Linum usitatissimum

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Everything in this outfit is linen [apart, obviously, from the accessories (belt, bag, shoes), which are all leather]. I used to hate linen since it wrinkles so easily, but I'm falling in love with it.

Honestly, it's a love affair that was probably subliminally planted into my psyche, since linen has been appearing more and more in fashion in the past couple years (probably just as a function of the 90s rebirth). Independent of that though, linen legitimately rules.

I have very thoughtfully and deliberately compiled a list ( = googled + copied + pasted) of some of the reasons linen is wonderful and interesting and nice and good:

• Linen, made from flax, may be the oldest textile in the world.
• While only the very best fibers are used by the linen industry, no part of the flax plant is wasted; the left over linseeds, oil, straw and fiber are used in everything from lino and soap to cattlefeed and paper. Few products are so efficiently used as flax.
• The production of linen uses five to twenty times less water and energy than the production of cotton or other synthetic fabrics. Linen fabrics are biodegradable and recyclable.
• Linen is virtually lint free, non-static, non-allergenic, naturally stain AND insect-repellent and gives UV protection.
• It looks purdy.

Source.

Wear linen!

On J:

shirt:: thrifted

shorts:: thrifted

shoes:: thrifted

belt:: thrifted

bag:: inherited