With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, toss out your tired cotton clothing and say hello to three new fabrics that flatter your figure while keeping you comfy!
Linen
One of the most environmentally-friendly fabrics, linen has become a favourite among fashion designers for its breathability and comfort, as well as its ability to skim the body as opposed to hugging it. If you don’t like clothing that feels like a straitjacket, linen is a socially-conscious and breezy fabric for the springtime season.
When shopping for linen clothing, you’ll often notice many of the silhouettes are square, rectangular, or trapeze. This is due to linen’s notable propensity for wrinkles, meaning geometric shapes without a ton of cuts and creases often work best. For those who have larger busts, linen’s “draping” effect can sometimes cause the fabric to resemble more of a potato sack than a cute top or dress. To combat this, cinch it at your waist with a flattering colour or textured belt, and enjoy being comfortable and cool all season long. For those who like to cover their arms or camouflage their torsos, linen can provide modesty while still allowing your skin to feel that springtime breeze.
Bamboo
A favourite snack of the panda does a lot more than simply nourish the body — it can clothe it as well! This ultra-soft fabric has been a go-to of the athletic community for its comfortable and breathable properties. Naturally resistant to wrinkles and softer than cotton, bamboo is eco-friendly and has a high degree of elasticity, meaning it can contour your curves without feeling as though your internal organs are pinched.
If you’re interested in trying out some bamboo fabrics, remember it will behave similarly to jersey. For women on the petite side, look for a dress that will hug you a little tighter, and a hemline that will stop around the knee to lengthen your body. As with linen, many designers making clothing from bamboo will stick to shift and trapeze-style dresses in order to show it as distinct from athletic wear. However, if these styles aren’t for you, I cannot recommend enough a nice pair of bamboo pyjamas or loungewear for those warmer evenings at home.
Hemp
You’re active. You spend springtime plotting for your upcoming home renovations, playing with your grandchildren, or organizing your next work party. If you’ve been finding too many holes in your cotton t-shirts lately, then you’re in luck — hemp is three times stronger than cotton, incredibly durable, and naturally resistant to UV rays for those long days outside in the garden. Though this fabric does not drape like bamboo or linen, very few clothing items can hold their shape quite like hemp.
In addition to coming in a wide variety of shapes and silhouettes for your warmer wardrobe, hemp will still allow airflow while being incredibly opaque (unlike linen, which often runs on the sheerer side).
Whether you’re looking to cover up or show off, hemp can help disguise your trouble areas with interesting seam lines and shapes, or cling to it tight to show off your curves. Due to its durability, you’ll likely score a couple of seasons out of this fabric, so make sure to choose classic shapes or neutral colours, if you’re looking to keep it around for a while.
Whether you’re running a business or after your grandkids, stay beautiful and breezy this season in these fashionable, forgivable fabrics!
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