Win Summer With Our Guide to the Linen Shirt
- 1/13
Win Summer With Our Guide to the Linen Shirt
It's that time of year again, where you suddenly realise that most of what you've been wearing for the past six months is redundant, destined for hibernation and well-earned rest. But the biannual wardrobe churn doesn't just mean a goodbye to overcoats and the like, but a warm "welcome back" to all the summer garb that's been biding its time since October 2021 took hold. On inspection, you might need a new pair of shorts here, and three-pack of Sopranos-esque vests there, and you'll probably want to reassess your collection of shirts. If so, may we point you in the direction of linen?
Thanks to its supreme lightness and breathability, linen has long been the go-to fabric for summer, and we can safely report that it's back in a big way for 2022. Traditionally, linen has been used in block colour, long sleeve designs - the kind of thing you'd see a lot of at a nice beach club in Marbella. And though plain linen is still a solid go-to, especially for those looking to keep things smart when the temperature goes up (maybe at wedding??), Summer '22 looks set to be defined by very good, quite wavey printed and embroidered linen shirts by the likes of Paul Smith, Acne Studios and Bode.
Those who have been stung before will know what a 100% linen shirt (or suit) will be very susceptible to creasing, which is why we'd suggest looking for a blend. Silk is a good option as it makes the garment even lighter, but it's at the more expensive end of the spectrum. Alternatively, cotton-linen blends deliver on price, but offer a 'drier' feeling fabric that won't drape and waft around quite so well. (but bear in mind that it will soften after a few washes.) Our tip would be to look for a mix of linen and lyocell, which is made from recycled wood pulp. Sounds weird, but delivers on cost and wearability.
Mr Porter - 2/13
1) Uniqlo
A white linen shirt is a summer wardrobe essential, and Uniqlo is very, very good at those. Affordably priced, super airy and best paired with a few Aperol Spritz stains, the Japanese brand’s linen staple will bring some louche, Mediterranean flair to your working day, whether that’s in an actual office or, far more likely right now, supine on your sofa.
£34.90, uniqlo.com
Esquire - 3/13
2) Harago
Embroidery is big in menswear right now, and Harago has nailed the design of this off-white number. Hand-embroidered in India, it features a simple flower motif on the front and checks on the sleeve. 55% linen, 45% cotton.
£287, matchesfasion.com
Matches Fashion - 4/13
3) Reiss
Reiss can always be trusted for linen shirts with a more formal edge, which is why they’re always selling out. We’re big fans of this khaki number with a cutaway collar and subtle marl texture, although the other colour options are nice too. We’ve found that they come up slightly slim when it comes to fit, so if you’re an in-between sizes kind of fella, move on up.
£98, reiss.com
Esquire - 5/13
4) A Day's March
What’s the Swedish word for sprezzatura? Nordic brand A Day’s March's tagline is ‘perfecting the essentials’, and we can’t argue on this evidence – a loose-fitting, laid back 100% linen piece that feels and looks casually premium, you’ll get a lot of use out of it at summer barbecues. Now roll your sleeves up and get to work, those kräftor aren’t going to grill themselves.
£90, adaysmarch.com
Esquire - 6/13
5) Arket
Ah, trusty Arket. That they’ve knocked it out of the park with this season’s linen collection should come as no great surprise. We opted for this green and white striped effort, although we’ve got our eyes on the white and grey version as well. It's all very affordable, too. Best worn with a few too many buttons undone.
£45, arket.com
Esquire - 7/13
6) Acne Studios
Designed in collaboration with conceptual artist Rabin Huissen, this Acne shirt is adorned with 'thermodynamic' handprints, and comes in a boxy, clasically-Acnean cut.
£360, mrporter.com
Acne Studios - 8/13
7) Good Morning Tapes
Boxy, and featuring a maze pattern, this Good Morning Tapes shirt is one for someone on the hunt for something a little wavier. It's cut from a cotton-linen mix, so it might be a little crispy at first, but will soften up real nice.
£95, mrporter.com
Mr Porter - 9/13
8) Canali
The perfect pale blue linen shirt, for pretty much any Summer event you can name. Tuck into a pair of grey, pleated trousers with some nice loafers and wow, you're an Italian magnate's son.
£270, mrporter.com
Mr Porter - 10/13
9) Nanushka
Florals. For Summer... Groundbreaking. But as with pretty much everything Nanushka does, it's a vaguely hippyish take on a classic, which is why these florals are black, brown and yellow instead of the Hawaiian motif we're so used to.
£445, matchesfasion.com
Mr Porter - 11/13
10) Tiger of Sweden
A soft and breezy linen blend mixed with cotton sourced from the Better Cotton Initiative, Tiger of Sweden brings this blue-grey shirt to the table, and it's a keeper.
£149, tigerofsweden.com
Tiger of Sweden - 12/13
11) Paul Smith
Playful in that way that only Paul Smith can do, this supremely summery, collarless shirt features a Hockney-esque design that evokes warm afternoons in the garden and Pimms Cups that get progressively stronger as the day goes on.
£275, mrporter.com
Mr Porter - 13/13
12) Asket
"Brand transparency in fashion is a key component to moving towards a more sustainable and ethical industry. Asket, a Swedish menswear outfit, are leading the way in this field, by sharing every step of their production process. Like this beige linen shirt, crafted from local-ish (Normandy) linen and subtle mother of pearl buttons."
£90, asket.com
Asket
