There’s nothing more satisfying than casting aside light jackets and knitwear with the first signs of summer. And let’s face it, the UK doesn’t typically get many heatwaves, so best believe the moment the mercury spikes we’ll be in our dresses and sandals faster than you can say “Met Office weather warning”. But what about those sun-drenched days when you still want to wear something light, without worrying about your skin being exposed to UV rays? Enter the trusty linen shirt.
Whether you’re ambling along a Mediterranean beach or enjoying brunch in the city, a linen shirt is a lightweight layer that will see you through a multitude of summer occasions. Not only fiercely practical and easy to throw on for daytime wear, a great linen shirt is also an elegant base layer for evening outfits, pairing well with jewellery, a silk skirt and low heels.
The secret to finding the perfect linen shirt? We recommend opting for looser styles that can be worn as a casual layer, or tucked into a pair of shorts. That said, fitted styles are also having a moment – just be sure to try several different sizes before landing on your final choice. Colour-wise, you can’t go wrong with classic white, beige or blue, though paintbox brights like tangerine, sunshine yellow and Kermit green are also trending right now. (With Nothing Underneath has a great selection of zingy shades.)
Scroll down to see and shop our definitive edit of the best summer-ready linen shirts.
Vogue’s best linen shirts at a glance:
