How to style a linen shirt dress into autumn

A linen shirt dress is one of the hardest-working things in a summer wardrobe, and it doesn’t have to be put away when the evenings draw in. The fabric that kept you cool in July works just as well in September, as long as you change what you wear with it.

Three ways to wear it in summer

• Buttoned and belted, with the sleeves rolled, as a simple day dress with sandals.
• Open over a vest and wide-leg linen trousers, as a long shirt.
• Unbelted and loose on hot days, so the linen can move and stay cool.

1. Put a knit over it

A shirt dress worn open over a vest in summer becomes a layer in autumn. Button it up, tie the belt and pull a cable knit or a merino roll-neck over the top, so the collar and the curved hem still show. Oat and ink navy linen sit well under ecru, camel and navy knits.

2. Change your shoes before your clothes

Swap sandals for suede loafers or a low ankle boot and the same dress reads as autumn straight away. Tan and tobacco suede warm up cool linen colours such as sea glass.

3. Go darker, not heavier

Deep colours in linen, such as ink navy, olive and charcoal, feel seasonal without adding weight. Keep something light near your face so the whole look doesn’t get heavy.

Looking after linen as it gets colder

• Wash at 30°C and dry it on a hanger. It’s usually dry by morning, even indoors.
• Leave the creases. They soften with every wash, and that’s the point of linen.
• Once you stop wearing it every week, store it folded rather than hung.