Linen has made a comeback this season, as a sustainable, eco-friendly fabric that can be used in a plethora of ways. From relaxed shirts to ruffled-hemmed skirts via workwear-appropriate suits and feminine blouses, designers have taken the fabric – once relegated to the floaty kaftans of resort wear – and given it a thoroughly contemporary spin.
Of course, the most obvious place to wear linen is on holiday – the high street has plenty of striped jumpsuits and sweet sundresses made for strolling along a beach – but you'll find it works for summer in the city, too.
During the UK's unprecedented heatwave, linen is the easy, breezy answer to your sweltering nightmare commute, and it works in the office, too. Despite its seemingly relaxed aesthetic, linen has been spun into a flurry of pastel two-piece suits, as shown by Hillier Bartley's Parma Violet dream.
Ahead, we've rounded up our favourite linen pieces, from shirred tops to Bardot dresses.
H&M Linen Playsuit, £29.99, available at H&M
Hillier Bartley Linen Tapered Pants, £357, available at Net-A-Porter
UO Melrose Jumpsuit, £59, available at Urban Outfitters
J.Crew Marseille Striped Linen Jumpsuit, £155, available at Net-A-Porter
Topshop Linen Mix Stripe Shorts, £32, available at Topshop
All Things Mochi Gina Embroidered Linen Dress, £153, available at Net-A-Porter
COS Cotton-Linen Pencil Skirt, £35, available at COS
Faithfull The Brand Sloan Shirred Linen Top, £100, available at Net-A-Porter
Kitri Violette Linen Bardot Dress, £145, available at Kitri
Beaufille Nysa Linen-Blend Top, £128, available at Net-A-Porter
Whistles Montana Linen Shirt Dress, £129, available at Whistles
Isabel Marant Étoile Ines Ruffled Linen Skirt, £78, available at Net-A-Porter
Zara Asymmetric Checked Dress, £29.99, available at Zara
Staud Coco Raffia-Trimmed Linen Blend Top, £150, available at Matches Fashion
Mango Striped Linen Sweater, £29.99, available at Mango
ASOS DESIGN Curve Button Through Linen Mini Sundress, £22, available at ASOS
Rejina Pyo Amber Linen Strap Detail Shirt, £201, available at Browns Fashion
Warehouse Linen Button Through Dress, £42, available at Warehouse
Johanna Ortiz Bosque Del Apache Linen Gingham Skirt, £660, available at Browns Fashion
Finery Oliver Fawn Cotton Linen Trousers, £26, available at Finery
Uterqüe Embroidered Zebra Scarf, £44.90, available at Uterqüe
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