We live in a world of non-iron and easy-iron; a world with perfectly flat fabric and too crisp creases. It reminds me of the movie “The Matrix”. The first world the machines created were too perfect. The humans rejected it. That’s how I feel about the wrinkleless world in which we find ourselves today. It doesn’t look real. It doesn’t look “lived in”. I think we should all try wearing some clothes with a little character. Some fraying and a few unintended creases here and there can actually be a good thing.
Linen is the perfect way to do this. I wore a linen shirt the other day, and it sparked a conversation with the folks over at Moda Matters on welcoming a few wrinkles into our lives. Linen is ideal for summer, and yes, it wrinkles. Just accept it and move on. It looks good with the wrinkles. Wrinkled linen connotes a relaxed atmosphere.
Of course, there is a right way and a wrong way to do this. Linen (and other clothes that wrinkle like chambray) still need to be washed and pressed. The point is that the wrinkles express the living of a day fulfilled, not a life unstructured. I made the mistake a few weeks ago of trying to sneak by with an unironed shirt, and was called out on it. It didn’t look wrinkled with charm, it looked sloppy and lazy. The goal is the former, not the latter.
Linen can be styled more formally like this look with a hopsack jacket and light gray trousers.
Linen Shirt: Harvie & Hudson // Jacket: SuitSupply
Trousers: Suitsupply // Shoes: Beckett Simonon
And it can be more casual like this striped linen shirt and summer weight chinos.
Linen Shirt: Brooks Brothers // Sunglasses: Persol
Chinos: J. Crew // Belt: W. Kleinberg // Shoes: Meermin
Obviously I wouldn’t wear linen to a black tie event, but it doesn’t have to be exclusively beach wear either. Try wearing a linen shirt with a blazer some time. Try wearing one to work on Friday. Experiment with linen a little. And definitely live a life well-lived with a few wrinkles.