It’s only natural
Making more responsible fashion choices starts with knowing your fabrics. TV presenter and fashion associate Kylie Gillies shares her love for natural and timeless linen
Now more than ever, I find myself becoming more conscious of what my clothes are made from. I want pieces that look good and feel good but I’m also much more invested in them being kind to the planet, too. Unlike my shameful fast fashion former years — something I know many of us are guilty of — I now do my very best to shop for au naturel pieces that I will keep for years. Top of my list is the timeless classic linen.
Natural and durable fibre derived from the flax plant, it’s been around for centuries and lends itself to flattering silhouettes and designs that don’t date.
From Audrey Hepburn’s starched linen ankle skimming skirts of the 50s, to Beyonce’s tie-front linen shirt holiday looks to die for — linen has always been sartorial shorthand for cool, collected and stylish. I’ve got a few linen pieces that have been in my wardrobe for more than ten years — which makes them by nature, very sustainable, but they have never once been out of style.
Knowing how to choose quality linen pieces, and taking care of them, is like taking out insurance for effortless style. You can throw on some separates, mix them and match them, to get dressed for the day without having to think too much. It’s a really hardworking fabric that transcends seasons, climates and dress codes.
Today, linen collections build on the classic block-colour looks, think Marge Sherwood in The Talented Mr Ripley, with bold patterns and prints. The print is a fun touch, and I can always layer in more colours with accessories. It even works with a linen shirt over the top when the weather cools.
In my day-to-day, I’ll wear a black linen shirt
Knowing how to choose quality linen pieces, and taking care of them, is like taking out insurance for effortless style
with jeans or culottes, and then when I go on holiday, I’ll throw that same shirt over a pair of swimmers. In the depths of winter this year, when my Instagram feed was filled with photos of friends holidaying in the Greek Islands, it made me want to reach for linen even more. It’s a fabric that just feels like a holiday.
As the weather has started to finally warm up, I’ve been pairing my old favourites with some more breathable linen pieces to keep me cool and I have a few essential pieces that are always in high rotation. This summer my navy polka dot blouse with some white linen pants is lining up as my top season look.
For a brunch or day out, I’m in love with chic linen shorts with a boyfriend style shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and maybe a little top underneath, and a pair of Roman sandals; super comfortable, but super stylish as well.
I even fit my husband, Tony, and my sons out in linen. They wear it on holidays or on the weekend, especially in summer. I honestly think there is nothing sexier than a man in a loose fit linen shirt with the sleeves rolled and three top buttons popped.
The other thing I love about linen is that it’s low maintenance and easy to care for. I’ll throw my pieces in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, then put them on a hanger and air dry them, or hang them outside on the clothesline.
I’d never put linen in the clothes dryer – although I admit that that’s been hard given recent weather events. But I love the quality that comes from air drying linen; that soft and slightly crushed look.
To keep the colour of your linen as fresh as the day you bought it, wash in lukewarm or cold water; and use a mild soap or gentle detergent. Linen is highly absorbent, so it’s always best to wash separately from other fabrics.
It’s interesting that younger generations are rejecting throwaway fashion and taking sustainable style so seriously – they learned that lesson far earlier than my cohort.
It helps that today you can find clothes that combine earth-friendly, natural fabrics with great designs, cuts and colours, and when you buy pieces that you love, you’re more likely to hold onto them for longer so it’s a win-win situation.