I have copied the look of the effortlessly-glamorous mum I saw the other day in her simple white linen shirt. Why do I look like a rumpled paper bag?

[Cappuccino]

well?

Because you are not naturally effortlessly glamourous!!!

Maybe you did something in your simple white linen shirt? Remember the golden rule of white linen clothing: it is for doing bugger all in (apart from posing)

because you are not 5'11" and built like a gazelle?
(NB you may be for all I know, in which case you do not look like a rumpled paper bag and are just insecure)

tis a law of nature. some women can wear linen effortlessly and some look like paper bags. I'm with you in the paper bag

You said yourself that she was "effortlessly" glamorous - no effort, remember...

I dont get simple white linen shirts

I always look like a waiter or Morrissey

because she was not of this planet.
White linen shirt = creases.
Unless hers was a linen mix. Or she starches beautifully.

I am saving linen for when I am over 50

Anna this woman was doing a children's dance class ffs

MrsB no I am nothing like that - do I need a new body to pull it off?

she did a dance class

I have been sat on the sofa doing my accounts

I have been putting in less effort goddammit

never hurts

starch v good idea

Linen is such an awful paradox. It has a reputation for being lovely and looks the polar opposite. I don't get it.

no

its horrid

nice for sheets and thats it

It's the sitting down. Just don't sit down in it, and you'll be fine, honest

It wasn't linen - it was that viscosey look-a-like that doesn't crease. If you'd got up close you'd have realised.

It wasn't linen - it was that viscosey look-a-like that doesn't crease. If you'd got up close you'd have realised.

ah yes she was charlatan in man made fibres

that makes me happier

Have to say, I have some linen/viscose mix trousers on today that I washed, and haven't even ironed, and they're not very rumpled, so that's quite possible.

Am just about to buy some black "linen" trousers in similar fabric so I will look effortlessly glam for summer and not mrs crinkly bottom.

I think the other cardinal rule is "only one item of linen at a time".

Linen top plus linen trousers/skirt = scrunchtastic.

What annoys me about linen is that in photos it looks artfully creased, but when I wear it is goes unattractively creased - knife creases around lap, saggy bottom/knees.

My best linen trousers are, ahem, a "linen mix".

Only put the linen item on just before you leave the house.

yes..don't sit down, move, drive, walk, go to the loo,turn or shrug your shoulders wearing linen....and you'll be fine.

linen is bad. Simply bad. I bought a really lovely linen dress a few weeks back. I loved it and looked wonderful (in my head). DH took some photos on his phone and I got round to looking at them at the weekend. Shockingly someone had replaced my lovely chocolate brown linen dress with a sack that a tramp had been using as a bottom sheet for a year. I was so cross. But at least it wasn't white.