When warm weather beckons, there’s only one thing on our minds as far as travel wardrobes are concerned: linen. Breathable and durable, linen is great at helping regulate your body temperature. Plus, it dries quickly and gets softer over time, making it the ideal fabric to conquer blazing weather. Ancient Egyptians used to wear linen as a sign of high class and even wrapped mummies in it—if it’s good enough for pharaohs, it’s good enough for us.
Beyond its historical context, linen, when harvested properly, is an incredibly sustainable material. To grow and farm flax, you don’t need to irrigate, fertilize, or use pesticides. And usually, every part of the plant can be used for something (textile, oil, paper, and much more), meaning making a linen shirt leads to less waste. But it’s not just funerary garbs that are fashioned out of linen now—from shirts and shorts to blazers and neck ties, we’ve rounded up the best men’s linen basics to pack this summer. Whether you’re headed on a tropical vacation or exploring a new warm-weather city, these linen staples will keep you cool all summer long.
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Long-sleeve button-downs
If you’re just kicking off your linen collection, start with a classic long-sleeve in a summer-friendly color like white or navy. There’s something about a crisp linen button-down that effortlessly transforms every outfit into vacation-ready attire. Maybe it’s the breezy, lightweight way in which it drapes, or perhaps it’s the casual, sometimes crunchy, look linen has, but to us, it always looks correct. And with the full sleeves, it can pull double duty for sharper dress codes. You can put it over your favorite pair of jeans for a day of sightseeing, under a suit for a summer wedding, or with your trunks at the beach. And if you already have the basics covered, it’s time to invest in brighter colors like yellow or by springing for shirts with extra details, like button-downs with chest pockets that would look just as fresh at a safari.
Short-sleeve button-downs
A short-sleeve linen button-down isn’t going to be as endlessly versatile as a long-sleeve. (We wouldn’t advise you to wear a short-sleeve under a suit, for instance.) But what these more casual shirts lack in that department they more than make up for with variety. A short-sleeve linen shirt is a great way to show off your personal style, thanks to the breadth of options available. Yes, you can certainly go for a foolproof white, oatmeal, or navy shirt, but if your style calls for it, there are colorful and playful motifs, too, like Tombolo’s homage to the iconic Italian resort Le Sirenuse.
Linen tops
A linen button-down (in either or both sleeve length) might already be in your closet. If you want to broaden your linen wardrobe, there are countless other shapes and makes to choose from. I’m partial to linen T-shirts and tank tops for a comfortable, breezy top to sport in hot and humid destinations. A long-sleeve version is an especially genius move when island-hopping around Greece (ferries, airplanes, and airports are notoriously cold!). And if you want a dressier option that isn’t a button-down shirt, many brands now design sleek linen polo shirts, too, which you can wear under a suit for a more modern take on summertime elegance.
Linen pants
I consider a pair of linen pants a sartorial classic, especially in a go-with-everything neutral color. In fact, while linen pants can easily be found at nearly every price point, consider paying a bit more for a high-quality pair in a light hue (I like white for this) that can act as a seasonal workhorse year after year. From there, you just need to decide whether you’d prefer the more casual, pull-up drawstring style, or a more traditional trouser construction that will suit more formal occasions. If you have many warm-weather events to attend this year, maybe get both.
Linen shorts
When it comes to linen shorts, my biggest styling tip is to find a pair that isn’t too tight around the legs. Given their more casual vibe, linen shorts should have an easy-breezy flow when you wear them, so go for fuller, wider cuts that won’t restrict movement: They’ll be as unfussy as your summer plans. And if you want to level up, there are brands that offer cool matching shirt-and-short sets.
Linen suits
For those of us with a summer calendar full of celebratory occasions (maybe a wedding or a big work function), a perfectly tailored linen suit is about to become the hardest working piece in your closet. Just like any other suit, though, you want one that complements your physical proportions. What’s specifically great about linen suits is that they’re very easy to wear separately thanks to their inherently casual vibe. The pants can be worn with just about anything in your suitcase (with one of your favorite white tees for a fuss-free, any-day-of-the-week outfit, for example); while the blazer can dress up a different pair of trousers—or even a pair of shorts.
Accessories
If you really want to commit to that quintessential summer vacation aesthetic, don’t skip out on linen accessories. While they’re not as accessible as, say, a linen button-down, you can find brands fashioning accessories out of this fabric. For instance, a pair of linen espadrilles will help keep your feet cool and dry more stylishly than flip-flops. And for your summer weddings, a brightly patterned linen pocket square or tie will add visual interest to any suit.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
