The fit of a linen shirt is different from the fit of a cotton shirt in one specific and important way: linen does not stretch to accommodate a snug fit. What the pattern cutting delivers is what the shirt produces. Understanding what correct fit looks like for a linen shirt, and how it differs from the cotton shirt fit most people are accustomed to, prevents the frustration of buying the wrong size.

The shoulder. The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of the shoulder — the natural point where the shoulder rounds down to the upper arm. If the seam falls below this point, the shirt is too large through the shoulder; if it pulls toward the neck, it is too small. In linen, the shoulder seam position is particularly visible because the fabric holds the shape set by the cut rather than recovering toward the correct position as a stretchy fabric might.

The chest and body. A correctly fitting linen shirt should have enough ease through the chest and body to allow the fabric to drape naturally — typically 5 to 8 centimetres of ease across the chest in a relaxed fit. Too tight and the shirt pulls at the buttons and across the back; too loose and the fabric hangs without structure. Linen's natural drape means a relaxed fit reads as considered rather than oversized.

The sleeve length. The sleeve should reach to the wrist bone when the arm is extended — slightly longer than a cuffed shirt but shorter than a shirt worn with cufflinks. A PP linen shirt with sleeves that are too long is easily rolled; one that is too short is uncomfortable.

The body length. The shirt should cover the waistband when tucked — typically 5 to 7 centimetres below the natural waist. Untucked, it should fall to the mid-hip without being so long that it reads as a tunic.

PP Linen Shirt Size Guide  ·  Linen Shirt Benefits  ·  Men's Linen Collection