Linen Clothing Ideas
With summer just around the corner, it’s that time again to stock up your wardrobe with linen clothes. You might as well just call linen the ultimate standard of quality and luxury clothing. After all, slipping into one of those elegant clothes is one of the only few joys of bearing the hot summer. But, if you think flax clothes are only as good as keeping you fresh and airy during the scorching summer, you are in for a surprise!
There’s a reason why linen was available only to the crème da le crème section of the society until the late 15th century. Apart from its exquisite and distinctive material quality, it is also one of the oldest fabrics. Throughout history, it has been a symbol of ultimate comfort and luxury. So, what makes flax clothing so different from any of the other types of cloth fabrics?
Here’s everything to know about this elegant and comfortable clothing fabric.
First and foremost, let’s talk about some of the unique properties of linen that set them apart from the rest of “other” conventional clothing fabrics.
Properties of Linen
Durability
The impressive durability of flax fabric is the key property that makes it stand out from the rest of the bunch. It is widely considered the strongest natural fiber. And, best of all, its strength is known to increase with washes as well.
So, unlike other clothing fabrics that lose their original quality after a wash or two, linen clothes preserve their authentic material quality even on long usage.
For comparison, flax fiber is 30% stronger and thicker than the conventional cotton fiber. Meaning, your linen shirt will last almost twice as long as your normal cotton clothes.
Due to their exceptional durability, flax material has various other applications other than just clothing apparel. Ancient Egyptians used linen as their currency, which dates back as far as 8000 BCE. What’s more impressive is that ancient Greeks are also known to have used woven linen as a part of their battle armor as well.
The exceptional durability of the linen fabric also makes it a smart investment option. These clothes usually last several years, so you don’t have to shop for new stocks of clothes every summer.
Versatility
On the topic of smart investment, linen clothes come with another enormous advantage in the form of versatility. Whether you are aiming for a casual look or a formal appearance, flax material clothes make for an ideal outfit to slip-on.
Their natural property of blending in with every type of apparels makes them extremely versatile. Modern linen clothes come in various styles and cuts/designs as well. Such vast designs make them an ideal match with other accessories such as straw hats, leather jackets, and canvas bags, etc.
With so many styling options and accessories to choose from, linen clothing is indeed one of the most versatile clothing options in the market.
Meaning you don’t have to buy separate pairs of dresses for different occasions. Thus, it prevents you from burning a hole in your pocket as well.
Eco-friendly
In this day and age, it would be rather idiotic if we do not consider the ill-effects of using any artificially-developed products on our environment.
The fact is, we do not get ready-made linen clothes directly from nature. So, we have to consider how the process of obtaining linen fabrics affects our natural ecosystem.
Luckily, the process of obtaining this ancient material is extremely simple and has a low effect on our environment as well. It comes from flax plants. These plants are extremely resilient species that can grow in almost any type of soil condition.
They also require very less water to grow in comparison to the likes of other cloth fibers like cotton.
Besides, flax oil and seeds are in good demand in the food market. So, there is almost no wastage during the process of obtaining linen from flax plants.
The icing on the cake is that linen fabrics are biodegradable. So you do not contribute to harmful pollution even after you dispose of them.
Superior Comfort
If linen is known for one thing, it is exquisite comfort. Flax material is an extremely lightweight, breathable, highly absorbent, and heat-conductive fabric. All these properties make linen one of the most comfortable materials in the market
Flax fabric is used extensively in both clothing and bed cloth accessories as well. Linen dresses keep you cool and relaxed during the summer season due to their breathable and hollow nature.
They also have a very high absorbent property that can retain almost 20% of their dry weight. Thus, it prevents soaking up moisture and keeps you fresh and airy.
On the other hand, linen dresses and bed sheets, or duvet covers keep you warm and cozy during the cold winter season due to their highly heat-conductive nature. Hence, it helps retain your body heat to keep you warm.
Health Properties/ Hypoallergenic
Several types of fabrics react differently to our skin. Amongst those, the most common health issue is an allergic reaction. Although a severe (allergic) reaction to textile products is rare, some fabrics such as cotton can cause skin irritation and make you itchy.
Luckily, one of the main features of flax products is its anti-bacterial property, making it an allergy-safe material. Linen fiber has a good absorption capacity. Thus, it keeps your clothes dry and prevents bacteria formation.
Of course, linen fabrics cannot kill/prevent the allergens completely. But the rate of germ spread is reduced by a significant degree.
With the danger of allergy-causing germs out of the way, you can wear your linen dress with the utmost safety and ease of mind.
Easy Maintenance/ Simple To Take Care
One of the only perks of wearing luxurious clothing apparel is that their maintenance procedure is usually very complicated. You need to take several precautions when laundering if you do not want to flush your luxury investment down the drain.
However, with linen clothes, the procedure of laundering is straightforward. You can machine wash it easily. The only thing you should remember is to use cold water and avoid using bleach or detergents. They can reduce the strength of the fiber and diminish the quality of your linen dress.
Hence, it is best to take those simple precautions when washing your linen clothes.
Those were some of the most convincing properties of linen clothes that set them apart from other clothing fabrics. These properties also showcase the unique benefits of flax fabric clothing and why they are a better/smart choice amongst the sea of clothing fabrics.
The above advantages are the prime reasons why most premium clothing brands prefer to weave their clothes out of this material. As such, the number of linen dresses in the market at present is astonishing.
However, this was not always the case. Over time, flax fabrics were a representation of luxury and comfort that only the aristocrats could afford. So, how has linen evolved?
Brief History Of Linen Clothing
The earliest evidence of the Flax plant dates back as far as 7000 BCE. On the other hand, the earliest proof of linen artifacts goes back as far as 4000 BCE in Europe.
Amongst the people, Egyptians were one of the first to use linen clothing extensively.
For contextual purposes, linen fabric played a crucial role in one of the most intriguing and oldest traditions – the Egyptian technique of mummification.
Yes! The cloth you see wrapped around the mummies is linen fabric.
The main purpose of flax fabric clothes was due to its long-lasting (durable) property.
Apart from preserving the bodies, linen cloth was also a symbol of wealth and high social status.
Apart from Egyptians, many other European cultures used linen as a staple of clothing, mainly for undergarments and sleepwear.
Until the 16th century, the cultivation of flax plants was also rare. Hence, linen was a symbol of wealth and superior social status. However, after its cultivation became widespread, flax became easily accessible, and its popularity also grew, which continues till date.
Over the years, due to their premium quality and unique properties, there have been some exciting linen clothing apparel innovations. Some of the most popular choice of flax fabric clothing apparels at present includes:
Linen maxi dresses
Maxi dresses are one of the classic examples of making the best use of linen fabrics. These maxi dresses are best suited for summer due to their loose fittings and extreme comfort.
Maxi dresses are those dresses whose length tends to extend till the ankle. They are usually loose at the bottom but are form-fitting at the top. Due to such loose fittings at the bottom, it gives good breathing space and allows air to circulate properly.
Such thoughtful design helps you keep cool and relaxed during the summer.
Apart from being one of the most comfortable dresses, one massive advantage of linen maxi is that they are extremely easy to throw on. They go perfectly well with flip flops and other summer accessories.
Shirt dresses
If you are searching for a pair of clothes to keep you chill and comfortable, nothing gets better than linen shirt dresses. They are lightweight and comfortable, allowing airflow easily. The best part about shirts is that you can sport them for any occasion.
People usually throw them on for casual dinner parties. But if you need something to keep you free and sweat-free, linen shirts are the way to go.
Linen shirt dresses present themselves with a whole new level of comfort and breathability. Their natural loose design helps you to stay calm and fresh, even on humid summer days.
Linen summer dresses
The terms linen and summer go hand-in-hand. If you have ever slipped on a pair of flax fabric summer dresses, you know how intoxicating they can be. Their air thin fabrics and breezy nature enable you to move around freely and keep you cool all day long.
Another added advantage is that you get plentiful of dress options in the linen summer dress category. Whether you are looking for a casual look, an office-friendly option, or even something unique and quirky, summer dresses have it all.
Midi dresses
Linen midi dresses are one of those few styling accessories that never go out of style. Midi dresses were at their peak popularity back in the 40s. However, at this time, midis were usually mid-length styling dresses.
By the 60s, midi began to lose its peak popularity. It was only after we moved on to a longer (knee-high) dresses that midis became a household name.
Midi dresses are flattering and you to easily modify their looks using belts, or any other creative methods. They are ideal for wearing with long boots and can be worn on both summer and winter as well.
Linen wedding dresses
Wedding dresses are a result of a life-long dream—the little girl who daydreamed about walking down the aisle in her fantastical white dress. So, what better to celebrate the occasion, then with the finest and most elegant fabric?
Linen bridal dresses have become quite popular over the years. Their elegant and luxurious appearance compliments the importance of the wedding perfectly. On top of that, linen wedding dresses come in some of the most unconventional designs as well.
So, if you want to make your wedding memorable with some quirky twist, you know which section of dresses to look for.
Eco clothing
They say good clothing apparels come at a price. And that (obviously) point towards the impact of manufacturing luxury clothing at the expense of Mother Nature.
However, it is not the case for linen clothing apparel.
It is one of the most eco-friendly fabrics with an almost negligible negative impact on our environment. As mentioned earlier, linen is a product of a flax plant which is readily available and also extremely simple to grow as well.
This is probably the main reason why linen dresses have continued to gain consistent popularity amongst fashion enthusiasts.
Linen wrap dresses
No other dresses represent feminine more than the iconic wrap dress. Diane Von Furstenberg introduced the stylish wrap dress back in 1970.
The dress has everything you want in ideal feminine clothing.
It lifts the bust, defines the waist, and gives you that perfect hourglass figure. What more could you possibly want? Wrap dresses are an easy-to-throw-on outfit requiring minimal styling
Combine its simplicity with the elegancy of linen fabric, and voila! You have the perfect recipe for authentic feminine clothing apparel.
Colors of linen dresses
Traditionally flax based products fabrics are white. So it only makes sense that most people associate the color with linen dress. This might have been true in the past, but at present these dresses come in a vast array of color options.
From an expensive-looking teal green, a weekend-friendly red, to a simple and exquisite black dress, linen has you covered.
Also, due to their vast color options, linen goes well with almost any type of additional clothing accessories of any kind of occasion as well.
Final Thoughts
The paramount reputation of linen fabrics in the clothing market is undeniable. They are a benchmark of comfort and luxury. But, more importantly, they are incredibly versatile and do not impact the environment (biodegradable) as well.
What’s more intriguing is that they are incredibly durable. Thus, a sole linen dress can last you for multiple calendar years.
If you’re looking for something comfortable and elegant to keep you cool and breezy for several summers, linen dresses are your ideal choice!