The Secret to Finding Linen Shirts That Barely Wrinkle (Yes, They Exist)

IN A LINEN SHIRT, one is meant to exude ease and breeziness, as if one exists in a parallel universe where the only obligation is to traipse down beaches, whistling Fleetwood Mac songs passably. In reality, one often ends up a wrinkled mess. Successfully looking (and feeling) cool and carefree in linen requires wearying effort. Crinkles and creases can develop in minutes. And no matter how laid-back your lifestyle, they’re rarely desirable. 

So what’s a linen-lover to do? No linen shirt is ever fully “wrinkle-free,” said Olie Arnold, style director at e-retailer Mr Porter. But thanks to a few fabrication tweaks, today’s linen-blend shirts wrinkle less than their 100% linen predecessors. This season, said Arnold, designers often favored fabrics that incorporated fibers such as silk, viscose and elastane to give crunchy linen a “softer” feel. A classic cotton-linen blend, meanwhile, produces a crisp result, said Pip Durell, founder of With Nothing Underneath, a London-based shirting label. A weighty cotton makes a light linen denser, which helps stave off wrinkles, she said. 

If you’re a purist who insists on 100% linen, certain choices can disguise unsightly crumples, said Asya Varetsa, founder of the Ukrainian women’s label Sleeper. “Printed linen is less likely to show creases.” Her advice: Seek out striped or checked linen shirts

With both pure and blended linen, fit is fundamental when it comes to staying crinkle-free. Avoid neat silhouettes, advised Amy Smilovic, founder of New York brand Tibi. She wears her linen button-up “four sizes too big,” which helps prevent deep-set wrinkles from forming the second you sit down. Short sleeves eliminate the risk of developing sloppy, rumpled elbows, added London designer Oliver Spencer.  

Specialist “crease-release” laundry sprays–like those from Begley’s, Grove Collaborative and Cold Iron–can help you avoid slob status when you’re miles away from an iron. Easily packed into everyday totes, they work their relative magic on a range of linen fabrics. A quick all-over spritz can make wrinkles soften and fade: a crinkle solution whether you’re heading to the boardroom or the bar—or actually whistling on a beach. 

Linen-Blend Shirts for Men

Linen-Blend Shirts for Women

7 Keep-’em-Crisp Hacks for Linen Shirts, Pure or Blended

1. Wash linen in the machine on a cold setting, advised Jerry Pozniak, chief executive of Manhattan dry cleaning firm Jeeves New York. The cool temperature stops dyed linen cloth from losing its color. 
2. Linen is best air dried—preferably on a hanger rather than a drying rack, which can cause bumps. 
3. Iron fresh from the wash when the cloth is slightly damp, advised Pozniak. This softens its overall feel.
4. Avoid spray starches. While they deliver a crispier look, they will make any ensuing wrinkles “even more obvious,” said Pozniak.
5. Never fold, advised Pozniak. A hanger is your friend.
6. When traveling with checked-in luggage, pack linen shirts in a garment bag “like a suit,” said Pozniak. This stops deep-set creases forming in-flight.
7. Upon arrival, hang everything in the bathroom while you shower, advised Spencer. The steam will make crinkles “drop right out.”

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