Whether you’re looking for low key summer styles or glamorous beach ensembles, there’s only one true summer fabric. With a crisp hand and lightweight composition, linen’s breathable feel will leave you sunkissed and shining! Line linen paper bag shorts with satin for an even softer feel, or pair a linen wrap dress with a tricot bodysuit for a beach-ready look that can take you from the ocean to cocktail hour. Let’s take a look at how designers have been using linen this season, and how you can take those looks to the beach and beyond!
Dresses
A linen dress is a summer staple, and although Mood doesn’t have any specific linen dress patterns, the Ulmus Dress would be absolutely stunning in printed linen. Ace & Jig pairs a striped linen dress with matching cardigan, while Mara Hoffman’s absolutely stunning button-up dress in white linen stands on its own. Whit’s striped linen dress features the perfect pockets for heading out on a beachside picnic.
Dresses can be made from a variety of fabrics, check out Mood’s Dress Applications Page for dress fabric suggestions. Linen dresses require a certain level of opacity, so medium-weight linens are the best choice for. Linen-Rayon blends are also excellent alternatives to linen, as they are soft like rayon but crisp like linen.
The Linen Jumpsuit
The jumpsuit has taken the runway by storm. From casual rompers to high-end jumper suits, there is an endless variety of jumpsuits. The Perilla Jumpsuit can be dressed up with a silk or down with denim, but in linen, it’s the perfect garment for afternoons at the park or beachside brunch. Ace & Jig’s linen jumpsuit pairs perfectly with a matching blouse, while Brunello Cucinelli’s features a contrast collar. Kes dresses the jumpsuit down by wearing it open, paired beautifully with a twisted bandeau.
For a beachy jumpsuit, utilize lightweight linen! Cotton Poplin is another excellent alternative, as it has a thin hand and crisp drape.
The Linen Pant
Linen pants are breathable and stylish, which Shavonne executes beautifully in the Primrose Pants! Ace & Jig are on that monoprint grind with another matching set, this time paired striped linen pants with a striped shirt and, you guessed it, a striped jacket. Brunello Cucinelli’s linen pants in navy pair perfectly with a basic tee and maxi shirt dress, worn wide open, while Tome’s linen pants in yellow look perfectly prim paired with a pink linen blouse.
The Primrose Pants look gorgeous in striped linen, but I would love to see these in a floral, too! Check out Linen Canvas for thicker pants, or play with Woven Linen for a natural look.
Linen Patterns
Mood features a variety of stunning patterns, from basic blouses to extravagant gowns, many of which would be ideal for spring and summer when made from linen. Robyn and I are looking fierce in the Aster Pants, which would be light and breezy in a medium-weight linen in either the full length or cropped variety. Kaitlyn is fun and flirty in The Clover Crop Top, the ideal candidate for lightweight linen. In fact, any pattern made from a poplin will be nice in linen, since they’re both lightweight, semi-sheer, and a little stiff in the drape while maintaining a graceful volume. Patterns made of voile are a good option for similar reasons. Shavonne looks drop dead GORGEOUS in the Ercilla Suit, which a medium- or heavy- weight linen would suit well since it does have a certain structure to it. Holly is a cute little queen in the Vallea Tunic, a breezy summer pattern that would be lovely in light-weight linen.
These stellar patterns are made of fabrics like crepe, cotton poplin, and African Print, but all would lovely in a variety of linens. Check out Printed Linen for a nice pop, or polka dot linen for a sweet style. Take a look at Mood’s Summer Fabrics Applications page for other fabrics that, like linen, will keep you easy and breezy during those hot weather months.
I am loving linen, and something tells me I’ll be slipping into some soon! Maybe I’ll make the cropped Aster Pants, or maybe I’ll find a pretty little skirt… What linen style will you be sporting this summer? Let me know in the comments!
