The arrival of the month of May brings the promise of so many wonderful things- more time spent outdoors, gardens full of flowers, and spring fabrics and fashions. My favourite fabric for spring and summer is linen. I have always enjoyed it for home décor, prizing linen tea towels and tablecloths above all others, but in recent years I have also gravitated towards linen clothing. My wardrobe has evolved to include linen pants, shirts, dresses and jackets and I value how these pieces make me look and feel. In my post, Beautiful Spring Linen Fashions with Olsen, I’m sharing several new outfits from Olsen Canada that represent the best qualities of linen in sumptuous spring styles. The fresh spring shades are uplifting and fun and set the stage for springtime activities.
*I received compensation from Olsen for this post. All opinions are my own. Please know that I only promote products that I love and have personally tested. I have been a loyal Olsen customer for over ten years.
Why Linen?
Linen in Home Décor
As a decorator, I have used linen in home décor settings for many years. My obsession with linen began 30 years ago when I discovered the wonders of linen tea towels. They were weighty, absorptive, stain-resistant, and incredibly durable. And the more I used and washed them, the softer they became. I still have some of the tea towels I purchased three decades ago. It wasn’t long before I moved on from tea towels to cloth napkins, tablecloths, and eventually pillows, drapes, and furniture upholstery.
Linen in Fashion
Linen is perfectly suited for use in fashion given its many wonderful properties. To me, the most astounding properties of linen are how beautifully it drapes and the subtle textural variations that no other fabrics possess. It has a wholesome feel to it that lends clothing a handcrafted appearance. Yet, it is also luxurious and elegant. It truly elevates each piece of clothing, especially when combined with refined tailoring, a signature trait of Olsen’s fashions.
Linen’s Wonderful Properties
Linen is naturally thermo-regulating which makes it comfortable in all seasons. Lighter weight linen is perfect for spring and summer fashions to give them an airy comfort. Further adding to the comfort factor is the natural moisture-wicking property of linen. Even on hot, humid days, you will feel comfortable in linen clothing.
I also love how durable and stain-resistant linen is and how it gets softer with every wear and wash. Linen also has the added bonus of natural UV protection, something I’m very passionate about. I didn’t realize this until now, but linen also has anti-static properties, which is especially important in dry climates. This property also contributes to the beautiful way that linen drapes.
One of the most unique features of linen is how it wrinkles beautifully, giving it added charm. Linen can also be worn pressed and crisp, making it quite versatile. All of these properties that make linen the perfect fabric for fashion also make it ideal for home décor applications. A couple years ago I reupholstered my grandparent’s vintage sofa in a lovely natural linen fabric. You can see here how natural linen pairs so beautifully with soft shades of white and green.
Beautiful Spring Linen Fashions with Olsen
I had the opportunity to try out three gorgeous linen looks curated by Olsen this spring. The outfits include linen pants, linen tunics, denim, and a linen blazer in lovely fresh shades of sage green, peachy pink, blue, cream, and white. As is the case with all Olsen fashions, these pieces are beautifully tailored with many lovely details like contrast interior trim, braided waist ties, and decorative trim details. The fit for these pieces is generous and comfortable but also refined.
Pretty Peach and Cream Outfit
In this first outfit by Olsen, I’m wearing their Linen Blend Long Line Shirt in a beautiful dark peach blush colour paired with their 100% Linen Lisa Fit Straight Leg Drawstring Pant in buttercream. This shirt is a great example of how linen can be dressed up with stand-out details, including the fabulous colour, added length, stripe pattern, and inclusion of subtle gold metallic threads woven into the pattern. It’s a mixed material top, comprising about equal parts linen and cotton, giving it a slightly heavier feel that is warm enough for crisp early spring days. The added length makes it a perfect statement piece that can be worn with linen pants, denim, or leggings.
The linen drawstring pants epitomize the breezy carefree feel of linen. These pants are soft, cool, and comfortable and can easily go from the office to the beach. The 100% linen content gives them a beautiful drape and flowy nature. The elastic waistband makes them so comfortable and the streamlined cargo pockets add a fun touch. They could also be paired with any other shade of linen top since the buttercream colour is so versatile. I would also wear these pants with a t-shirt or tank top and open cardigan.
Where would I wear this outfit?
I think it’s a very versatile outfit that I would wear while working (teaching piano or meeting with décor clients). The colour of the top is pretty and eye-catching, and this would also be a great outfit to wear to an outdoor market or out for lunch with friends. I would love to wear this outfit to the beach on a cooler day if I was planning to stroll along the shore or watch my boys play at the shoreline. I’m very sun-conscious and this would be a great top to stay protected from the sun.
Fresh and Crisp White and Blue Outfit
In this lovely spring outfit by Olsen, I’m sporting their 100% Linen Shirt with Tunic Neckline and their 100% Linen Lisa Fit Straight Leg Drawstring Pant in Pacific blue. The pants really stand out with their lovely blue colour. In the photos, I’m wearing them unrolled, but they look equally great with the hem rolled up revealing the cute contrast trim detail. I also love the subtle detail of the fishtail braid drawstring. These pants also have an elastic waistband that makes them very comfortable. I would wear these with any other white top or a patterned top that ties in with the blue of the pants.
One of the reasons I love shopping at Olsen is the attention to detail in every piece, from the cut of the garment to the special details. The three quarter length sleeves are lovely with their slight pleating and adorable trim detail. The pretty circle trim detail adorns a few other spots on this top, making it feel extra special. I also love the tunic style neckline and generous length. This feels like the quintessential white linen shirt for spring and summer.
Where would I wear this outfit?
It’s such a comfortable outfit, I think I would wear it at home and throughout a busy day that could include grocery shopping, writing for the blog, teaching, picking kids up from school and going for a family walk. I would also pack this outfit for a spring or summer vacation to visit out of town family.
Green Safari Style Jacket and Denim Duo
In this final outfit from Olsen, I’m wearing this gorgeous 100% Linen Safari Style Jacket in sage and their cute REPREVE™ Mona Fit Straight Leg Jean with Frayed Hem.
This jacket is a stunning piece and something that has been on my wish list for ages. Reimagining the safari jacket in linen is brilliant because the softness and drape of linen make the jacket feel more comfortable and wearable. The subtle texture of linen also adds a layer of depth to the jacket. This piece has abundant seaming details and I love the multiple cargo pockets. It can be worn buttoned and belted or open and casual. As soon as I saw this jacket, I started imagining all the things I could pair it with. It would look lovely with the buttercream linen pants I shared in the second outfit. Or it could be partnered with camel coloured khakis or even a straight-cut knee-length cotton or linen skirt.
The stretch denim pants are comfortable and versatile and the fringe detail at the bottom is very fun. The hemline looks cute folded up as shown in the images. All shades of denim pair really well with linen, making this a great look.
Where would I wear this outfit?
When paired with a skirt or more dressy pants, it could be worn to work or out to a restaurant. With denim, it’s the perfect outfit to go shopping or sightseeing. And I could see myself wearing this outfit to visit museums with my children this summer.
Other Options and a Great Offer
Olsen currently has a variety of other beautiful linen fashions including additional jackets, tops and pants in different shades, pretty linen dresses, t-shirts, and lovely knitted linen sweaters. Olsen’s Linen Event is on in stores and online at Olsen.ca– until Sunday, May 8th you can enjoy 30% off linen styles + free shipping on orders over $99 and you can take advantage of my promo code WILLOWBLOOM20 for 20% off your purchase until the end of May.
Olsen and Willow Bloom Home have partnered on an awesome Instagram giveaway that you can view on my page, @WillowBloomHome, and Olsen’s page, @Olsen_Canada. I’m so excited to share that you can win a linen outfit (up to a value of $230) PLUS either a $200 shop credit from my Etsy shop or a one-room virtual e-design with me. I’m looking forward to seeing who wins this.
Summary
So, have I convinced you that linen is a great fabric for fashion this spring? I certainly adore using linen in home décor and wearing it to achieve a carefree, comfortable look that is also put together. Olsen has created a variety of beautiful linen looks that can be mixed and matched or combined with other pieces in your wardrobe. Each piece highlights the beauty and natural qualities of linen, making these unique pieces something to be treasured for many years. I hope you have enjoyed reading my post, Beautiful Spring Linen Fashions with Olsen, and I hope you will check out Olsen’s special offer.
These are great ideas thanks
Thank you so much!