I think the weather has been socializing with the stock market. The current heat wave in California is countered by blizzards in Wyoming. For many of us though, the end of April is the clear sign that the season of warm (and hot) weather has arrived. Along with pony tails and popsicles, linen is high on my list of cooling concepts.
Spiegel
Remnants of linen have been found in Swiss lake dwellings dating back to 8000 BCE. In Ancient Egypt, linen was symbol of purity and wealth, and upper class mummies were often wrapped in it. Egypt also is the home of the 4000 year old commercial linen industry.
Garnet Hill
Highly absorbent, linen easily removes perspiration from the skin. Because it’s a stiffer fiber and the styles tend to be looser, it dries quickly allowing the wearer to stay cool. You’ve probably noticed there is a typical color palate for linen- it grows naturally in shades of ivory, tan and grey.
J Jill
Linen is the strongest of vegetable fibers, but it’s weakened by routine creasing. When you pack it up at the end of the season, don’t fold it neatly- let it crumple into your storage system to give the threads a chance to relax. (Same goes for linen table cloths.)