Can you wear linen to the office?

A common worry we hear is that linen looks too relaxed for work. Men picture a crumpled beach shirt and decide it is not for the office. The truth is that linen is one of the most practical office fabrics in a city where the commute is hot and the air conditioning is cold.

The creasing is the real concern, so manage it. A pure linen shirt in white, sky blue or pale grey looks deliberate even with a few creases, especially with a proper collar instead of a camp collar. Pair it with linen-cotton trousers, which crease half as much, and you look composed by six in the evening.

Cut matters more than fabric. A shirt that is too loose looks like holiday wear whatever it is made of. Ask us to take in the sides by two or three centimetres and to set the sleeve length so the cuff just reaches the wrist. That small change makes linen look like a work shirt.

There are a few things to avoid. Skip bright garment-dyed colours and patch pockets for formal meetings; save the teal co-ord for weekends. Iron the collar and placket even if you leave the rest soft. Keep a navy or grey jacket at the office for client visits. Several of our regulars work in banks and law offices around Esplanade and Nungambakkam and wear linen five days a week from March to October; their only rule is a pressed collar.