If you have chosen a white linen suit for summer wear you presumably want to look smart and stylish in it. A white linen suit has always been the choice of the well dressed man when the temperature rises. But to look your best in it you will have to choose a matching shirt wisely as the wrong shirt will ruin the overall look of the suit.
The first thing you will have to choose is what material your shirt will be made from. As linen is a natural material you should try and pair it with other natural materials. Cotton, linen and silk shirts are the best choices. Cotton lends itself to a smarter look while linen always has a casual style. Silk can be smart or casual, or even smart-casual, but it can also appear too loud so color choice is important.
When it comes to choosing color consider white. An all white suit and shirt combination can look very cool. If worn with a white cotton shirt it can be quite smart, smart enough for some business wear. Alternatively, a white linen shirt is perfect for relaxed casual wear. A white silk shirt does not go so well with a white suit so keep the silk for color wear.
Choosing a colored shirt to wear under a white suit opens up whole rainbow of choices. For summer wear it is best to avoid dark colors and tones with the exception of dark blues which have a summery nautical air. A linen shirt usually looks best in light neutral colors. If choosing colored silk avoid very loud colors and look for a weave that is not too shiny.
Linen suits lend themselves to many looks and can be matched with many different styles of shirt. Decide on what look you are going for and build on that. A good linen suit combined with a selection of shirts should be a centerpiece of a man’s wardrobe. For more information and ideas on the potential of a linen suit visit http://thelinensuit.com the linen menswear resource online.