Article
The Rise of the Hollywood Elite and Linen suit
Thanks to its breathability and versatility, linen has been the top fabric choice for warmer weather. For the last 38,000 years, it has trickled from dresses and tunics to finely-tuned tailoring pieces. It is now much more than just a fabric used to keep cool, it can be used for sophistication and glamour.
From tunics to tailoring...
Due to the lightweight nature of linen, it's no secret the fabric is ideal for warmer climates. It was worn by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians either as a tunic or dress, often underneath a heavy woolen toga. Linen has been used in clothing for thousands of years, however it wasn’t until the 19th century that it started to popularise within the tailoring world.
When stationed in tropical climates, linen suits became highly popular with British soldiers as a means to ease the warmer conditions. This familiarity with the lightweight material naturally started to influence clothing design beyond the military. Linen began to flow into popularity within British tailoring, particularly during the summer months.
How was Linen popularised by Hollywood?
The rise of Hollywood in the 20th century helped to build the popularity of the linen suit worldwide due to many of the Hollywood elite taking on this fabric trend. Some of the biggest actors within the golden age of Hollywood, e.g. Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant, were constantly seen sporting sophisticated creams, whites and pale blue linens. This catapulted the fabric into the public eye, with linen suits becoming associated with laid back glamour and class. A particular example of this is the Great Gatsby, in which we see a multitude of linen suits worn by Gatsby - Leonardo Di Caprio - within the 1920s set blockbuster.
Today, we can still see that the linen suit is always a favourite within the summer months. It is an essential wardrobe staple for those laid back looks. With weddings taking a more relaxed approach over the last few years, the linen suit has become the perfect choice for Brides and Grooms saying ‘I Do’ in the depths of summer.
If you’re feeling inspired to add a bit of retro Hollywood flair to your wardrobe, chat to one of our consultants to help create your new summer staple or perfect keep-cool wedding attire.
