Reformation's Linen Collection Is Going Viral And I Got To Try On The Entire Thing

June 22, 2024

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I've always found it hard to feel polished in the heat. Hats off to those of you who appear cool, calm and sleek when poolside – but for the most part, that's not me. I've lost count of the number of sweaty beach pilgrimages I've made, my clothes sticking in all the wrong places and my mood quickly taking a nose dive.

There's only one fabric I've found to make hot weather dressing enjoyable, and that's linen. Strangely, it took me a while to get there – but building up a versatile linen collection over the past few years has helped me look ~chic~ while facing balmy climes.

Linen trousers are, clearly, a staple – breezy and effortless over a bikini on the beach, but also suited to relaxed summer weekends in London and early autumn office days when paired with a blazer or chunky knit. Linen short-and-shirt co-ords are big news (Gen-Z told me so), and can be dressed up for a sunset dinner with a pair of chunky sandals. Prada's padded Nappa leather sandals, ideally. And linen dresses? Their appeal needs little explanation.

Lots of premium brands do linen impeccably: Aje, Favorite Daughter, Toteme, Dôen. Zimmermann's SS24 collection is bursting at the seams with paisley printed linen maxis which nod to the infamous boho-chic trend that was revived by Chemena Kamali’s Chloé show in Paris. And elsewhere, Max Mara's modern and sophisticated approach to wardrobe classics translates into its neutral, forever-wearable linen trousers and blazers. But if you want to shop premium linen on a slightly more modest budget, which store should you make a beeline for?

If their SS24 linen collection is anything to go by, Taylor Swift-adored Reformation is the one. ICYMI, the LA-based brand – which was founded back in 2009 – marries fashion and environmental consciousness together perfectly, creating runway-inspired pieces with recycled fibres and innovative fabrics.

They've spent the past decade-and-a-half garnering an army of die-hard fans – from Kendall Jenner and Meghan Markle to Hailey Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski and Adele. And me. So, in a bid to add a few more linen pieces to my collection ahead of a girls' trip to Provence in July, I stopped by their London Covent Garden store to see what was on offer.

Roxy Linen Two Piece£248 at Reformation

Reformation have recently launched a new Linen collection, featuring shirts, bottoms and dresses made from flax, that basically requires no water to grow, and emits only a quarter of the carbon as cotton per pound of fiber.

Most of Ref's linen is also bluesign® or OEKO-TEX® 100 certified, meaning that it’s made without harmful chemicals. Plus, it has naturally cooling properties that come in very handy for flustered old me.

Last year, the iconic J.Lo honeymoon dress — the Tagliatelle — ended up being Ref's top performing linen style, and the pieces that snagged spots two and three on the best-sellers list included: the Olina Linen Pant and Robbie Linen Two Piece. I had high hopes.