Why Linen Shirts Should Be Your Style Staple

Summer may have put linen on the map but the best-dressed men never pack it away. Here’s why a linen shirt deserves a permanent spot in your closet

By Sanika Achrekar | LAST UPDATED: NOV 19, 2025

From contemporary prints to understated classics, linen shirts have that throw-it-on-and-go energy that makes them hard to part with. A true wardrobe constant, the linen shirt never really disappears – it simply shifts with the seasons. Like a good bottle of red, the fabric only gets better with age, making it the perfect piece to channel your inner off-duty F1 racer unwinding somewhere along the Amalfi Coast. You get the vibe.

Sure, we have mentally filed linen under summer essentials, and rightly so. But it’s more multifaceted than you think. Wear it solo in spring and summer, or layer it under knits and jackets when the temperature drops. Linen isn’t just a seasonal thing – it’s a year-round style MVP.

At Nicobar, a homegrown label built around leisurely living, the approach to linen is simple. “Relaxed fits, clean finishes, and designed for everyday comfort,” says Aparna Chandra, Co-Creative Director. Their linen shirts are a masterclass in unfussy dressing. “Light, airy, and always a bit rumpled in the best way. Linen keeps you cool for summer and gets softer with each wear. A linen shirt carries a natural ease, you can wear it from desk to dinner, and it never feels too much or underdone. For men, it’s one of those timeless pieces that quietly delivers season after season,” she explains.

And if you’re wondering just how big the fabric's moment is, just look around. From luxury fashion houses to high-street heroes, everyone’s doubling down. We’re seeing entire capsules dedicated to the fabric: shirts, trousers, ties, kurtas, and even bags. When a fabric gets that kind of love across the board, you know it’s more than just a summer affair.

Brunello Cucinelli linen shirt

What makes linen particularly appealing right now is how seamlessly it fits into the rhythm of modern dressing. In a world that prioritises comfort without compromising on style, the fabric has stepped into the spotlight as the perfect middle ground. International names like Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Brunello Cucinelli, Ralph Lauren and Jacquemus, as well as homegrown labels including Andamen, Perch, No Nasties, Nicobar, and ARKS, have long championed the fabric in their warm-weather and fall collections, proving that the fabric can feel just as luxurious as silk or cashmere.

Picking the correct linen shirt

Fit and size matter

Look for a silhouette that skims the body – roomy enough to let the fabric breathe, but still sharp across the shoulders. Lightweight linens are your go-to for high summer, but a slightly heavier weave can carry you through spring and into autumn. Some brands even offer linen blends with cotton or Tencel and they are softer, wrinkle less, and hold their shape better throughout the day.

Colour choices

You can’t go wrong with the classics like white, sand, olive, and navy. But don’t shy away from pastels or deeper tones like rust or forest green, especially if you’re layering. If you're print-curious, stripes and bold prints are a good place to start.

Details make a difference

Natural buttons, clean seams, and a Mandarin or band collar can amp up the simplest shirt. The goal is to look considered, not overdone. These details separate real linen from the rest. Brownie points? It softens with every wash.

Styling linen shirts 101

Linen isn't about being loud. It's about being right. It adapts to the heat, the pace, and the unpredictability of life on the move. For Shreyas Chandra, founder of Raceorbit, linen is less about looking perfect and more about feeling ready. “Linen works when you don’t try to make it something it’s not. I like wearing linen shirts like I wear my mindset, unbuttoned, untucked, and ready to roll. Open over a tank, sleeves pushed up, paired with loose cargo or lived-in denim. Add a pair of shades and you’ve already won.”

“For a sharper mood: tuck it into relaxed trousers, leave the top two buttons open, and wear it like you’re late to your rooftop gathering. Neutral tones work best such as off-whites, olives, navy, and rust. But black linen? Criminally underrated. Linen absorbs light differently, which gives even the simplest colours a lot of dimensions. Linen doesn’t need effort. It is the effort.”

The takeaway? Linen isn’t just having a moment – the kind of shirt you pack for a weekend away, the piece you throw on after a swim, the layer you wear under your winter coat, and the one you keep coming back to, year after year.