5 Days, 5 Ways: How to Wear a Linen Shirt

5 Days, 5 Ways: How to Wear a Linen Shirt

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how to wear a linen shirt

By Gabi Meyers | Last Updated: Jul 28 2020 | 5 min read

Summer is the perfect time to add a few lightweight pieces to your wardrobe.

Like? Linen.

The natural fiber just exudes ease, guys. You can literally wear linen-anything and feel cool, calm, and collected in 100ºF weather.

A good place to start is a long-sleeve linen shirt, which is what I’ll be covering in this #SGapproved guide.

What is linen, anyway?

Made from the fibers of a flax plant, linen is a type of textile, like cotton or wool.

It’s very absorbent, drying faster than cotton, which is what makes it such a popular warm weather wardrobe swap.

What to look for in a linen shirt

nsync linen shirts

If you’re worried about looking like a ’90s boy bander crooning about love when wearing linen, this is for you.

As GQ pointed out last year, “A linen shirt might be a breezier look than your standard broadcloth shirt, but that doesn’t mean it should be flapping in the wind as you walk down the street.”

Instead, go for a more modern-looking linen shirt in a slim (but not tight) fit.

And if you’re not the ironing type? You can keep the wrinkles to a minimum but still hit a high Easy-Breezy Quotient™ in a linen-cotton blend.

How to wear a linen shirt five ways this summer:

style girlfriend 5 days 5 ways
MONDAY
how to wear linen

linen shirt: Uniqlo | belt: Anderson

SG Says:  Linen means business when it’s paired with a smart suit and leather accessories.

TUESDAY
how to wear a linen shirt with shorts

water bottle: Bkr | sneakers: Vans

SG Says:  Linen works as a great base layer on mercurial spring or summer days that shift from sunny to breezy in what feels like a matter of minutes.

And don’t be afraid to pair chino shorts with a button-front linen shirt. I promise you won’t look like you’re on vacation, vying for another mai tai at the resort bar, so long as the rest of the outfit looks structured.

WEDNESDAY
how to wear a linen shirt with a nautical sweater

sneakers: Tretorn | watch: MVMT

SG Says:  Linen’s breathability makes it a great base layer for April and May’s notoriously muggy showers.

THURSDAY
linen shirt outfit

baseball cap: Goorin Bros | cotton twill chinos (similar): Canali

SG Says: Colorful chinos and a Harrington jacket look just as good paired with a linen shirt look at the office as they do after hours.

FRIDAY
how to wear a linen shirt with jeans

tee: Uniqlo | hand lotion: Aesop 

SG Says: A linen shirt works wonders as a stylish layer when traveling (and facing cool AC on a hot day).

// Shop the best linen shirts for men //

$ – Uniqlo, $30

uniqlo linen shirt

SG Says: Shown throughout this guide, this long-sleeve Uniqlo shirt is an affordable way to dip into the linen trend.

Thanks to a shorter hem and slightly loose shoulder, this shirt looks good untucked for a casual, even (yes) breezy feel.

$$ – Bonobos, $88

bonobos washed linen shirt

SG Says: This shirt is a linen-cotton blend, which, as I mentioned above, means you’ll see less wrinkles than a 100% linen shirt.

There’s also a kind of funky striped version in the same cut, if you’re looking to break out of summer solids.

$$$ – Club Monaco, $99

club monaco band collar linen shirt

SG Says: A band collar shirt is a great way to shake things up with this summer shirt. Wear a t-shirt underneath like the model above, or on its own for an uber-laid back vibe.

clothes hanger

Want more summer style? Check out five ways to wear espadrilles, and the best swim trunks under $100.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Gabi Meyers went from Team SG's first-ever intern to a trusted fashion editor and stylist. She currently lives in Chicago with a very cute dog.