Effortless Cool Breezy Linen Looks for Women After 60
A note: I originally shared this post last summer, but I’m back with my friend Kim for this month’s Signature Style post with fresh outfits, new favorites, and a few updates for this season. The linen love remains unchanged.
In the hot days of the summer months, there’s nothing quite like the airy comfort of cool, breathable linen clothes. I know some of you shy away from them because of the wrinkles. I’ve made peace with them. To me, the wrinkling is part of linen’s relaxed charm. Let me show you how to make linen your secret weapon this season. Today I’m sharing the linen looks I am actually wearing this summer, from wine tastings to farmers market mornings effortless cool breezy linen looks for women after 60.
I am wearing a, no longer available, linen skirt from CP Shades (similar here), linen shirt (similar here), pearl bracelet from Parham and Co , necklace from Paula Carvalho here, similar pearl bracelet if you prefer gold here, silver vintage, sandals laid back london.
Why Linen Works So Well After 60
On warmer days most fabrics trap heat, cling in the wrong places, or require constant fussing. Since it is a natural fabric linen breathes , drapes beautifully over your body with a lightweight feel, and gets softer with every wash. The texture naturally hides what you don’t want to emphasize while creating elegant lines. It looks good at every price point, from the affordable priced Lands End, Quince, Gap and Zara to J Crew, Mersea, Banana Republic and Frank and Eileen. Whether it’s linen dresses, a linen blazer, linen shirts, or a great pair of linen pants, there’s a shape and weight that will work for you.
Real Linen Outfits for Women Over 60
Our lifestyle here in [Paso Robles] is casual which suits my personal style perfectly. We rarely dress up for anything, and that’s one of the things I love most about this area. Here’s how that plays out in real life, during the warmer months all summer long.
Wine Tasting: Effortless but Polished
We go wine tasting on many weekends, and the range of what women wear runs from colorful linen summer dresses, maxi skirts to a matching set, pretty much anything goes. I love this Zara linen set so much I own it in two colors. Its casual look, flattering fit and its ability to be worn separately or together provide a range of options.
Lunch With the Girls
This Mersea linen maxi suits my lifestyle. It is casual enough to be worn with sneakers or sandals, and goes with everything. The great hot pink shirt is from Spanx. The skirt also has a matching top. You can see how I styled it at the Mersea store opening in Kansas City in my post Sunday Favorites: Mersea, Kansas City, and the Reason I Do This.
Farmers Market
We have a great Farmers Market in Templeton at the city park. I am usually wearing linen pants a tee and carrying my Janessa Leone bag for my goods. This monochrome option with it’s subtle texture, pull-on pants and long sleeve top is an excellent option for wearing to the market and lunch after. There is a short sleeve option in the same color.
This monochrome option with it’s subtle texture, pull-on pants and long sleeve top is an excellent option for wearing to the market and lunch after. There is a short sleeve option in the same color. I am wearing a small petite in the pants and a regular small in the shirt.
Shopping
These beautifully made linen pants (wearing petite small) from Lands End are airy and comfy. I paired them with this beautiful embroidered linen shirt from Banana Republic which would also be great with jeans.
I have this Frank and Eileen Tuscany set in khaki as well. I am wearing a small. It is pricey but very flattering. It is currently available in turquoise, white and navy. Check their reloved site for better deals here.
Dinner Out
I get compliments on this beautiful embroidered Mersea dress every time I wear it. The slits on the side are conservative and it isn’t voluminous like so many of the dresses this season. I am wearing a small.
Summer Concert
There are many summer concert opportunities in our area, including Vina Robles, Thursday nights in the park and the Mid-State Fair. I usually wear linen and take a wrap for later when it cools down.
Beach or Pool Party
This dress is an oldie from J Crew but Quince has a nearly identical one here. You can wear this as a swim cover-up and later for dinner. I am wearing it with flip-flops, a hat and a beach bag.
Wine Club
I found these wonderful Alemais linen pants on eBay and paired them with a vivid purple Lintico Linen shirt. I have linked some below.
Caring for Linen (So the Wrinkles Work For You, Not Against You)
A few reader-tested tips from the comments on the original post: wash in cold water, skip the iron, and hang dry. Some readers swear by a splash of white vinegar in the rinse cycle to keep colors from fading. However you land on it, the “rich wrinkles” (as one reader’s mother used to call them) are part of what makes linen look more expensive than it is.
For a deeper dive into care and styling, see my full guide: How to Style and Care for Linen Clothing After 60.
More Ways to Wear Linen This Season
I write about linen seasonally because it’s such a workhorse fabric for this stage of life. If you’re building out your linen rotation, don’t miss:
- Stylish Ways to Transition Linen to Fall
- Stylish Alternatives to Sleeveless for Women Over 60 — for warm-weather dressing when you want more coverage
Thanks for reading Effortless Cool Breezy Linen Looks for Women After 60. I hope you’re having a wonderful week. How do you feel about linen? Are you living in it once the temperatures climb, or still warming up to it? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
NOW LET’S POP OVER AND VISIT KIM!!
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
Cindy,
Both you and Kim always have the best outfits and clothing advice! I loved both of your posts.
I love the Zara all outfit on you. Classic for Summer. Wrinkled linen don’t bother me. It’s a rich classic fabric.
Amen my friend!!
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for a wonderful post and you style things so well friend!! That Mersea dress is gorgeous! I managed to get a Linen set from Frank and Eileen in their sale, a gorgeous tomato red from last year, and I have been wearing that non stop.It is such a win.
Hi Francesca
I have been a bargain hunter from the day I was born. Who wants to pay full price if we don’t have to!!
Cindy This is my third year of wearing linen; it is all from J Crew at present but pleased it is ‘mainstream’ now so there are more brands that carry it. As the weather gets warmer longer now I predict a lot more linen will be shown. I don’t mind washing and ironing it so far. The color range is expanding and I love your choices. Paso is so hot in the summer! You can drive down the hill and it will be foggy..then you need a sweater or a wrap. Miss the fish and chips and view of the ‘rock’ where I spent my early summers.
Hi Donnie
So true! Do you ever get back here? My granddaughter when she was younger said “Grandpa it is the biggest rock I have ever seen” We went to the Cayucos dog beach last weekend, let the dogs run, and then went to Heast Ranch Winery for lunch and a bottle of Rose. A perfect day!
Am I overlooking the link to the Mersey dress?
Dear Cindy, Another wonderful article with so great ideas for rocking linen! We are in vacation in Michigan and I brought several linen pieces – they work well with the humidity! I lobe the white on white look – fun and dramatic! Thank you. Anna in Arizona (Except for these two lovely weeks)
Hi Anna
I hope you are enjoying your reprieve from the heat! I love white on white this time of year. It is just so fresh!
Did you get the picture I sent you via email?
Cindy this is such a fantastic post. You are the linen queen with so many gorgeous pieces. I just love how you pull your looks together- always simple and chic, but with a fab accessory or two. The first white outfit is especially so beautiful on you, but then I also love the red look. The Zara set is a great look too! Gotta grab these nice linen pieces while they are in store.
Love doing this every year. I wish my post was as extensive… This is the linen bible and you are the goals for the closet.
xo
Hi Kim
Hopping over to read your post you always get me in trouble!! I love Zara’s linen pieces this year!!
I just spent two weeks traveling around France during a major heatwave, with daily temps in the mid 90’s to 104. My entire travel wardrobe was linen and it worked perfectly. Easy to wash and quick to dry if needed. I had a small bottle of Grove wrinkle release with me that did the trick if needed. I got many compliments from our guide, fellow travelers and strangers.
Hi Becky
I am going to check out the grove wrinkle releaser! Thanks for the tip! Isn’t linen great for travel? That heatwave must have been challenging with the lack of air in Europe!!
Just returned from three weeks in Europe where I lived in Eileen Fisher linen. Received many compliments on the effortless style and color!
Hi Susan
I love Eileen Fisher! I need to do a post!!
I love linen knits I don’t think they wrinkle as much and are a staple for me
Linen is perhaps my favorite fabric. It’s great for my sensitive skin. And nothing else would do last year traveling around Central America . Even cotton didn’t perform as well as easy, breezy linen. I embrace the wrinkles, and linen always gets softer with use. I find decent linen items at JJill, love my Irish linen from JCrew and recently discovered they high quality linen at Quince.
California gal moved to coastal NC three years ago and linen is the best for our hot and humid climate! You always make everything looks stylish. Thanks for your great blog!
Hi Lara
How do you like North Carolina? Thank you so much!
Hi Cindy,
I live in Mpls/St. Paul, MN. I avidly read your fabulous posts and collaborations and ALWAYS learn something new and valuable ~ thank you for your work. Our summers are usually quite hot and humid, so linen and gauze clothing works well. In our coldest months, I adapt your wardrobe ideas to work with our climate. Thank you for always providing your practical, honest, and artistic creativity!
Hi Patricia
Thank you so much for your kind comments! I so appreciate it!
Cindy,
I love linen! You look beautiful in every outfit.
Another great post Cindy! Linen and your fabulous turquoise and Mexican silver collection are swoon worthy! I’ve loved linen ever since I discovered Eileen Fisher 30 years ago. At the time we lived in the Chicago area and EF had a small outlet store in the suburbs. The “company store” as they call it has grown and relocated several times but it is always a must stop when I return to the area. The store is huge and displays are as beautifully styled as their retail stores with so much more inventory. Definitely one of my favorite stores so if you have an opportunity to visit one of their “Company Stores” be sure to go as you won’t be disappointed!
Hi Cindy,
Gorgeous looks friend! I am a big wearer of linen and my all time favorite is linen from Frank and Eileen. I scour for sales and Poshmark to find the color l like if it’s last season’s but for a busty woman the Eileen shirt always looks good on me. That and J Crew Baird shirts which are currently on sale. And l use washing liquid with no artificial brighteners like Seventh Generation Easy Dose Washing or organic baby washing liquid as l don’t want the color to dilute. Happy weekend.
That olive with the turquoise is simply outstanding. Thanks for all of the linen ideas.
I just love the look of linen on other people (and especially you, Cindy) but am not sure I’ll be comfortable with the wrinkles! I have a very classic style aesthetic. I also wonder if wearing linen is more of a regional thing. I live in Western PA, and although it does get hot and humid in the summer, I really haven’t noticed many women wearing linen. Out of curiosity, maybe I’ll ask how well linen items sell at some of my local stores.
Hi Barb
Interesting that linen may be regional. I am sure those of us who wear linen and live in hot climates it is a necessity, It is a relaxed aesthetic. If that isn’t your vibe, try cotton poplin which is very popular now. It is almost as cool as linen!
My Mom loved linen, and she would call the wrinkles “rich wrinkles”! She meant that linen always looks classic and has the look of being more expensive than it is. Rich wrinkles! Mom was right on so many things!
Hi Becky
That is hilarious…I think your mom is right!!
I love linen! It’s the perfect summer fabric and looks so fabulous as a set. Love that red on you!
Hi Jennifer
Sacramento heat =linen!!
I’m a huge fan of linen! It’s the perfect summer fabric. I love the red on you…I may have to try it.
hi Jennifer
I am loving the crayon red that is so popular this year!
I love linen and I do a couple of things that I think help with the wrinkles. I never iron my linen!
I wash in cold water and add white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Then I put in the dryer on air only with lambs wool dryer balls for 10 minutes then air dry .
My linen has a kind of natural look with a few small wrinkles but I think that’s just the way it looks and it’s ok with me. I love linen and I don’t like the way it looks ironed on me.
Hi Beth
I wash my linen in cold water as well, but have never thought of adding vinegar!! I don’t iron mine either. I just pull it and hang dry!
I never would have put turquoise and olive together, never, but it works. You inspired me!
I so admire your sense of style that embraces comfort. Thank you for continuing to inspire us! Living in the Deep South where linen is a lifesaver in summer, I consider wrinkles part of the charm. I had just purchased the short sleeve linen popover top from Quince in white, and know it will be a staple for me all summer.
You’re one of my favorite fashion enablers! Just ordered the embroidered BR shirt, I think it’s fantastic! Thanks for the inspiration.
Haha, I find Cindy D’s comment amusing about embracing the wrinkles. Maybe she only means having to do with linen but I’m extrapolating it further. I love linen and it’s been my go-to for years when I travel to, or live in, hot climates. Yes, it wrinkles but it breathes.
Hi Wren
Amen!! Therein lies the key!! Nothing is cooler than linen!
Hi Cindy, ….I must confess that I use your blogs as my very own fashion consultant, If I have an idea or a function I need to dress for , I revisit your blogs and then attack my closet. I have many pieces that I have grown bored with , but with your help , I find new ways to create some pretty nice looks. I’ll never be as stylish as you , but you give me the confidence to be bold and wear what I like and not worry about someone else’s opinion . keep on Cindy, we need you !!!!
Oh my gosh Pam you made my day! I try my best, and trust me I dress very casually 90% of the time. I try to keep myself “decent” for fear I will run into one of you all!! You guys inspire me everyday, and that is what makes this very time consuming job so rewarding-this community-I love you ladies!
Pam – I go one step further…. If Cindy puts together a great look that I could copy from my closet – I print it out and put it on my bulletin board in my closet! 😉
Do you find the Fitflops to be TTS?? Thank you for the excellent linen post. Yes, we must embrace the wrinkles.
Hi Cindy
Yes I do and Fitflop just emailed me a 15% off code for you ladies use code SHARE15
I love linen, but hate the constant ironing. Could you do a post on how you store, wash, dry, and iron all the pieces you have? Thanks…