I'm a Linen Snob, and These Are the Only 7 Brands I Buy It From

Who What Wear editor Allyson Payer wearing a Posse linen dress.

(Image credit: @allypayer)

Here's the thing: Even though a tag says 100% linen on it, that doesn't necessarily mean the quality is good. The quality of the plant flax fibers and the production methods play an important role in the feel, look, and longevity of a piece of linen clothing, which explains why some linen pieces are far more expensive than others. That said, not all linen has to be expensive to be good. Several inexpensive brands sell linen of very impressive quality, and I would know. As I mentioned in the headline, I'm a linen snob.

There are exceptions to this, but I buy almost all of my linen from the seven brands below. Some are more spendy, and others are surprisingly reasonable. The common denominator is that all of these brands do incredibly stylish things with linen. Given that summer is almost here, now is the perfect time to boost your linen collection, so without further ado, keep scrolling to shop my favorite pieces from the seven brands that do it best.

Posse

When the primary fabric a brand uses for nearly its entire collection is linen, you know it must be good. Each Posse collection is filled with supreme linen pieces—even the winter collections. (It is an Australian brand, after all.) The prints the brand chooses for said linen pieces each season are particularly lovely. See for yourself.

Reformation

Reformation has a mind-boggling selection of linen pieces to choose from, and they seem to get better and better each year. From dresses to skirts to pretty tops to its iconic Olina and Vida pants, Reformation does magical things with linen, and the quality is just as good as the designs.

J.Crew

J.Crew is my source for linen that's a tad more affordable. (Its frequent sales are also helpful.) This season in particular, my cart is filled with linen pieces that are shockingly good. No wonder many of them are selling out. Tip: The linen button-downs are a go-to summer basic of mine.

Faithfull

Indonesia-based brand Faithfull is synonymous with summer, and its collections are consistently filled with sophisticated, special linen pieces. I constantly come across special occasion–worthy Faithfull pieces even though linen has a reputation for being a casual fabric. As you'll see, its prints are also stunning.

Staud

Staud is my go-to for vacation-ready linen pieces that you'll want to wear over a swimsuit or to a waterfront restaurant. Think fun, colorful pieces that are still elegant. I always get compliments when I wear Staud linen, and the quality makes its pieces a worthwhile splurge.

Alex Mill

When it comes to linen basics, Alex Mill is my go-to. Its pull-on linen pants are best sellers for a reason, and its solid-colored tops are wardrobe staples you'll wear on repeat throughout the warmest months of the year. I'm always impressed by how soft its linen pieces are.

Rails

Rails' elevated linen pieces are both timeless and trend-forward. From square-neck tanks to pretty dresses, there's something to fulfill every linen need one may have. There's a reason the polished California brand has been popular for so many years.

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Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.