The day at a wellness retreat has a rhythm unlike any other holiday. Yoga or a walk at first light; breakfast in silence or near silence; treatments, swims and reading through the middle of the day; a sauna or a bath in the late afternoon; an early dinner and an early night. Linen for wellness retreats is about that rhythm. The clothes between the sessions should ask for no attention at all, and they should feel, against the skin, like part of the rest rather than an interruption of it.

The case for a natural cloth

A retreat is a week of paying attention to the body, and what touches the body for most of the day is cloth. Linen is woven from flax, a plant fibre. It sits slightly away from the skin rather than clinging, and it softens with each wash. For a week given to natural rhythms, a natural cloth simply makes sense.

Morning

Linen goes to an early class as readily as it goes to breakfast, and linen on the yoga mat has its own page. Before and after the practice, a loose linen shirt and linen trousers suit the hour. For men, the Laos Short Sleeve linen shirt in Vanille or Oyster with the PP Casual Linen Trousers in Oatmeal. For women, the ladies linen set in Light Blue or Mint Green, or the PP linen blouse in Sky Blue with soft, wide trousers.

The middle of the day

Between treatments, at the pool and in the garden, the day slows further. The PP Natural Set is easy to put on over damp skin after a swim and comfortable on a lounger in the shade. The Oyster, White and Vanille sets sit quietly in the pale, calm surroundings of a retreat. They are in the PP natural sets collection. The pool takes the PP natural swim shorts in Oatmeal or Black.

The sauna hour

Many retreats build their afternoons around heat: a sauna, a steam room, a hammam, followed by cold water and rest. In the sauna, a hat of natural wool is the traditional companion, and the PP sauna hats come in a range of colours, from Ivory and Sand to Olive, Mocha and Navy. The PP sauna hats are made of natural wool; the guide to using a sauna hat explains how it is worn. Afterwards, a linen shirt over cool skin is a pleasure of its own.

Evening

Dinner at a retreat is early and calm. For him, the Male Linen Shirt in White or Grey with linen trousers; for her, the Amelia linen dress shirt in Oyster or Blue from the women's collection, or the PP linen blouse in Pink, worn loose. Colours in the evening can deepen a little, but the mood is unchanged: nothing loud, nothing tight, nothing that needs adjusting.

Choosing a palette

A small, coherent palette makes packing for a retreat effortless and keeps the mind clear of choices. Oyster, Vanille, Oatmeal and White with one blue is enough for a week. Every piece goes with every other, and the decision of what to wear each morning takes no time at all.

For the spa resort

Not every wellness week is a strict retreat. Some are spent at resorts with a strong spa, where the evenings are more social. The guide to linen at a spa resort covers that lighter version.

For a week: three linen shirts, two pairs of linen trousers, one PP natural set, swim shorts and a sauna hat. For her, the ladies linen set, two blouses, one or two Amelia linen dress shirts. It is a small suitcase, and that, too, is part of the point.

Read more: Linen and the Evening at Rest  ·  Linen for Slow Travel