Creasing is one of the main concerns when people ask about wearing linen suits. Linen suits will and are supposed to crease. They will not look like an accordion, but will wrinkle a bit where folded. It is a statement of confidence and refined taste to wear linen suits. The slight ripple the fabric attains with use, brings the garment to life. If you fell asleep in your linen suit during the last bash, put it on a hanger, gently damp the fabric with a spray bottle and watch how the fabric magically is de-creased while drying outside in the wind!

To sum it up shortly, linen fabric is a casual suit fabric for suits meant to wear in casual situations. Even if the words “casual” and “suit” in the same sentence is a strange mix for many people nowadays, this is a timeless fact. Wear your linen suit intentionally and own it. You will not be disappointed.

You can definitely wear linen suits in the fall, and in fact, all year round if you are aware of some practical facts. The whole deal about dates regulating when it is ok to wear linen suits or not, is generally dated nonsense. There are however some aspects making light linen fabrics more suitable for the warmer season. Light linen fabric is very airy and cool to wear and looks better with lighter summery shoes. If you, like we, love wearing linen suits also during the colder season, darker colors like navy, olive, light brown, dark tan and tobacco woven as heavier fabrics will be more practical. The beautiful coarse texture of heavy linen fabric can have the same appeal as flannel, corduroy and tweed, and layer nicely with lightly knitted cardigans and vests and knitted ties.

A beige linen suit is perhaps the most classic and timeless choice of color. From experience, a somewhat darker shade of beige will be more versatile as is doesn’t get dirty as easily as a lighter beige garment. A slightly darker beige will also harmonize better with a wider variety of shirt and tie colors. A light beige linen suit is preferrable if you predominantly will mainly wear it in hot, sunny summery conditions.

What shirt to wear with a linen suit is basically decided by the situation and conditions you are wearing your suit. Generally, a shirt in a lighter color than your suit is easier to pull off well if you are not fully sure how to do it. White, pale blue, light lavender, pink or beige are good choices.

If you are spending your day in baking hot Florence or Milan, a linen shirt will be the best choice as it “breathes” the same way your linen suit does. Even a lightweight cotton shirt will noticeably decrease the breathability under your linen jacket in temperatures over 25°C. Yes, some people will sometimes need to wear a suit and tie, even under those conditions!

In lower temperatures, the choice of shirt material will be less important. Oxford and chambray or light denim shirts can make stunning combinations with your linen suits. Button down shirt collars are excellent paired with linen suits for a laid-back confident style, worn either with two buttons open or with a tie that is not too thick for the size of your shirt collar.

What shoes to wear with linen suits can preferably be decided by the situation, time of year and color of your suit. General advice is to harmonize your shoes with the color and weight of your suit fabric. Lightweight fabrics in brighter colors like off white, beige or light brown, go very well with brown suede shoes like loafers, moccasins, oxfords or derbies, with thinner soles. It is visually appealing to create a soft contrast between the colors.

The darker the shoe, the more formal the impression, plus that the shoe will stand out visually from (wors case, clash with) the greater picture of your combination. White minimal sneakers in canvas or leather are of course always a summer classic, especially worn with a crisp white t-shirt under your suit jacket. The true suit afficionado will wear a loosely cut linen suit with a white tank top, bucket hat and light brown flip-flops, to the mediterranean beach bar.

What tie to wear with a linen suit can be decided both by the situation in which you wear your linen suit, and the appearance you wish to give. Grenadine ties give a slight lustre of silk, while still harmonizing with the texture of the linen fabric. Lightweight cotton and linen ties, especially untipped versions, are particularly good matches with linen suits.

If you wear a patterned tie, it looks good if the color of your shirt or suit jacket harmonizes with the colors in the ties pattern, plus the main color of the tie harmonizing with your suit color in tone, the tie being a shade or two darker than the suit jacket. With a bit of experience wearing suits and ties, you can of course also make a brighter colored tie look good, but it takes a bit more skill and knowledge.