must! I love the red striped tee, the trousers. Really some great pieces. I am waiting on several skirts and a top in linen to add to my collection 🙂
Have a great week!
jess xx
We lived and traveled in our tiny motor home for several years. I’m the one out there hiking in linen and pearls.
Linen does a lot better in a commercial laundromat than you would ever believe. I’m not so precious with it any more. And if you spray your items with plain water, pull and smooth the wrinkles, they look quite lovely in the morning.
I’ve gotten my favorites at TJ Maxx and Banana Republic.
If anyone likes to sew, even just make kitchen towels and dinner napkins, fabric-store dot com has the world’s most amazing linen for the most amazing prices. We just bought a house and I’m losing my mind on this site. It’s positively delicious.
I returned the Quince dress. The depth of the v-neck was a bit too much. Otherwise I really liked it and was disappointed to have to send it back.
Susan you really curate the denim well—at least for me! I got a pair of Paige jeans and they’re soft and comfortable but I should have worn them a bit first! I’m going to have to wear a belt with them because of the stretch! The AG’s and Rag and Bone boyfriend jeans are great!
A dressmaker can take the waist in. I hate belts: very uncomfortable when sitting for a while.
I love EF as well however living in Vancouver area, the Cdn dollar vs US makes the cost prohibitive. . Just a little info wrt packing linen when we travel – roll your t’s or other knits & then roll up the linen around on the outside. Its made a big difference for me.
I really like your new Eileen outfit but I am not too keen about linen as I am an ironing freak. And linen often creases enormously.
Greetje
Susan—question about Eileen Fisher’s color “ocean” in her knit fabric clothing—Would this color work for a winter or would black be a better choice? The blue looks different depending on whose website you’re looking at so it’s kind of deceiving, thank you . . .
Hi Rose, to me most of the pieces in the Ocean color look a bit soft for a Winter.
I love linen. One thing I’ve noticed about myself is I’m not keen to wear a woven linen top and a linen bottom at the same time. Is that just me or do you find the same linen fabric on both feels off?
Cotten/Linen, Linen/Cotton Great
Linen knit/Linen Good
Woven Linen/Woven Linen NO
And that combo looks great on others, not something I even really notice but not on me…..
Thanks for another useful post!
Suz from Vancouver
These are lovely but out of my budget ($168 for a t shirt is unrealistic for me, and for many). For the last several seasons I have purchases linen blend pants at Old Navy on sale – netting out under $20. They don’t have the beauty of 100% linen, but they are comfortable and highly affordable, and can be worn with sneakers, sandals, espadrilles, etc..They are a staple in my closet.
I actually prefer ON’s linen-cotton blends because they feel softer and less scratchy than 100% linen. They last without showing signs of wear, too.
If you have a dryer with a steam cycle, just pop your already-dry linen items in for a few minutes, then hang to dry. Wrinkles out!
I’ve always loved linen but got away from it for several years when I just couldn’t find the quality I wanted within my budget. I’ve been very pleased with the Quince linen pieces I’ve bought – very good quality for the bargain prices. They pair well with a lot of my FLAX pieces, which I’ve purchased almost exclusively during their Barn Sales or on deep discount at one of the many boutiques who carry their clothing. (I must say one of the very few good things to come out of the pandemic is that the FLAX Barn Sales went digital. You used to have to drive to Upstate New York to partake of the crazy bargains. No more!) I learned about both FLAX and Quince from your readers, Susan, so brava for encouraging the great feedback. I also just bought a few linen pieces on sale from Gudrun Sjoden. While her clothing is geared more toward lovers of Lagenlook, the quality is outstanding for the price, and I like the little extra details included in each piece. I wear them unlayered for the most part, but I like that they can layer with other linen pieces I own. I’d previously only purchased her wool challis scarves and a couple of her knit Sunflower dresses sold to honor the people of Ukraine, with all the proceeds going to the UNHCR. Both dresses are lovely, very comfortable, and have great working pockets. Highly recommend!
Living in the upper midwest, I have never felt that linen is a necessity, but it is a great fabric to mix in. I have purchased a little bit of linen here and there. Last summer I thrifted two Talbots linen skirts that I wore a lot. I think that skirts might be my favorite for linen. It still feels a little too early here for shopping, but I am in the middle of a major closet purge. Have to make room and think before I can add anything new. Love the blog. Summer is a short season here so it gets less attention, but I love summer clothes! I feel I can wear more color and have more fun.