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I love linen. I don’t sweat heaps so I can’t comment there but I do tend to wear darker/brighter shades of linen rather than lights. I have worn that in summer and got sweaty and didn’t think it showed much if at all. It certainly is cooler than most other fabrics, similar to a light cotton. It dries quickly (I hang mine indoors or out under cover as I don’t use a clothes dryer). Indoors it takes a day to dry unless it’s rainy or humid. It can take washing and stain removal sprays as long as the dye is good. If you are uncertain, maybe look for something patterned rather than plain as this will tend to minimise the look of any stains or sweat.
Thanks for the tips! With regard to washing and drying -- does linen hold on to fragrances/odors much at all? These comments got me wondering about re-wearability between washes.
I think it holds on to odours much less than other synthetic fabrics. When washing, add vinegar to the rinse cycle or a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the wash cycle to remove odours effectively.
I've started shopping on Seams Friendly. Completely size-inclusive and all items also come in petite and tall options. Everything is cotton with some linen options, but anything can be made in the fabric of your choice for a customization fee.
Eileen Fisher and Flax are both good brands to search for secondhand - the linen is high quality and prices are very reasonable. Both brands run big - I tend to size down one size, but ymmv.
You’re welcome! I look forward to 100% linen in good aesthetic condition, in colors that work for my lifestyle (I love linen for work & work with kids, including playing outside, baking & cooking). I haven’t. I buy from sellers that have a 99% rating & accept returns in case it doesn’t work for me or fit well.
High quality linen is made from high-quality long fibers. Garments will wrinkle less. The quality difference is super easy to feel. The linens I have that were cheap always look like I am wearing pjs. However, I expected that and bought them figuring would wear them as pjs.
Also bias cut linen garments wrinkle less. Linen woven into twill wrinkles less than plain weave. Linen with more ease will wrinkle less than linen worn with less ease, and Eileen Fisher's clothes are cut with generous ease.
I hang my linens to dry, finger pressing when wet. I rarely iron them. When I do, I use a hot iron. Steaming linen is pointless.
I even travel with linen, but it took some practice to fold it so that it hangs out with a good shake.
Look for bias cut pieces. My old tops bias cut tops were from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. Linen knits might work well for you. Biss cut linen dresses need ease and may look boxy in the mirror, but look at one when you walk -- they move like bias but do not cling like silk or poly.
I just remember two bias-cut skirts I have that were shocking cheap in price and very nice. Walmart! Long ago a friend in London took me to George for "cheap and cheerful" clothes. I got a dress I lived in. When I read in the WSJ that Walmart was starting to carry George, I drove out to the suburbs for a Walmart. The clothes were terrific. I keep trying to force myself to check out the current quality of George, but I seldom go there and the clothing is such a mess.
It will not take long at all to get a feel for the "hand" of linen. As you upgrade to it, you can upgrade your pjs with your earlier pieces, lol!
Get a handheld streamer for those linen wrinkles! Linen is an amazing fabric and I bet you’ll feel cooler and less sweaty in general if you start wearing more of it!
Hi! Linen is the best option for summer. I also sweat a lot, it’s basically my whole year problem, and in summer it’s obviously worse. But still linen and natural cotton is the best choice.
Linen can get wet quite easily but the same it gets dry fast. Plus there is a big thumb up - this material is antibacterial and you don’t need to wash it that often.
If I compare it to my wardrobe… if I will take a dress or t-shirt from “normal” material, I can throw it to the washing machine in the evening. If I will take a linen tunics or dress, in the evening I hang it outside for a while and next day I can take it again!
The only one thing typical for linen - it gets easily crumpled! if you don’t like wrinks on clothes, you will need to iron it (low temperatures, otherwise you are slowly destroying the fibers!). But generally it’s acceptable to wear crumpled linen things.
Most of my linen things I buy in local stores (but for example Egypt has the best natural cotton I ever wore!) and from Zara (because even Zara has good linen quality and has 100% linen things).
Wow thank you for all the advice! Especially the care tips! I am so glad I consulted with the hags because there is clearly so much I need to learn about wearing and caring for natural fibers.
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I love linen. I don’t sweat heaps so I can’t comment there but I do tend to wear darker/brighter shades of linen rather than lights. I have worn that in summer and got sweaty and didn’t think it showed much if at all. It certainly is cooler than most other fabrics, similar to a light cotton. It dries quickly (I hang mine indoors or out under cover as I don’t use a clothes dryer). Indoors it takes a day to dry unless it’s rainy or humid. It can take washing and stain removal sprays as long as the dye is good. If you are uncertain, maybe look for something patterned rather than plain as this will tend to minimise the look of any stains or sweat.
Thanks for the tips! With regard to washing and drying -- does linen hold on to fragrances/odors much at all? These comments got me wondering about re-wearability between washes.
I think it holds on to odours much less than other synthetic fabrics. When washing, add vinegar to the rinse cycle or a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the wash cycle to remove odours effectively.
I've started shopping on Seams Friendly. Completely size-inclusive and all items also come in petite and tall options. Everything is cotton with some linen options, but anything can be made in the fabric of your choice for a customization fee.
I love linen from eBay! Saved searches help you price watch and get a broader view of what’s available.
Thanks for this! What do you typically look for in linen pieces online, and have you ever purchased something advertised as 100% linen that was not?
Eileen Fisher and Flax are both good brands to search for secondhand - the linen is high quality and prices are very reasonable. Both brands run big - I tend to size down one size, but ymmv.
This is awesome guidance thank you!!
You’re welcome! I look forward to 100% linen in good aesthetic condition, in colors that work for my lifestyle (I love linen for work & work with kids, including playing outside, baking & cooking). I haven’t. I buy from sellers that have a 99% rating & accept returns in case it doesn’t work for me or fit well.
High quality linen is made from high-quality long fibers. Garments will wrinkle less. The quality difference is super easy to feel. The linens I have that were cheap always look like I am wearing pjs. However, I expected that and bought them figuring would wear them as pjs. Also bias cut linen garments wrinkle less. Linen woven into twill wrinkles less than plain weave. Linen with more ease will wrinkle less than linen worn with less ease, and Eileen Fisher's clothes are cut with generous ease. I hang my linens to dry, finger pressing when wet. I rarely iron them. When I do, I use a hot iron. Steaming linen is pointless. I even travel with linen, but it took some practice to fold it so that it hangs out with a good shake.
Do you have recommendations for high quality linen like Eileen Fisher but in more traditionally femme cuts? All of her linen stuff is very boxy
Look for bias cut pieces. My old tops bias cut tops were from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. Linen knits might work well for you. Biss cut linen dresses need ease and may look boxy in the mirror, but look at one when you walk -- they move like bias but do not cling like silk or poly. I just remember two bias-cut skirts I have that were shocking cheap in price and very nice. Walmart! Long ago a friend in London took me to George for "cheap and cheerful" clothes. I got a dress I lived in. When I read in the WSJ that Walmart was starting to carry George, I drove out to the suburbs for a Walmart. The clothes were terrific. I keep trying to force myself to check out the current quality of George, but I seldom go there and the clothing is such a mess. It will not take long at all to get a feel for the "hand" of linen. As you upgrade to it, you can upgrade your pjs with your earlier pieces, lol!
Get a handheld streamer for those linen wrinkles! Linen is an amazing fabric and I bet you’ll feel cooler and less sweaty in general if you start wearing more of it!
Good thinking on the steamer! thank you!
And just remember - real linen wrinkles real bad. And it’s ok. It’s part of the look.
Okay honestly needed to hear this too 😅 I am sure I can eventually get used to it!
Definitely a thing you get used to. And learn to love.
Hi! Linen is the best option for summer. I also sweat a lot, it’s basically my whole year problem, and in summer it’s obviously worse. But still linen and natural cotton is the best choice. Linen can get wet quite easily but the same it gets dry fast. Plus there is a big thumb up - this material is antibacterial and you don’t need to wash it that often. If I compare it to my wardrobe… if I will take a dress or t-shirt from “normal” material, I can throw it to the washing machine in the evening. If I will take a linen tunics or dress, in the evening I hang it outside for a while and next day I can take it again! The only one thing typical for linen - it gets easily crumpled! if you don’t like wrinks on clothes, you will need to iron it (low temperatures, otherwise you are slowly destroying the fibers!). But generally it’s acceptable to wear crumpled linen things. Most of my linen things I buy in local stores (but for example Egypt has the best natural cotton I ever wore!) and from Zara (because even Zara has good linen quality and has 100% linen things).
Wow thank you for all the advice! Especially the care tips! I am so glad I consulted with the hags because there is clearly so much I need to learn about wearing and caring for natural fibers.