I spend a fair amount of time in Florida. I also spend a ton of time in Turks and Caicos. Here is the truth: while these are beautiful places to visit and always a great idea to escape reality to a tropical paradise, it is ridiculously difficult to dress elegantly in the hot and humid weather. No matter what you try, you sweat bullets and ruin any look you have by soaking through the shirt, pants, or shorts. Lucky for you, linen is a fabric that knows your struggle. It steps up to the plate and hits breathability, comfort, and style all out of the park. But, only if you know how to wear it. So, I reached out to one of the premier shirtmakers in all of England, Thomas Pink, to ask them how I (and you, I won’t gatekeep the info) could rock the linen shirt in 2026.
Also, we got to nerd out about our love for the organic fabric in the course of information exchange, and you should adopt this love in the heat of summer.
It’s a piece that works across a wide range of summer occasions and has a timeless appeal that never feels out of place. Linen also improves with wear, softening over time and developing character in a way that feels authentic and effortless. – Design Team, Thomas Pink
The summer replacement
I am a huge fan of linen. It brings the casual nature to the elegant style of nighttime wear. It also allows you to dress up during the day when you are in hotter environments without dying of heat stroke (if you know me at all, then you know I always want a little justification to dress up, or at least, no obstacles to do so). But, is it strong enough, sartorially, to replace the tee as the number one shirt to wear when you are trying not to die of heat stroke? It is. We just have to get the word out. So, I asked Thomas Pink’s team to give me a little insight into why linen is the choice for summer. Why is it strong enough to be the summer replacement that we men are looking for?
“Linen offers a lightweight, breathable alternative for warmer weather while still looking polished. Its natural texture gives it a relaxed quality, allowing it to work equally well with tailored trousers for more formal occasions or dressed down with chinos and shorts. Few fabrics strike that balance between sophistication and ease quite as well.”
Think of them as creases…
Ok, let’s be real: Since I travel all over and I tend to spend time in places like Thailand, the Maldives, and St. Barts, I have experienced the worst of the worst in travel wrinkles. My tip for avoiding wrinkles when you travel is to do two things. 1 – Always wear the thing you don’t want to get wrinkled on the plane. There will be some wear wrinkles, but it is better than the stuffed-into-the-overhead-wrinkles any day. And also, take advantage of the resort or hotel’s iron and/or steamer amenities. If you are lucky, you may be staying in a place that offers pressing. Nothing makes you feel more like James Bond than handing over your hung garments and asking them to press them for you. Just make sure to tip well. Now, while those are my tips, the team over at Thomas Pink has more to say on it. Primarily, to stop seeing them as wrinkles and start seeing them as charming creases.
“A certain amount of creasing is part of linen’s charm and should be embraced rather than avoided. That said, an easy way to refresh a linen shirt is to hang it in the bathroom during a hot shower. The steam helps release creases naturally without the need for excessive pressing. Linen generally looks best when it feels effortless rather than overly structured.”
Tips for wearing linen in 2026
Before we get to Thomas Pink’s tips on wearing linen in the summer of 2026, I want to share a few of my own. First things first, don’t run from elegance in the heat. The weather should dictate how you wear things, not what you wear. Just because it is hot doesn’t mean you should downgrade your style. Instead, reach for the fabrics that breathe (like linen, of course). Cotton and silk are other natural fibers that breathe alongside linen, so you should reach for those as well. Finally, if you haven’t noticed, I love a good summer scarf. While you want to wear a little less due to the heat, you can use a lightweight scarf to elevate your ensemble without adding layers. As soon as I discovered the charm of a summer scarf, I made it my entire personality here in 2026. Now, for the thoughts from the Thomas Pink team:
“The key is to keep the styling relaxed. Wear it with the collar open, sleeves casually rolled, and pair it with well-tailored trousers, lightweight chinos, or shorts. Linen works best when it feels easy and comfortable while still looking considered. It’s that balance of refinement and informality that makes it such an essential summer wardrobe piece.”
Now that you are armed with the knowledge to look amazing in the heat, you can go forth and look fantastic all summer. Regardless of the temperature, linen is the kind of fabric that works for you. It allows the temperature to be a non-factor, whether you are wearing it to the office, a date night, or a summer get-together.
Pick up a linen shirt from Thomas Pink to follow the creased (not wrinkled) trend.
