Not all natural fibres behave the same in heat. Ranked by how they actually feel on a thirty-degree afternoon rather than by what the label claims. 1. Linen Hollow fibres, high moisture uptake and a loose weave that moves air. It creases, and that is the trade. Nothing else is cooler. 2. Cotton voile and seersucker Seersucker holds itself off the skin by construction rather than by fibre, which is why it works even in humidity where plain cotton clings. 3. Tropical-weight woo

An unlined linen jacket is the most useful thing in a warm-weather wardrobe and the easiest to buy badly. Here is what to look at, in the order it matters. Weight is the first decision Anything under 200 grams a square metre will crumple like tissue and show every fold by lunchtime. Between 240 and 320 is the range that drapes, creases honestly and still breathes. Over 400 you are buying a coat. The shoulder is the only thing you cannot alter A tailor can take in a waist, sho

Linen is the oldest woven fabric still in daily use, and it rewards a little attention. A shirt washed properly will outlast three that were not. This guide covers washing, drying, pressing and the small repairs that keep a collar honest for another decade. Washing without shrinking it Cold water, a gentle cycle and a mild detergent. Hot water is what shrinks linen, not the agitation, and the first wash is where most of the shrinkage happens. Wash a new shirt on its own the f