If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
As temperatures rise, we trust linen shirts to keep us cool (in both senses of the word). Lightweight, casual shirts seem to be a micro-trend this year, with everyone from sleek office goers to young fashion influencers stocking up on the best linen shirts.
And we’re all for the current linen shirt trend. First and foremost, the fabric can’t be beat, offering natural ventilation, quick-drying powers and a lightness that pulls the fabric away from your body (hence the popularity of linen in quality summer bedding). You will notice much less sweating and more comfort when walking with linen compared to regular cotton. Plus, linen is more durable than cotton, making the best linen shirts suitable for jaunts down the beach trail or tough days on the road.
But, of course, linen shirts aren’t just about function: the best linen shirts score plenty of style points, giving off a tropical jet-setter vibe that can take you from the beach to a fancy restaurant. and in the office. Pick an easy neutral color, and lightweight shirts can be styled (successfully) with everything from swimsuits and white sneakers to a suit and loafers.
Better yet, some of the best linen shirts aren’t the button-up, long-sleeved affairs you’ve seen in the past (although these are still a staple). Fashion-forward brands incorporate linen into tees, polo shirts, and camp-collar resort shirts, while offering the classic button-ups we end up grabbing all season long.
In short, we highly recommend adding one (or three) of the best linen shirts to your summer rotation.
The best linen shirts for men
Below are some of the best linen shirts we’re buying this summer. We’ve included a range of linen shirt styles – including classic white shirts, vibrant resort shirts and modern t-shirts – at prices to suit most budgets.
1. Everlane Linen Shirt
Everlane
If you don’t have a classic linen buttonhole yet, grab this one from Everlane. It’s everything a fine linen shirt should be; Lightweight, durable, standard fit and made from 100% high quality linen. You also get a few good color options, including white, stripes, black, and tan (Everlane calls tan “iced coffee”). Also, the price is very reasonable considering the level of quality. Wear it with cool pants and sneakers for the office, shorts and sandals for the beach, or jeans and loafers for a night out.
2. Alex Crane Sun Tee
Alex Crane
Brooklyn-based staple brand Alex Crane currently makes some of our favorite linen tees. They source high quality linen from France and use 100% linen to make these Sun t-shirts. The shirts are then pre-washed and shrunk, ensuring softness and fit right out of the box. There are also nine on-trend colors to choose from, but we particularly like this versatile stonewashed black.
3. Madewell Linen Easy Short Sleeve Shirt
Madewell
Filling up for the holidays? Check out this linen short sleeve shirt from Madewell. With a camp collar, boxy fit and three fun, lightweight print options, it’s specially designed for lounging in the sun, drinking fruity cocktails and hitting the beach. But the holiday vibes don’t have to stop when you’re home: throw the Easy Linen Shirt over a white tee with sneakers and black jeans for an upgraded weekend look.
4. Theory Irving Linen Twill Shirt
The theory
We’ve all had the displeasure of putting on a thick shirt on a hot evening. This crisp, lightweight linen twill shirt from Theory guarantees you won’t have to start over. Its linen-cotton blend fabric gives a tighter look for dressier occasions, pairing just as well with slacks and dress shoes as it does with sandals and shorts.
5. Todd Snyder Irish Sea Linen Shirt
Todd Snyder
This Irish Sea linen shirt from Todd Snyder is another fantastic short sleeve option. As usual with Todd Snyder, the shirt is a classic that’s been recreated for modern men. It’s got a retro camp collar, classic fit and some great colors, but the quality of the linen is what really catches our eye: it’s sourced from Baird McNutt, an Irish linen supplier for over 100 years.
6. Polo Ralph Lauren Linen Chambray Shirt
Saks Fifth Avenue
If you need a must-have white linen shirt, we recommend this one from Polo Ralph Lauren. Little touches like a button down point collar and high quality linen make the shirt slightly more sophisticated than your average linen button down. That means you can wear it with a suit and tie just as easily as you can throw it unbuttoned with a bathing suit.
7. Banana Republic Castello Linen Shirt
banana republic
Banana Republic has a lot of fun with linen. This Castello shirt is available in nine colors, ranging from classic white and black to more unique colors like lavender, blood orange and Pacific pink. These latter options are a great way to inject some playfulness into your wardrobe and make for great picks for summer wedding outfits.
8. Ralph Lauren Purple Label Classic Linen Shirt
Saks Fifth Avenue
Looking for a linen shirt that can pass for a classic dress shirt? Check out this one from Ralph Lauren’s ultra high-end division, Purple Label. Unlike most linen shirts, the Purple Label Shirt is sized around the neck circumference (like a dress shirt), ensuring a perfect fit when buttoned all the way up. Made in Italy, the linen material of the shirt also looks more luxurious than most, pairing well with designer suits and casual pieces.
9. Vilebrequin Pyramid Linen Polo Shirt
Saks Fifth Avenue
Vilebrequin may be known for their great swimwear, but this linen Pyramid polo shirt proves they can do shirting, too. It is extremely light and the buttonless spread collar promotes exceptional breathability and a relaxed look. Wear it with jeans to run errands or have a drink, and pair it with a Vilebrequin swimsuit on vacation.
