Suit Jackets

In the summer, if you want to look formal but stay cool, your best answer would be the linen suit. Linen suits are made from Irish or Italian linen. However, Irish linen usually has the edge due to its high quality and long history. Linen suits are traditionally worn on vacation or at outdoor weddings, receptions, and other events. One should not wear a linen suit to the office, however, as it will get creased and look terrible after a long day of sitting at the computer or a desk.

Linen suits come in a variety of colors, and the accessories and shirts worn with them should be varied accordingly. If you want to wear a white linen suit, you are best advised to wear it with a brightly colored silk, cotton, or linen shirt. Synthetics are out. Conversely, if you prefer to wear a dark linen suit on a summer’s evening, this should be worn with a shirt that is either white or more subdued color. In keeping with the relaxed style of the linen suit, do not wear a tie with it.

Linen is fairly easy to take care of. You can either wash your linen suits in the washing machine on a gentle cycle or have them dry cleaned. The latter will keep them looking newer, but might be harder on your budget. At the same time, you should bear in mind that one of the biggest disadvantages of a linen suit is its propensity to wrinkle and crease. It is almost impossible to iron a linen suit or shirt for this reason, driving many a diligent housewife out of her mind.

Therefore it might be better, if you can, to get your linen suits professionally dry cleaned and pressed in the interests of domestic harmony. The good news is, however, that the more you wash linen, the less creased it becomes, but be prepared to lose that fresh, clear cut new look when that happens.

If you do decide to buy yourself linen suits, just bear in mind that you are following a long historical tradition. Linen, which is even mentioned in the Bible, is derived from the flax plant and is the strongest of the vegetable fibers. It features in many religions and world cultures.

In fact, if you are an observant Jew, you must make sure not to wear your linen suits with woolen sweaters and to make sure that the suits have no traces of wool in it. This is because Jewish law prohibits the wearing of wool and linen together, which would form a forbidden combination known as shaatnez.

The linen industry was first brought to Ireland by the Huguenots who fled persecution in the Eighteenth Century, and in time it became a major industry in the country, making it one of its most famous exports, along with Irish whisky. As mentioned above, Irish linen is used for manufacturing the most high-quality linen suits.

So if you decide to make linen suits part of your summer wardrobe, apart from looking good and feeling cool, just know that you are wearing a fine garment with an interesting and long history.