Stay cool with linen as the temperature rises

Don’t get me wrong I will always, always be a denim wearing girlie. If in doubt denim is my absolute go to outfit choice as I know I can so easily dress it up or down.

Let’s face it, we all have some fabulous denim pieces in our wardrobe. However, with the recent spell of warm weather I have been looking for some alternatives for those days when I don’t want to pull on a pair of denim jeans and absolutely top of my list of favourite summer fabrics is linen.

Yes, it does have a reputation for looking crumpled and wrinkly but with innovations in fabric and all sorts of different blends, it’s easy to wear linen all day and be reasonably wrinkle free. For easy, laid back style there’s nothing more stylish and comfortable that throwing on a pair of linen trousers.

I recently found a great linen set from the Primark Edit range and I have been wearing it non-stop. It’s a navy oversized shirt with matching trousers and it’s perfect for a relaxed brunch but I’ve even been wearing it for office workwear.

Wear the set together and make it look really luxe with gold accessories and a gorgeous pair of pumps but also don’t be afraid to mix it up and wear each of the pieces separately. The shirt also works so well with barrel leg denim and red flats and the trousers look fabulous when styled with a simple t-shirt and jacket.

I styled mine with an oversized leopard print and gold flats. I bought the navy set as I’m a complete sucker for navy, but I also saw it was available in a neutral stone shade that would be ideal for travelling during the summer and could easily be worn a few different ways like dressed up for dinner or over your bikini on holiday.

If you’re unsure about linen and want to try out a few different styles, I would also recommend popping into H&M as they have a huge selection of styles and silhouettes available at really great price points and have everything from more casual drawstring trousers to sleeker, tailored styles.

It’s also worth noting that a lot of the time linen trousers will be quite long in length so be open to potentially getting your trousers altered to give a perfect fit or indeed you could opt for a more cropped style. I bought a tapered leg, linen blend pair in H&M about three years ago with a shorter leg length and a button tie with elastic at the back and I still wear them to this day. I have quite a short leg and these are the perfect length.

I have a black and a beige pair and they are my go-to summer trousers for both formal and casual occasions. They bring them out every year so keep an eye out for them.

If you want to try something a little bit different than your neutral trousers, then opt for a pair of striped linen trousers. For peak summer vibes, try a blue and white pair and as an added bonus the vertical stripes add inches to your leg length. Great for us shorter gals. Keep the styling simple and wear with a crisp white t-shirt or add a bit of colour with a t-shirt with fruity motif. Some people prefer to keep the silhouette loose with an oversized t-shirt but I personally like to go for a more fitted, cropped style. Add your favourite pair of sandals and you’ve got a cool and comfy summer look.