Finish with a gingham shirt in crisp cotton to add in both contrasting textures and patterns.

Linen Blazer

To stay breezy but still business-appropriate, go halves on your suit with a neatly cut linen blazer. Trousers are more prone to creasing from sitting down, so keep them freshly pressed in a dark cotton or cotton blend and opt for a lighter jacket up top.

This can also be worn with chinos or jeans for a solid go-to weekend look.

Linen Shirt

A linen shirt is an excellent all-rounder when it comes to summer dressing. Owing to its laid-back appeal, a well-cut version in sky blue can slide under a suit to tone down a more formal look, or sit over a T-shirt and shorts to take a casual combination up a notch.

Linen Trousers

Pure linen trousers can be tricky for no other reason than a man’s crotch has its own atmospheric considerations in hot climes. Given linen’s absorbency, trousers can become misshapen and scruffy looking. Dark suit colours like navy do well to hide this, but if opting for brighter shades, seek out a linen-blend instead, which will keep everything looking smart.

How To Choose Quality Linen Fabrics

Given that new linen is quite stiff to the touch, discerning its quality before buying can be difficult. There aren’t any hard and fast rules to identifying superior linen, so more often than not you simply have to trust the integrity of the brand you’re buying.

As a general rule, you can rest assured that linens woven in Italian mills will be of the highest quality, considering the Italian history and level of expertise in working with fine and delicate yarns.

One aesthetic consideration is ‘slubbing’. Slubs are tiny knots in the threads, and while they are not viewed as a defect, the best linens will be completely free of them.

Where To Buy Linen Clothing

Perhaps more than any other fabric, you truly get what you pay for with linen and linen-blends. The best harvests and the most expert milling practices will be reflected in the price, so try not to skimp.