The linen shirt or summer essentials
Temps de lecture : 3 minutes
THE LINEN SHIRT, ITS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Light and dressed, the linen shirt lends itself perfectly to a casual summer and is suitable for all occasions: walks on the beach, city rides as aperitifs with friends.
Don’t forget it in your suitcase this summer, you will bite your fingers.
Why? We explain everything here.
Flax: a 100% natural fiber with thermoregulatory properties
Flax comes from the Linaceae family. Its seed needs a temperate and humid climate to germinate.
The first flax plantations were discovered in Egypt and date back more than 4000 years. The technique of its weaving eventually reached Europe, where it was much appreciated as clothing or bed linen.
Today, France prides itself on being the world’s leading producer country with one of the finest qualities of flax. Together with Belgium and the Netherlands, production accounts for more than two-thirds of world production. In France, the flax fields are located between Normandy and the Nord Pas de Calais region.
Flax producers are called liniculturists.
Stages from cultivation to linen weaving
The seeds are planted between March and April. In June, the flax flower appears very ephemerally.
That’s the time we harvest. For this purpose the shoots are torn off with their roots in order to preserve the stem that contains the desired fiber. They are then placed in piles or “windrows” to dry in the fields while being regularly turned. This step is called “Rouissage”.
The rain, the sun, the dew allow the microorganisms to develop, which causes the separation of fiber and straw.
Then we go to dyeing, which is to completely isolate the fibers and comb them. We only keep the longer ones.
Then we arrive at the stage of spinning, that is to say the creation of the linen thread which will then be woven to obtain a fabric.
The properties of flax
There are many:
- it is 100% natural
- it absorbs moisture very quickly and dries very quickly unlike cotton. This makes it very pleasant to wear in summer when it is especially hot and sweating points its nose: with flax you are sure to stay dry! No need for a dryer after a washing machine!
- it is ecological: its cultivation does not require much irrigation, rainwater is enough. It also requires very little pesticides.
- it is recyclable and bio-degradable
- it is a thermoregulator and insulator: thanks to its hollow fiber, it creates a layer of air insulation that makes a natural thermal barrier between inside and outside. It therefore retains freshness and absorbs moisture. Thanks to this power of thermoregulation, it also performs very well in winter by maintaining the body’s heat when it gets cold.
- it is anti-allergic: thanks to its thermoregulatory and insulating qualities, it prevents the skin from irritating when in contact
- it is soft, durable and resistant, it does not fluff or deform
- its sweetness increases with time
- it washes very easily at 30°
The linen shirt: elegant, easy to wear and especially very comfortable
Versatile, it is worn on all occasions: from the office (sisi) to the cocktail party and the seaside promenade. It brings a relaxed and natural side while remaining elegant and distinguished thanks to the nobility of its fiber.
How to wear a linen shirt in an elegant or formal setting
Choose it with a mao collar for a minimalist and modern style, a slightly fitted cut, a neutral color like white, olive green or dark blue. For a summer dinner, pair it with white pants or a light chino and moccasins and wear it out of the pants. Iron it well before so that no crease forms. For a day at the office, wear it with a jacket and jeans or a suit depending on the more or less formal side of your environment.
On the other hand, no linen pants with a linen shirt! The total look is to be prescribed.
How to wear a linen shirt casual during the day
It can be slightly wrinkled for a holiday spirit but especially we leave it outside the pants. The cut should be a little wider than your usual shirts to let your skin breathe, without pouring into the oversize either! Choose light colors that rhyme with summer and are easy to match: water green, light grey, light blue or go on the essential white that will bring out your tanned complexion and will match perfectly with all your shorts and pants.
- Oversized, sleeves rolled up on a white T-shirt with bermuda shorts and sneakers in the open or jeans in town for a trendy look
- closed leaving the first two or three buttons open, on shorts and loafers during the day and on jeans and sneakers at night in a very relaxed spirit.
How to accessorize it
Combine a panorama, sunglasses, a nice leather belt and a nice watch to give it more style.
Timeless and indispensable in the men’s wardrobe, the linen shirt is the MUST for an elegant and casual summer. Quality, comfort, lightness, freshness, colors, everything is there, put on your shirt without thinking and enjoy your day and your evening, comfortable even in the heat. And as a bonus, you represent eco-responsible fashion and promote the ecological qualities of flax.
