More than any other material, linen is synonymous with summer. Cool, easy to wear and easy to care for, skin-friendly, it's the perfect choice for the warmer months. Whether it's a casual shirt or a linen suit for a party, linen inspires relaxation as well as elegance. But is it possible to wear linen shirts without wrinkles? Probably not - but you can minimize the crumpled effect and embrace the relaxed look of linen by following our tips below.
Step 1 - The right cut Loose linen clothes are unflattering and will wrinkle almost instantly. Choose a slim fit or regular fit shirt, or whatever you prefer, but in your size. A slim linen suit will never go out of style, and it also works well for casual outfits, worn with elegant linen shirts. Also, linen shorts paired with a short-sleeved blazer will rack up style points in no time.
Step 2 - Choose a Neutral Color Bright colors don't work well with the relaxed nature of linen. While neutral colors like white, gray, cream, and off-white are classic colors - especially for a linen suit - light blue, bright green, powder pink, straw yellow, and even brown are also great choices. Look carefully at how the fabric has been dyed. The color of the fabric shouldn't appear more intense around the seams, and if it does, it means the piece was dyed after it was cut and sewn.
Step 3 - Wash with care Yes, you can put your linen shirt in the washing machine. But it should be washed in cold water on a gentle or short cycle - or hand washed (also cold). Always use a mild detergent specifically for delicate fabrics. Never wash light-colored clothes with colored ones together - new linen dyes are prone to fading on the first wash.
Step 4 - Dry Carefully Using a tumble dryer on linen shirts is a recipe for disaster with linen, unlike cotton - if you have no other solution, you can still dry this material for a maximum of five minutes. A linen shirt should always be air-dried. First, carefully roll each piece in a towel to remove moisture - never wring out linen. Before the item is completely dry, it's time to move on to the next care step - ironing. Ironing while there is still a little moisture in the fabric makes it easier to remove those wrinkles.
Step 5 - Ironing the Wrinkles Linen shirts should be ironed while they are still damp, so if the item you are ironing is dry, make sure to spray it with water or a linen spray before you start. Use a medium to high heat setting and iron only until the wrinkles are removed - leave some moisture in the fabric (which will evaporate quickly). If your linen item is dark in color, iron it inside out to avoid shiny spots. Another solution to keep wrinkles to a minimum is to use a starch spray when ironing. Starch spray is also good for ironing cotton, linen, or other types of fabrics.
Step 6 - Storing Linen Clothes Linen clothes should be stored in a cool, dry place - never pack them in a plastic bag or cardboard box. Hang your linen shirt in your wardrobe to minimize the time you have to spend freshening it up before the next wear.
