Linen That Gets Better With Every Wash

Linen has a reputation for wrinkling, and a reputation for being worth it. Both are earned. The wrinkles are part of the charm, and the fabric softens with every wash until it feels like something you have always owned.

Buy it in a medium weight if you can. Very light linen is lovely in a heatwave and ghastly in a cool office; a medium weight works in more places and lasts longer. Look for a tight, even weave that you cannot see through when you hold it to a window.

• Wash it cold, on a gentle cycle, and not too full.
• Dry it flat or on a line, and take it down while it is slightly damp.
• Iron it damp if you want it smooth, and leave it as it is if you do not.

The only real mistake is to treat it as delicate. It is among the strongest natural fibres in the world, and it would like to be used.