Linen for Summer? Groundbreaking.
I don't know what you mean, I love wrinkly clothes.
It is officially t-minus 36 days until the summer solstice and now is the time to pull out the best textile during its best season. Despite the echo chamber my algorithm is in, linen is not having a ‘moment’— our modern world is just going back to the favorite fabric of centuries past.
*Cue history lesson.*
If biblical angels were said to have worn linen, you best believe I will adorn this stuff on my body all summer and, honestly, all year round. Linen, made from the fibers of the flax plant, is one of the oldest textiles in the world, with the earliest evidence of its production found in ancient Mesopotamia as well as Switzerland around 8,000 BC. Linen was prized in ancient Egypt, where it was used for clothing, particularly among the priesthood and royalty, as well as for burial shrouds. During the middle ages, linen’s popularity spread throughout Europe where it became a staple textile for all levels in the feudal system— from commoners to aristocracy— and used for everything from clothing, bed linens and tablecloths. Linen was especially notable in Ireland, where it became renowned in places like Belfast, famously nicknamed "Linenopolis" in the 19th century due to its massive production (source).
It was only during the advent of cotton during the Industrial Revolution that linen saw a decline in popularity as cotton became easier to mass-produce and care for. Despite this, linen continues to be a symbol of natural luxury and eco-friendliness in the textile industry, as it’s favored in both fashion and home decor for its quality and aesthetic appeal. It has most importantly held the crown for summer-time staple because of the textile’s cooling properties and breathability. Linen robes were perfect for Plato and Aristotle to pair with olive wreaths and sandals on a hot, Greek summer night.
How do we get the stuff? The production of linen is labor-intensive, involving multiple steps to extract the fibers from the flax plant. These steps include retting (allowing moisture to rot away the stem’s pith), scutching (removing woody parts of the stalk), and hackling (splitting and straightening the fibers) before the fibers can be spun into yarn and woven into fabric. While labor intensive, I think its worth it. The cultivation of flax requires no irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides, making it extremely environmentally friendly. Plus, the entire plant is used, making it a zero-waste crop. Finally, it even improves the soil's quality for future crops (source). That’s a winner.
So its existence dates back thousand of years but, if I’m being honest, linen only made it into my consciousness in the last 4 years. I swear the pandemic rocketed my 26-year-old self into sophistication— from polyester princess to check-them-labels queen. Wrinkles and all, I am obsessed. And now we know that there can be no argument against linen being called ‘timeless.’ Goodbye trends.
I have done considerable online hunting to incorporate this fabric into my wardrobe and apartment. Today, I have a handful of shirts, pants and skirts from Reformation, GAP, Mango and NA-KD as well as bedding from Brooklinen that all have 100% linen on their labels. Linen blends have also made their way into my closet. Blends are nice because they wrinkle less and sometimes come with lower price tags. They’re not perfect though because they don’t fully give you the breathability or durability that 100% linen might.
Bedding
Egyptians wrapped their mummies in the stuff for goodness sakes. Since it was good enough for the dead, its been good enough for me to sleep like the dead. Once in a while a buy a cheap pillow case from House of Bezos, but for the most part I stand by the brands below.
Every influencer during the pandemic was switching out their sheets to Brooklinen, so when I was served an ad during a sale last spring, I jumped on the bandwagon. I went in on new fitted sheets, flat sheets, pillowcases and a duvet cover. It has been luxurious. The sheets get softer after every wash and I’ve found myself rarely waking up in the middle of night from overheating.
A second, more affordable option is Quince. I was already a fan of Quince’s shirts and sweaters, so their expansion into home items was exciting. I’ll likely buy this set when we’re up for a refresh. They do an interesting price comparison with Parachute, Brooklinen and Serena & Lily. You don’t have to pay big bucks to get nice things!
Clothing
I have an affinity for whites and creams but heck, I love these green Everlane linen shorts. Would add color to my wardrobe paired with my recent purchase, the blue linen button up from Gap. I made a point to buy Gap linen recently after being v impressed with their new ad. The behind the scenes video is very fun if you have 13 minutes.
I was immediately drawn to this Jacquemus dupe (think the gorgeous runway dress Gigi Hadid wore circa 2020 but 10x cheaper) from NA-KD. A perfect warm climate vacation dress… in Greece… the modern Plato fit.
Also from NA-KD, this linen vest is in my cart. Love this price and Claire Rose.
I own these Mango linen shorts, but in black. It’s time to get the white pair as well as Tide To Go.
Rounding out my linen picks with Reformation. Ref is a slightly higher price point than the previous brands to purchase linen, but their detailed tops are too good. The lace trim makes this vest so feminine. This top, and the detail on the neckline, is in line with the trendy Peter Pan collars coming into fashion again, but without the full kid-aesthetic lol. Finally, I LOVE this top to dress up jeans (as the model shows.)
Happy summer prepping xx