A Cool & Stylish Summer…
It’s that time of the year again…away go the jeans & fleeces, and out come the vests & shorts we’ve been dreaming of for months. And although we start the summer with great intentions of slowly acquiring a golden glow whilst elegantly sipping a G&T on the terrace, we invariably progress through the summer becoming pinker & more damp, and enter August wishing we were brave enough to go naked.
But most of us are not that brave. Indeed, we quiver at the thought of showcasing thighs, upper arms, and other ‘wobbly bits’; and no amount of reassurance that ‘no-one is looking at you, they’re all too busy worrying about themselves’ makes us feel any better. We know it doesn’t matter, we know we’re loved just the way we are, but what do we do in the height of the Spanish summer when we cannot bear to bare?
The answer is linen. A great conductor of heat, linen feels cool to the touch and is incredibly absorbent, with a natural ‘wicking’ ability which keeps heat and moisture away from the skin. Amazingly, linen is able to absorb up to 20 times its own weight in liquid before it feels damp. And linen’s natural fibres means it’s anti-allergenic - the perfect fabric for a hot climate.
Linen’s low elasticity means it will retain its shape, so your clothes won’t shrink, grow, or otherwise deform. And it’s an incredibly durable fabric so numerous washes won’t damage it. In fact, linen gets softer and smoother the more you wash it, until the desired state of ‘Heirloom Linen’ is reached - linen that’s as soft as silk.
After thousands of years of being used for the very worthy (but let’s face it – incredibly mundane) purposes of clothing our beds & dining tables, it’s surprising that the fashion industry has only recently woken up to this fabulous fabric.
The use of linen within the fashion industry has rocketed over the past 30 years – from 5% of all linen production being used for clothing in the 1970’s, to over 70% by the 1990’s. And with the large fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren and Gucci taking it to the catwalk year after year, it’s easy to see why linen has been so widely picked up by the high street. There’s a huge choice of linen available now: the ubiquitous ‘wide-leg-pant’ has been joined by its contemporary cousins in sharp styles, rich colours and funky patterns.
More Katherine Hepburn than Kat Slater, linen is not only practical but will continue to be stylish year after year. Cool enough to wear in the midday heat and smart enough to take you into evening, linen is a summer winner through and through. Look & feel your best this summer – choose linen.
Copyright June 2008 by Nicola Franklin