A Summer Staple: The Linen Shirt
This blog post is not sponsored. Includes gifted item.
One of the most versatile pieces I have in my year-round wardrobe is a white collared shirt. It can so easily be dressed up or down, worn to the office, the farmer’s market, even the beach. My mom has always worn her collared shirts casually, thrown over tees and tank tops during the summer and it’s a styling trick I’ve come to embrace over the years too. Now I have a few white shirts in rotation year-round, including one fast fashion piece that’s held up surprisingly well for a few years. This season I was excited to add another staple to my wardrobe, this time in a summer appropriate fabric and from a dreamy sustainable brand too. Read on to see why I love this effortless summer staple.
Making The Case For Linen
The great thing about linen is that despite being a seemingly delicate fabric, it is actually quite durable. I know a lot of people can get annoyed by the wrinkling fabric but I do think that’s part of the appeal of linen and what gives it that laid-back summer vibe. It’s a natural and breathable material with anti-bacterial properties, making it ideal for hot and sticky summer days. And it adds a textural element to my monochrome outfits so I can keep things interesting styling-wise.
Styling This Classic Piece
Back in the day I used to style secondhand mens collared shirts with my jeans and t-shirts. While I still love that look, nowadays I prefer something a bit more fitted and flattering. For a while I didn’t think I could wear collared shirts with my casual personal style. That is until I realized that collared shirts look awesome when styled more casually with jeans or denim shorts. I’ve also been leaning towards more oversized sihlouettes this summer so I like the idea of styling a linen shirt with billowy wide leg pants or tailored shorts.
Rachael Harrah & A Note On Highlighting Brands
Rachael Harrah is an ethical, LA-based and female-owned brand that’s been on my radar for a bit so I was thrilled when they got in touch to let me try out their signature Long Sleeve Shirt. They use all natural materials and low-impact dyes to create some beautiful wardrobe staples. This brand really embodies that effortless (& ethical) California style that I love and strive for.
In more recent blog posts I’ve started highlighting the brands I feature in my photos, in part because I want to support and promote brands that I genuinely love and who support me as a creator. I also want this platform to be a place to discover sustainable brands. I used to struggle with shopping sustainably because I was only familiar with a small number of sustainable brands that suited my personal style. I hope that highlighting them will allow you to add more sustainable brands to your arsenal, giving you better options when you’re ready to shop. So here’s to finding those classic staples from great brands that you can love for years!
