How to Work that Linen Suit

Every A-list star and celebrity across the world looks forward to summer so they can flaunt that comfortable style icon - The Linen Suit. Fortunately for us, the tropics in Singapore inspire comfortable cool dressing through the year! Linen wear has a reputation for being creasy and a pain to maintain, but the right fit and fabric can ensure you make a style statement everywhere you go.  CYC The Custom Shop, Singapore’s most established bespoke tailor shares tips on how to carry a linen suit and more!

Move away from the norm

A city filled with investment bankers and consultants equals to a city full of suits. Summer suiting is often ignored by professionals in Singapore giving way to boring old alternatives of wool fabrics when in fact, linen should be your new best friend! The epitome of effortless cool, you can easily make your linen look more formal by opting for darker shades such as charcoal, brown or grey. If a full linen suit is tad too experimental for you, consider wearing a darker coloured linen jacket paired with chinos or blue jeans for casual Fridays.

Know the fabric

Linen can absorb up to 20% or sometimes even more of its own weight in moisture and still feel dry, deeming it perfect for the summer in Singapore. What's more is that this natural fabric becomes softer and more comfortable with every wear. Linen is also a non-allergenic fabric with a neutral pH balance; perfect for people with allergies, eczema or sensitive skin.

It's all in the Fit

Linen suits have a bad rap mostly due to the fit and cut.  We have all seen too many offenders carrying a sack like outfit in the name of wearing ultra cool blends. A well tailored, fit to perfection suit is what pure linen needs. A slim cut, adjusted to the right shoulder length with the right tucks at the waist ensure the same polished look a heavier polyester can provide. When you go in for a fitting at CYC, they also suggest that you tailor the jacket half-lined or unlined so that it's not too warm to wear during the Summer.

Creasing

This is perhaps the biggest drawback to wearing a linen suit. While linen in its purest form cannot lose all its creasing (that's the beauty of wearing a natural fabric), the place of origin makes a big difference to the quality of purchase. Fine Italian linen is renown to be the best option for linen - far superior than its other counterparts, comforts of a cooler fabric and a lower rate of creasing. It won't take away all the crinkle and scrunch, which add to the texture and character of wearing a linen garment, but it will definitely leave you with a more polished look!

Experiment with colors

While the standard navy suit is eternal and a go-to for meetings, do not underestimate the power of a white linen one! A favourite for anyone living in the tropics, white is an essential part of everyone’s wardrobe. However, don't let that deter you from choosing other colour options for linen either. This versatile fabric comes in a range of softer hues, from pastels to a more corporate light grey, you are sure to find one that will match your needs and personality!

Wear it as one item or 3

The linen suit can be worn by itself as a suit, or simply separate the jacket and pants to wear as individual pieces. Breaking up a suit into separates is an easy way to get more wear out of your tailoring, while making a style statement in the bargain. This works well especially when you want to wear the suit for an important business lunch and yet use those pants for a different informal setting like a yacht ride perhaps?

Accessorise

Breaking the monotony of a linen suit is essential to carrying this fabric with aplomb.

Opt for the right complementing pair of shoes - lace ups or loafers depending on the occasion of a formal meeting or a laid back event. Pocket squares add an extra bit of asymmetry to your look and give you the chance to bring out contrasts and colours in your outfit. Top off the look with your favourite classic watch and take your simple linen outfit to one that exudes character and finesse!

For more details on quality linen or to get yourself a well tailored linen suit, visit CYC The Custom Shop.  CYC The Custom Shop was established in 1935 and was the first to offer custom-tailored shirts in Singapore. CYC’s trademark - perfectly fused collars has led to the initials “CYC” to be associated with quality and fine craftsmanship. CYC The Custom Shop has various branches around the country, visit their website and Facebook page to stay up to date about their latest promotions.