Written by: Deb German
Everybody knows linen is for summer, but what about the other three seasons on the calendar? And what of wearing linen after Labor Day? Growing up in the South during the 60s and 70s as I did meant adherence to long-cherished cultural norms; many gave way to more modern sensibilities during the social tumult of that era, and that’s mainly a good thing. But traditionalists stood resolute on others, to wit: you should never wear linen clothing (nor summer whites, eyelet, seersucker, plaid madras, or dirty bucks) before Memorial Day, nor after Labor Day. Period. I am sure there were agitators who dared provoke the fashion police back in the day, but most people honored tradition where fashion was concerned, and many do still. It’s a big ship that moves slowly, the American South.
Funny thing is, in the here and now—a time characterized more often than not by fashion anarchy—people still care about when and when not to wear linen, and not just way down south: a quick Google search on the subject speaks to this. And lest we prompt Emily Post to roll over in her Victorian dress, I decided to consult, well, Emily Post (or at least her legacy of decorum disciples). The bottom line: the color’s the thing, not the linen itself. Nor has linen clothing ever been placed in the same box with summer whites or accessories: turns out we’ve self-imposed that sanction all along. (Imagine the missed opportunities.)
Has Your Linen Clothing Put On Weight? Blends Are Heavier
Some would submit that size matters—or at least the heft of the fabric: new linen blends (linen/rayon is an excellent example) stretch the limits of seasonal wear. And while wearing linen in winter may push the envelope in some climates, heavier linens in appropriate colors (think khaki, navy, brown, or black) certainly make themselves wearable right into the fall. It’s the same paradigm as keeping tropical wool in service during warm-ish months—it looks natty, drapes beautifully, and wears comfortably, especially in an air-conditioned office environment. But exercise due caution: pairing a white linen blazer with a thin, pastel linen blouse in the dead of winter is tantamount to wearing your fairy costume or Superman jammies to kindergarten because your mama said you could. Don’t be a dork: dress reasonably for the season.
What is Linen? Versatile Fashion for Mummies and More
Enduring and primordial, linen is a breathable textile woven of fibers from the flax plant. And it’s true: ancient Egyptians used linen to wrap mummies before placing them into sarcophagi. The word itself—linen—found its way into English from the Latin linum, whence comes line, where a linen thread was used as a standard to describe straightness; lingerie, once made of lightweight linen; and lining, referring to the innermost linen layer of composite garments (e.g., jackets). The manufacturing process is complicated and time-consuming, but the über-absorbent nature of the fiber makes the finished product desirable for its cooling properties in the heat, and that is the provenance of its warm-weather appeal. In short, linen clothing is comfortable to wear in hot weather, fashion dogma be damned.
There’s No Uncrumpling That Rumpling: Roll with Linen’s Wrinkles
Consider it a character flaw if you must, but you’ll be a more content fashionista just to embrace it. Linen creases and creases, and keeps on creasing the more you wear it. Try to achieve a higher state of consciousness: consider the possibility that linen clothing looks best when it is beautifully rumpled. Wear linen joyously, and make your peace with the crease, Grasshopper.
But should you insist on crispness, try these tips for erasing all the wrinkles from your linen clothing:
• Set your iron to the highest heat, and turn on the steam.
• Wet a cotton bar towel (not terry cloth) or a cotton T-shirt: soak it through, but wring it out so it’s not dripping wet.
• Place the damp towel or tee over your linen garment and iron the whole business.
• Et, voilà: the result will be smooth, unscorched linen, courtesy of the moisture.
You’ll look neatly pressed for a solid five minutes, at least. Then enjoy the changing nature of your wrinkly blouse or rumpled trousers, all the livelong day.
Pushing Boundaries: Wear Linen in Spring, Summer, and Fall
It’s time to come out of the closet. Nudge, cajole, even browbeat it if you must: go on and wear your linen clothing after Labor Day—it’s appropriate for half the year or more, in many climes. Exhibit A: a lightweight cardigan or jacket paired with your favorite linen blouse sees you through spring to summer. Exhibit B: when fall rolls around, swap light colors for darker ones, and tissue-weight tops for heavier linen blends. Limited only by your imagination and tastes, fine linen garments will do your bidding.
Emily Post has your back: beautiful and ever-adaptable, linen clothing was never just for summer.
I thought the same thing – Memorial Day – Labor Day. However, now living in Texas and recently in South Florida, light colored linens worked in April/May – September. I agree that color and weight of linen should be seasonable. Lights in Spring and Dark in late Summer/lFall.
I love linen and wear it a lot from March to September because of the Texas heat. I have about 10 white linen blouses and tunics and pair them with linen skirts, pants, and shorts. I also love linen in colors and wear the heavier linen in the fall.
Hi-I live in Minnesota and I wear linen 365 days a year! Started wearing it in the 1990’s and I have not looked back. I do iron EVERDAY. I have found that my tunics and tops are somewhat trained to lay a certain way and I sit is such a way that the fabric is not folded under me. I have definitely embraced the creases and wrinkles!
Hey Tammi. You go girl! I just started ordering linen clothing, but if I had a lot of pieces of linen clothes, I would wear them every day of the year. Who cares? I don’t follow any rules…I only follow this rule…Wear whatever is comfortable and appropriately modest. I live in Canada and even though I live in a warm weather area, we still do get some snow in the winter and I will layer my linen clothes for warmth when I have enough to do so. I don’t follow the colour rules or fabric rules for any particular season. I love it…creases and wrinkles. I embrace them!
And the moths don’t bother with it…
Hi- I will be at a business conference in MI and plna on bringing a medium weight pr of linen pants, Carmel colored!
What about to a funeral in Central Texas in mid-October. Would it be the black linen suit or the black rayon/poly/spandex suit? I like the length of the linen jacket better. If I could wait and see what the weather of the day was, I would–it’s very changeable this time of year–but I have to pack in advance.
The black linen sounds like a nicer suit… I’m a former NY celebrity fashion stylist and I say, go for it and wear the linen. Mid-October in central Texas will probably still be pretty warm and humid!
I live in Texas and the temperature has been in the high 90’s all of September. I wore a linen outfit to a indoor/outdoor event and I had a woman try to shame me for wearing it! I let her know that I was very comfortable in this Texas heat