Fall may be on the brain, but we’ve still got a ways to go before its realities are reflected in your weather app. While this is nice for all sorts of reasons, this fact is a major bane for anyone who’s already prematurely pulled the trigger on cozy wool knitwear, or perhaps one of Uniqlo’s just-restocked blouson jackets, for the upcoming fall season.
To be clear, I don’t blame you. Layering is the sartorial spice of life, and, after three months of sweaty shorts and an ill-advised flip-flop resurgence, the urge to throw on a fleecey half-zip or chunky cable knit is visceral.
I can’t, in good faith, advise that you try either of those things. (Heat stroke is not a joke!) That being said, there is a way to reintroduce knitwear into your life without sweating like you’re in the middle of a heatwave on a very AC-absent European holiday.
Living in Linen: A Primer on Summer’s Most Fickle Fabric
Is it really better than cotton? How do you handle the creases? Today, we’re covering it all.Linen might not be the first fabric that comes to mind when you think of a classic sweater, but, as the official fabric of summer, it certainly has its place: Offering a more breathable feel than traditional knitwear — especially in combination with open-weave and rib-stitch patterns — and often blended with cotton, the style holds its shape much better than the wrinkled linen button-ups you’re currently imagining. While a lightweight, airy body might leave some guys chilly in fifty-degree weather, it’s the perfect addition to any warm-weather fit missing that third piece.
As for how to wear one, the typical weight and (lack of) heft make it an excellent option to throw over your shoulders (increasingly a legit styling move) or around the waist, adding a pop of color and texture to an otherwise bland look. Or, if you’re looking to channel a little Tony-esque swag, you could toss on over a well-loved T-shirt — maybe something vintage — and a pair of the aforementioned flops during your next Cape Cod weekend. The opportunities are endless: find a few of my favorite seasonally appropriate layers to soothe your knitwear itch below.
Was this high-gauge linen cardigan expressly designed for the seaside? Uh, yes. The ultra-soft yarn is breathable, and the four-button placket lends itself to a loose, open fit over a chambray shirt or soft-touch tee.
I’ve been expecting big things from designer Carter Young, and this open-weave lounger v-neck is an excellent addition to his canon of chiller Americana.
Ralph Lauren’s classic Polo Bear sweater is never a bad option to reach for, especially when it’s been summer-ified (and features one of the chillest bruins to date.
With a spacey, slubby weave and a nice little rollneck, Banana Republic’s linen-cotton sweater can be worn over a breezy button-up or, frankly, completely on its own.
Sid Mashburn makes a charmingly coastal cotton-linen bird’s-eye knit? Shocker.
A sleeper hit from Zara’s latest collaborative capsule with menswear guru Aaron Levine, this 100% linen sweater — with a easter-egg geometric jacquard pattern — is well under $200 and looks fantastic tossed over the shoulders or around the waist.
Aaron Levine and Zara Just Dropped the Perfect Capsule Wardrobe
The latest collection from the sartorial savant and retail powerhouse is the best yet
If you happen to have $2,000 or so to throw around, you can’t do much better than Brunello Cucinelli.
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