Linen is one of those fabrics I love and hate at the same time. It is very breezy for the summertime, but also wrinkles with the slightest movement. Fortunately, if you’re looking for tips on how to make linen ‘not’ wrinkle, I’ve discovered some ways to still enjoy the material. Due to its natural properties, linen is prone to wrinkles. So while getting rid of them isn’t entirely possible, there are some ways to minimize wrinkles (or at least the appearance of them).
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Tip 1: Create an Illusion of Fewer Wrinkles with a Dark Color, or Vibrant Print.
Choosing a darker color or bold print is a great way to conceal the appearance of wrinkles. One of my favorite summer staples is Quince’s linen drawstring shorts. I love them so much that I got them in navy and black. However, dark colors trap more heat. So if you prefer a lighter (or brighter) color palette, choose something with a print!
Outfit 1: Off the Shoulder Top (S) | Black Linen Shorts (XS) | MZ Wallace Bag | Pearl Earrings
Outfit 2: Navy Knit Tank (S) | Navy Shorts (XS) | Tote Bag
I shared in my earlier post a review of these Sezane linen-blend shorts, and love how well these vibrant florals hide the appearance of wrinkles.
Tip 2: Opt for a Linen-Cotton Blend.
Cotton is slightly more wrinkle resistant than linen. So if 100% linen wrinkles too much for your liking, then finding a cotton-linen blend is a great alternative that still keeps all the breathable properties. I also love that a blend of cotton offers better fabric structure too.
My Sezane dress is made with a linen-cotton blend, and the cutest print. I would normally be hesitant with wrinkles for a design like this, but after hours of sitting, this dress still looked presentable.
Tip 3: Choose ‘Flowy’ over ‘Fitted’
A tighter-fitting garment is more likely to wrinkle than one with a flowy silhouette. The reason is that flowy pieces allow for more movement and drape. As such, if you love linen, one way to reduce wrinkles is to opt for something more free-form. In the heat, I would much prefer a flowy piece to a fitted one anyways. Sharing some quality linen dresses below.
Tip 4: Look for a Tighter Weave.
Weave density is defined as how tight the individual yarns are packed together to form the fabric. Higher weave density results in a more wrinkle resistant fabric because there is less room for yarns to shift around. Back when I worked in textiles, there is a scientific way to measure fabric density. However, as an average consumer, here is a simple way to test.
Hold the fabric to the light. If you see a lot of light pass through the pores, it is probably a loosely woven fabric. On the other hand, if it looks compact, then that is your best bet that the fabric has a sturdier construction to stand against wrinkles.
Tip 5: Find a Smooth Lining Fabric.
Smooth fabric lining helps reduce the friction between the garment and our bodies, which can help offset wrinkles. I don’t often find linen paired with a satin lining (as an example), which is why I leave this tip for last. However, if you do somehow find this detail, I hope it gives you a little more assurance.
Natural Linen Wrap Dress | Red Mini Dress (Linen-Blend) | Keyhold Natural Linen Dress | Navy Smocked Linen Dress | Ruched Mini Black Dress | Mini Black & White Floral Linen-Blend Dress
Final Point: Linen is meant to wrinkle!
Note: There is no way to make linen ‘not’ wrinkle. This fiber comes from the flax plant, and has a much stiffer nature than cotton. Therefore, when they are bent, linen fibers do not restore to their original state as easily. So if all five of these tips fail at some point, just know that linen is meant to wrinkle!
Enjoy this breezy natural fabric for its benefits, and know that the subtle creases are a part of its charm too.
