Linen is a wonderful canvas fabric and an excellent sartorial choice for the extremely warm season. It can be worn in a very wide variety of shapes: from pants and jackets to shirts and even shoes! Linen canvas fabric is, quite possibly, the quintessential warm-weather cloth. Infact back in the day, it was so popular of a fabric that even now, well past the age of cotton and well into the era of arti􀃗cial materials, all laundry is often referred to as linens. And it was once so precious that it was the only material of choice (http://www.chicagonow.com/quilting-sewingcreating/2016/01/12-lively-facts-about-linen/) for wrapping the bodies of mummies in Egypt - a fact which has contributed greatly to the preservation of these ancient treasures.

Let’s begin with the history of linen—In the second part of the 19th century, modern suits, which were quite a new thing, were made from fabrics such as tweed, worsteds and 􀃘annel, and given that back then materials were heavier as compared to what we wear today, these materials became just too warm to be worn during the summer. This is when linen shirts for men stole the spotlight.

To understand the basics, linen was derived from the 􀃘ax plant and could be easily used for suits. Linen fabric by the yard made from 􀃘ax plant has been cultivated in just about every country in the world and has been used to make 􀃗ber for over six thousand years (http://www.sewing.org/learn_to_sew/fabric_facts_linen.html). The resulting linen fabric is two to three times stronger than cotton. Because of its porous nature, linen has natural heat and moisture wicking properties that make it a good conductor of heat and a popular fabric to use for clothing or bedding in the summer.

Ironing

The downside of wearing linen however is in the 􀃗bers as well. These breathable 􀃘ax 􀃗bers are quite rigid and once they crease, they remain creased for the duration of wear. A good tip for ironing linen clothing involves moisture or steam. Set your iron on the linen setting and iron while the garment is still damp. The heat from the iron will dry the fabric and remove wrinkles more effectively. If your garment is complete dry, spill some water while ironing or use a steam iron.

Cleaning

If your linen clothing is a blend of linen and cotton or rayon, the care instructions may be different. The fabric content of trim or lining can also affect the method of cleaning. Unfortunately, if the label says dry clean only, it is probably best to do so.

Like for a white linen shirt, in between washings or dry cleaning, iron out troublesome wrinkles so your linen remains crisp and neat. Spray lightly with a fabric refresher to eliminate environmental odors.

If you follow this advice, you can enjoy wearing your comfortable linen clothes for many years to come!

Styling Tips

To wear linen con􀃗dently is to embrace the materials relaxed crumpledness, and the easiest way to do this is with a linen suit. Ideal for a relaxed summer wedding (http://www.fashionbeans.com/2017/what-towear-summer-wedding/), particularly in a shade of tan, a simple two-piece allows you to beat the heat and still look smart.

Finish with a checked shirt in crisp cotton to add in both contrasting textures and patterns. If you are wearing a linen suit, you should know that a white linen suit will have a more vintage vibe than a navy or brown suit, which feature a more modern feel. From an aesthetic point of view, you will not have best results if you are wearing linen from head to toe: break it down with some cotton!

To stay breezy but still business-appropriate, go halves on your suit with a neatly cut linen blazer (http://www.fashionbeans.com/2016/best-linenblazers-for-men/). 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.

A white linen shirt is an excellent all-rounder when it comes to summer dressing. Owing to its laid-back appeal, a well-cut version 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. You can experiment with the colours as well—one could go for a sky blue version or try light pink.