This Is the Only Material Europeans Love More Than Linen in the Summer
When it comes to summering in Europe and wanting to look like a local, linen is often the material you think of first. That makes sense—the billowy fabric is very Talented Mr. Ripley and Call Me By Your Name. And while lightweight linen dresses, shirts, pants, and skirts are certainly warm-weather staples across Italy, Spain, and France, they aren't the only frequented options for staying both physically and aesthetically cool when the temperatures peak in said countries come June, July, and August. In fact, there's one other material that might be even more trusted by Europeans during the summer months than linen: cotton poplin.
Like linen pieces, a cotton poplin blouse or pair of trousers is guaranteed to be extremely breathable and lightweight. Plus, if you pick a soft color like white or pastel pink or blue, you'll benefit from the fact that lighter colors reflect most of the sun's wavelengths, keeping them from heating up throughout the day. Linen, however, tends to wrinkle—like, immediately—whereas the tightness of the weave of cotton poplin makes it practically wrinkle-proof. It's no wonder then that so many brands (and chic European passport holders) are choosing the latter breezy fabric option for the summer season ahead.
Below, shop the only material Europeans love more than linen this time of year in the form of dresses, skirts, and more.
Cotton Poplin Tops
Cotton Poplin Dresses
This dress is giving Prada nightgown vibes, and I'm 100% here for it.
Cotton Poplin Skirts
Cotton Poplin Pants
Cotton Poplin Shorts
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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