How to Wear Linen in Summer (and Not Look Like a Wrinkled Mess)
Linen and wrinkles go hand in hand—but that doesn’t mean you have to look like a wrinkled mess. I wear linen every summer because it’s light, breathable, and has an easy, effortless feel. But I also know it can look sloppy fast if you’re not careful.
That doesn’t mean it’s off the table. When you select the right cuts and style them with intention, linen looks modern, chic, and pretty classy—even with a few wrinkles. Here’s how I wear it in the summer without looking like I’ve given up.
pink linen tank top | linen shorts | straw tote | silver sandals similar
Why Wear Linen?
There’s no better fabric for staying cool in hot and muggy weather. Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant, making it highly absorbent and durable. It is worn a lot in tropical hotspots like Africa and Egypt because it wicks away moisture, keeps you dry and cool, and prevents overheating.
Linen also looks and feels great. Linen clothing is light, loose, and relaxed. It’s stylish when you want to dress casually and is very comfy, too.
White Drawstring linen pants | White tee | Pink striped shirt | Sandals | Straw bag
But What About All The Wrinkles?
Yes, linen wrinkles. Linen lovers will tell you it’s simply a part of the fabric’s charm. All that crinkling and wrinkling give linen a hip, effortless vibe and a kind of old-world, casual elegance.
Call me tidy, but I’m still getting used to wearing linen. Some days, I adore linen, and some days, I’m not in the mood! Linen blends, such as this pink maxi dress, are a great compromise since they wrinkle less.
If you’re not entirely comfortable with the wrinkles, consider linen blends, which tend to hold their shape better while retaining that breezy feel.
striped linen pants | rust tee | woven faux leather bag | snake print sandals |hat | earrings |Watch the modeling video here!
Structured linen top | Cargo pants |Sandals
Structured vs. Unstructured Linen Pieces
Since linen is laid back and casual, it’s perfect for weekends and vacations. Think flowy white drawstring pants, relaxed pleated linen shorts, breezy lace-up tunics, and long, flowy linen dresses.
Lately, I’ve been seeing more structured pieces, such as cropped linen pants, blazers, and architectural-looking tops and dresses—for example, this lavender polo shirt I just bought. Structured linen pieces are dressy enough to wear to some workplaces or on a casual Friday.
Watch the video of me modeling this outfit here!
What To Wear With Linen?
Linen looks best paired with other natural fabrics such as linen, cotton, denim, silk, and wool. Soft, natural leather, canvas, rope, and wood accessories complement linen.
A slouchy leather, crochet, or wicker bag paired with woven sandals complements laid-back, flowy linen pieces. The more tailored the linen, the more structured your accessories can be.
linen pants | linen front tie top |straw tote | silver sandals similar
How to Make Linen Look Crisp
If you want your linen to look crisp, set your iron to high, place a wet cotton cloth (not terry) wrung out over your linen item, and iron over the top of the fabric with steam. This prevents scorching and helps smooth out linen. Remember, though, that linen will wrinkle no matter what, especially the more you move around and sweat.
If you hate to iron, Chico’s has some great no-iron linen shirts that I’ve tried and liked. These are 100% linen, not a blend, and when they come out of the dryer, they aren’t crisp, but they are pretty wrinkle-free in a relaxed way. You can steam them to look crisper.
Do you Love Linen?
I love the look of linen. When it’s styled well, it comes across as chic and monied.
Every summer, I buy some linen. This year, I wore a cute, cropped linen top, which I paired with my denim maxi skirt and a red eyelet linen short set.
I also love linen cardigans; they are light and make the perfect summer layering piece.
How about you?
Do you like linen, or does it make you feel rumpled and frumpy? Let me know how you style yours.
Click the links under the collages or photos to shop these lovely linen outfits.
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When wearing linen pants, I always yank the pant legs up before sitting down. This takes the pressure off the knee area and prevents many wrinkles in the legs.
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for that handy tip! Cheers, Deborah
I like linen but hate wrinkles. I find some linens wear better than others. I like the long linen dress & the linen pants.
A hair conditioner added to the rinse water while laundering linen is fantastic. Linen fibers relax. Ironing linen is easy, and fibers are comfortable for the skin. Linen last and becomes softer with each washing. I avoid conditioners with color. I love the classic look of linen.
I’m like you (even though being European): I don’t like linen; it makes me feel shabby and old. And I hate ironing!
Deborah: I’m waiting to hear what kind of summer tops go with wide-leg linen pants. If tunics are too bulky and I need to cover my arms, sorry, 72 and not so firm,
Hi Paula,
If you are wide on the bottom, you want to make sure you wear something on top that shows you have a waist (even if you don’t have much of one). Otherwise, wide on top + wide on the bottom will make you look like a big box, unless you go for a cropped top. I suggest a long-sleeved linen blouse that isn’t too baggy, or a 3/4 length or full neck or scoop neck top in a natural fabric like cotton or linen. You can wear a tunic over the top but make sure it is streamlined so it narrows slightly at the waist. Another idea is to wear a camisole the same color as your pants and then wear a linen jacket over the top in a different color. The all-one color underneath will help create a long, lean line under the coat, which is slimming. Here are a few more ideas you can pick up from pinterest:https://www.pinterest.ca/explore/wide-leg-linen-pants/?lp=true