How to care for linen clothing?

[Stylekid21]

Recently, I have bought 3 linen shirts(pure linen) for the summer, and when I wore one the other day, within a half hour, it was WRINKLED. I have heard of people saying to iron it while damp and put starch spray, but what can you do to not have it wrinkle WHILE your wearing it?

 

[clapeyron]

Call it 'sprezzatura' and be done with it.

 

[Stylekid21]



Call it 'sprezzatura' and be done with it."


And that's supposed to mean....?
 

 

[sportin_life]

I always thought the wrinkling is part of the appeal? Not sure if I would starch linen, wouldn't it exagerrate any creasing?

 

[Grenadier]

Linen will wrinkle. As for not knowing what sprezzatura is, try Google or searching this forum.

 

[RDiaz]

I'm shocked that it took 30 minutes to get the shirt wrinkled. It usually takes much less...

If you don't like wrinkles, don't buy linen shirts.

 

[Bounder]

Linen shirts always get wrinkled. They are supposed to, as are linen jackets and pants.

If you really don't like that look, don't get pure linen. There are blends, cotton/linen, linen/silk, wool/linen, that wrinkle much less. These are relatively common in jackets, less so in pants and and much less so in shirts.

BTW, heavier linen -- which does kind of defeat the purpose -- wrinkles less and drapes much better. It still wrinkles, though.

 

[Texasmade]



I always thought the wrinkling is part of the appeal?

I always thought the same thing about the wrinkling of linen. Also the breatheability of linen in the summertime is great. I usually always wear linen shirts on the weekend during spring and summer.

 

[MisterFu]

I always thought the wrinkling is part of the appeal? Not sure if I would starch linen, wouldn't it exagerrate any creasing?

I wear linen suits in the summer and wrinkling is just part of the deal. Though I have heard it said, I have never found linen propensity to wrinkle particularly appealing, but heavier fabrics aren't very pleasant in 90+ degree heat and high humidity. Heavier linen weaves and internal overbuilding can lead to wrinkle resistant linen garments, but they defeat the purpose of linen, IMHO.

As for starching a linen shirt, I think it would initially resist creasing, but then make the situation considerably worse as the starch would essentially lead to "crinkled paper" consistency in the fabric. Personally, I'd leave it be and just live with the wrinkles.

 

[Stylekid21]

Thanks to those of you who told me NOT to starch my shirts, and who explained that wrinkles are just a part of the look! I just wanted to be sure on any ways to prevent wrinkles, but I'll learn to wear my wrinkles proudly! Thanks again!

 

[JayJay]



....I'll learn to wear my wrinkles proudly! Thanks again!

That's the attitude to have for wearing linen.