Cotton or Linen for summer?

[SkinnyGoomba]

I'm debating which will be better for a late spring/summer/early fall sportcoat. Cotton or linen, both lightweight.

The linen jacket is fully lined, the cotton jacket is partially lined.

Both are going to be Navy.

 

[EasyGoing]

If the goal is to stay cool I'd go with partially lined much more than the outer material.

 

[DocHolliday]

Very lightweight linen tends to crease, rather than rumple appealingly, if that's a consideration. I'd rather have a somewhat heavier linen sportcoat than a very light one.

Personally, I prefer linen to cotton for sportcoats.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Very lightweight linen tends to crease, rather than rumple appealingly, if that's a consideration. I'd rather have a somewhat heavier linen sportcoat than a very light one.

Personally, I prefer linen to cotton for sportcoats.
I agree about weight, though I have no preference as to material between the two. I love both.

 

[AndrewRogers]

Linen has more appeal in heavier weights and will probably perform (cool) just as well in those heavier weights.

Cotton has appeal regardless of its weight, and, unlike linen, you gain little from going for a heavier weight.

Ultimately, if you want to stay cool but without giving up much in sticking to a lighter cloth, cotton will do it better than linen. Both cotton and linen, however, will do the job well.

 

[fcuknu]

go for something unlined or half lined. Linen is more gooder in my expert opinion.

 

[apropos]

What about a blend? Linen creases too much and the slubs aren't to everyone's taste while cotton has a very peculiar 'drape' IMO.

Another alternative you may wish to consider would be porous wool weaves - e.g. Crispaire or Fresco.

 

[Angevin]

I have a linen summer sports coat that doesn't fit me anymore. Anyway, I used to wear it and it wrinkles too much and it doesn't stay pressed/ironed for very long either. I personally prefer seersucker in the summer which I've seen in cotton and a cotton-linen blend. I don't own the blended one so I don't know if the blend wrinkles a lot less compared to a pure linen jacket. So I just go with cotton seersucker for summer. I would go with a partially lined jacket myself though because a fully lined jacket doesn't breathe as well.

 

[yfyf]

Cotton 4 lyfe. I don't find linen cooler and when it gets a bit damp from sweat, it feels very uncomfortable. Cotton seems to "wick" more.

 

[GuidoWongolini]

Originally Posted by yfyf

Cotton 4 lyfe. I don't find linen cooler and when it gets a bit damp from sweat, it feels very uncomfortable. Cotton seems to "wick" more.
- WORD
- also if you are in a bind, a cotton suit will fare better than a linen suit if a corporate situation arises.

 

[meister]

Originally Posted by yfyf

Cotton 4 lyfe. I don't find linen cooler and when it gets a bit damp from sweat, it feels very uncomfortable. Cotton seems to "wick" more.


You have to be kidding...

Linen is used precisely for its fabulous coolness and historic wicking properties...some blokes on SF...you gotta wonder...

QUOTE=Phat Guido;1916162]- WORD
- also if you are in a bind, a cotton suit will fare better than a linen suit if a corporate situation arises.[/quote]


Why? ...the crumpling?...I don't think cotton is a whole lot different apart from say seersucker...

 

[yfyf]

Originally Posted by meister

You have to be kidding...

Linen is used precisely for its fabulous coolness and historic wicking properties...some blokes on SF...you gotta wonder...
I am stating my own experience from owning and wearing lightweight cotton suits and lightweight linen suits. To me, cotton feels cooler and is more comfortable to wear when slightly damp. I don't have too big an issue with wrinkling, I'm just trying to make a like-for-like comparison for comfort in the summer. While linen has a reputation for being the coolest possible summer fabric, I can't say I've observed that to be the case. Having gone off and looked around on the internet, there do seem to be people that say it breathes worse than cotton but wicks better than cotton so maybe my use of the word "wicks" is inappropriate. That and I really have to wonder about my own sanity too ...

 

[Dewey]

Will navy cotton hold its color well, or will you always get an uneven "weathered" or "distressed" look with your navy cotton jacket?

 

[apropos]

Depends on the quality of the cotton. IME, eventually it will weather and look distressed.

 

[Manton]

Every body reacts differently, but I feel better in lightweight cotton in the blazing heat. For spring & fall, I prefer a heavier linen (anywhere from 10 to 14 ounces).