How to wear linen without looking like a crumpled heap?

[HotCrossBungle]

Is it possible? I want to waft around in crisp white linen rather than looking like an ironing pile 10 minutes after putting it on.

Is it to do with the quality of the linen and if so how does one buy 'quality' linen when it just states 100 percent linen on the label?

Is it to do with some kind of treatment after washing, starching maybe or washing/drying in a particular way?)

Also why is linen sometimes lined with a synthetic material, doesn't that defeat the purpose of keeping you cool?

I had a lot of clothes made from Moygashel in the 60's. It wasn't particularly expensive, even C&A used to sell it and it didn't crease, was a lovely heavy material. I looked it up on Google the other day because I was wondering why I never saw it nowadays and was amazed to find that it was linen and now very expensive. Wonderful material.

That's interesting Buddy - I remember Moygashel as very expensive and my mum and my aunties talking about it. I have a jacket in it and I agree it was fab.

The trick is not to find linen that doesn't crumple. The trick is to have good-looking skin/hair/nails so that your base looks polished and expensive enough to pull it off.

This is all very helpful (and interesting), thanks. Does anyone know anything about buying quality linen fabric for dressmaking rather than ready to wear. Should the description have any buzzwords to look out for?

I think you have to try it on

I got a (expensive for) Zara linen dress - it’s heavy and hangs well

Have just ordered some from a small maker - will see what that’s like

I tend to buy clothes in linen "blend" which behaves beautifully. Still cool and wafty but creasing is not an issue. No doubt the purists can spot it a mile off but I haven't got time for pure linen in my life

Having googled the internet has this to say on linen quality (various sources) :

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... but if it actually feels scratchy or rough, short/low-quality fibres were probably used ...

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is mostly grown in Western Europe and Ukraine. The highest quality fabrics are produced in Ireland, Italy and Belgium,

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... Normandy (France) and Belgium are considered the best climates for growing the flax plant. The temperatures and cooler climates are ideal for the cultivation and controlled decomposition of the woody plant.

The processing (spinning of the yarn) is generally done close to the harvesting, but where the linen really comes to life is at the weaving mills. The best weaving mills are undeniably in Italy where knowledge passed down from generation to generation is skilfully used to create the best linen fabrics in the world ...

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The quality of the finished linen product is dependent on the growing conditions and harvesting techniques used on the flax. Good quality linen uses the longest possible fibres. These come from flax that is hand-harvested by pulling up the entire plant or from stalks that are cut very close to the ground. The plants go through various mechanical processes to prepare them

I agree with the poster who said that some of it depends on how good the linen is. Years ago, I mentioned this to a friend , she was a bit of a snob but lovely. She said, "yes it does crease, but it creases so expensivley"

And anyway, when it's v hot, silk and linen are the most comfortable to wear