This Shirt Will Land You on a Summer Mood Board

The best men’s linen shirts are a refreshing summer treat, like an Aperol Spritz you can store in your closet. Here at GQ, we’ve long maintained that linen shirts aren’t exclusively seasonal—their texture-heavy vibe and breezy feel come in handy year-round in our age of terrifying, topsy-turvy weather turbulence—but when the mercury soars and layering opportunities are negligible, they’re no longer nice-to-haves: they’re essentials.

It’s not just linen’s physical properties that excel in the summer, either. The fabric’s preternaturally relaxed appearance—those telltale wrinkles very much included—compliments the season’s laid-back energy like a fresh orange wedge in your wine glass.

Nowadays, brands are rolling out entire collections focused on linen (why stop at shirts when there are also linen pants and linen suits?) and hardly a day goes by that we don’t spot a nubby linen shirt we’d do unspeakable things to get our hands on. So to help you flex your flax this season, we aggregated the very best of them below, each vetted, tested, and (barely) sweated in by us.

The Best Men’s Linen Shirts, According to GQ

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The Best Linen Shirt Overall

Banana Republic Standard-Fit Linen Shirt

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The Best Budget Linen Shirt

Uniqlo Premium Linen Shirt

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The Best Casual Linen Shirt

J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt

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Best Linen Shirt Overall: Banana Republic Standard-Fit Linen Shirt

What we want out of a linen shirt isn’t crazy, yet it feels so difficult to find. We want a shirt that fits well, roomy enough to let a breeze blow through (not to mention a sultry billow), made in a quality linen. Banana Republic checks all the boxes and for a price we can really get behind. The fit is a classic, slightly roomy fit that looks great untucked. It’s got a great collar that’s not dinky like so many other shirts and the buttons feel and look premium. Despite all the positives, we do have one gripe and that’s that Banana’s shirt doesn’t come in multiple silhouettes.

Best Budget Linen Shirt: Uniqlo Premium Linen Shirt

If you’re on a budget, you’d do well to roll up to Uniqlo, the Japanese megabrand that’s made its bag on affordable and timeless basics. Its linen shirts are not an exception. They’re made of European linen, feature a nice spread collar, and are cut with a slightly tailored but classic silhouette. The length is great for tucking into some dress pants for the office or a wedding, but short enough to leave untucked without looking sloppy. Though Uniqlo’s linen does have a nice luster, it doesn’t feel nearly as nice as the other shirts we tested. But for less than fifty bucks, who’s complaining?

Best Casual Linen Shirt: J.Crew Baird McNutt Irish Linen Shirt

The best linen shirts should be as easy to wear as an oxford—and about twice as comfortable when the temps turn sinister. This one from J.Crew doesn’t just check every box, it adds a few more to the list. For starters, it’s made with an Irish linen fabric—said to be the finest linen in the world—sourced from the Baird McNutt mill, one the finest linen mills in Ireland. Easy math there. It also has a Goldilocks fit—not too boxy, not too slim—that’s amenable to any breeze, big or small. It looks great rumpled or crisp, can deftly slide in under a suit and also plays well with some jeans or shorts. Oh, and it’s under $100. I probably should’ve led with that.

“J.Crew’s linen shirts return every spring and summer for a reason,” says GQ style commerce writer Gerald Ortiz. “The fabric is top-notch, they come in a variety of silhouettes that fit just about everyone, and they’re available in a gang of great colors and patterns.” Ortiz says that the linen fabric feels especially cool to the touch and silky smooth. “For the price, quality, and variety, why would you go anywhere else?”

Best Upgrade Linen Shirt: Drake’s Linen Spread Collar Shirt

Drake’s remains a stalwart in the sartorial field. We love the British label’s sharp suits, shaggy sweaters, and meticulously crafted button-ups. Naturally, its linen shirts are top tier, as well. Unlike many cheaper linens, they’re made with a thicker, more substantial linen that achieves that elusive rumple—not wrinkle—that’s indicative of a higher-quality linen. With an impeccably clean, yet still airy, fit, mother of pearl buttons, and flawless single-needle construction, the quality is, unsurprisingly, very impressive. What sets the Drake’s shirt apart is something you won’t even see and that’s with the collar. It’s constructed with a floating interlining which give the collar structure and prevents it from going unattractively limp. Because, while the charm of a linen shirt is its wrinkles, nobody likes a wimpy, shriveled up collar.

Best Linen Camp Shirt: Bather Traveler Shirt

Materials: 100% cotton | | Sizes: XS – XXL | Fit: Boxy