Linen, after all. A versatile material that looks put-together even worn casually, yet always feels relaxed.

Why do we love linen? A staff roundtable

There are many linen lovers among the ZUTTO staff. Some use linen cloths as hand towels in the kitchen, others match their bento wrapping cloths with linen handkerchiefs, and some switch to linen for their summer towel blankets. And when spring and summer roll around, it seems everyone starts wanting to wear linen clothing.

We asked three linen-loving staff members to share once again what makes linen items so appealing.

— First, what makes linen different from other materials?

Staff S: "For me, it's above all how comfortable it feels against bare skin. Of course, 100% cotton also feels great, but where cotton is soft and gentle on the skin, linen has that distinctive crisp, slightly rough texture, and that's what I love about it."

Staff A: "If cotton is the material you can rely on year-round, linen is somehow the texture you start craving in spring and summer. Even when you sweat, it doesn't cling to your skin and stays feeling dry and smooth, which means less discomfort—that's another thing I like about it."

— Isn't it hard to judge TPO (time, place, occasion) with linen clothing?

Staff M: "Linen does have a casual impression, but if you iron it properly, for instance, the whole feel changes and becomes crisp. It also creates outfits that are neither too formal nor too relaxed—just right, which suits me in my 30s. Rather than the neat look of cotton, I'm more in the mood for casual linen."

Staff A: "It's interesting how the whole impression changes depending on whether you iron it or not. It looks great even straight out of the wash, and being so easy to handle is another big point in its favor."

— We often hear about linen changing over time. Do you actually notice this change?

Staff S: "Yes, definitely! It becomes softer, and the texture changes too. That initial rough feel fades a bit, but linen that has aged over time has its own kind of comfort."

Staff M: "Linen really does change the more you wash it. Because of the nature of the fabric, it can shrink a little, but many pieces are already pre-washed, so there's not much to worry about. Unlike delicate cotton, you can wear and wash it freely without hesitation, and natural aging will happen on its own."

How to wear this spring's linen items

With warmer, sunnier days becoming more frequent, linen clothing is what we find ourselves wanting to wear. So how should we style the linen items ZUTTO is featuring this spring? We had our linen-loving staff investigate the key points of each item, as well as the questions customers often ask about them.

Linen Wool Light Coat

This year's linen light coat also uses generous amounts of fabric so you can enjoy its lovely texture and beautiful drape. This time we've used a herringbone wool-blend linen fabric, offered in khaki and navy—two colors that give a crisp accent to the bright colors of early-spring outfits.

— How does it feel to wear?

Staff A: "Because it uses so much fabric, it naturally creates an A-line silhouette, and just throwing it on pulls the whole outfit together."

Staff M: "It's nice to look stylish without any effort. The drop shoulders mean that even if you wear a thick top underneath, your shoulders and arms don't feel cramped, so it makes sense that this coat works for both spring and fall."

— What does the linen-wool material feel like to the touch?

Staff M: "I was a little worried it might feel itchy because of the wool content, but since the blend ratio is only 10%, when you actually touch it, you don't really notice the wool much. It has that pleasant crisp, slightly rough texture of linen. You can't feel the wool against your skin, but when you put it on, it gives a reassuring sense of substance—not too thin."

Staff S: "It really plays the role of a bridge coat between seasons. In spring and fall, I often struggle with what outerwear to choose, but this light coat answers that wish—guarding against the morning and evening chill while still looking light and spring-like."

— The sleeves are quite long, aren't they?

Staff S: "Yes, even for me at 166cm tall, the sleeves are long. When I asked the planner about it, they said it was intentional—they wanted people to fold or scrunch up the sleeves to add their own touch when wearing it."

Staff M: "At 158cm, if I fold them twice, they cover my wrists. Once we get to late April or May, I'd like to scrunch them up to about elbow length."

Linen Strap Wide Pants

These wide-leg pants feature eye-catching straps, so you can enjoy styling them in many different ways. They can be worn on their own as simple wide-leg pants, but adding the straps gives them a different feel and opens up even more styling possibilities. Since the slim straps are made from the same fabric as the pants, they create a grown-up casual style that doesn't feel too childish.

— How should the straps be attached? Can they be removed?

Staff S: "First, about how to attach the straps: there are four buttons in total on the inside of the waist, at the front, back, left, and right. Each strap has three buttonholes, so you can choose the length that suits your height and fasten it with the buttons."

Staff M: "You can really have fun with how you attach the straps on these pants. I feel like the mood changes depending on whether you cross the straps in an X shape at the back or keep them straight."

Staff A: "That's true—the X shape gives a casual, lively impression, and it also has the benefit of keeping the straps from slipping off your shoulders. With the straight style, the back view stays plain, so it pairs nicely with dressier tops or blouses without looking out of place. Also, it's nice that even letting the straps hang loose becomes a stylish accent."

Staff M: "Of course, you can also remove the straps entirely and wear them as plain wide-leg pants without any decoration. If you're wearing a top that's hard to tuck in, you can't really attach the straps, so in that case just take them off. It's great that they can be worn in so many different ways."

— I'm on the shorter side, so I'm worried whether the strap length will fit me...

Since the strap length can be adjusted in three stages, three staff members of different heights tried wearing the pants with the straps set to different lengths.

Staff A: "I'm 152cm tall, and I've set the straps to their shortest length. When the straps are fastened in a straight style at the back, they tend to slip down, so I adjusted them into an X shape instead. The hem falls just above the ankle, so I'd like to pair these with shoes or sandals that have a bit of a heel."

Staff M: "I'm 158cm tall, and fastening the straps at the middle buttonhole gave me just the right length. The hem sits just above the ankle, so it's easy to balance with sneakers or flat shoes."

Staff S: "At 166cm, I'm wearing the straps at their longest setting. Fastening them in the straight style might make them a bit too long? Depending on the fabric and thickness of the top, I'd like to switch to the middle button as needed. The hem falls at a length where the ankle shows clearly, making these perfect lightweight pants for spring and summer. Pairing them with a sleeveless top feels fresh and nice too!"

Linen Long-Sleeve Blouse

This is a ZUTTO original linen blouse with a ribbon. The body is cut generously, giving it a soft, voluminous feel to enjoy.

— It's such a softly voluminous linen blouse.

Staff S: "There are tucks along the shoulder line, which create natural volume and give a gentle impression. When worn, it forms a hem that dips lower in the back, and with slits on the sides, it seems easy to balance with pants."

Staff A: "The sleeves have a nice puffy volume too. It looks great worn as is, but it's also lovely folded neatly. This blouse gives a really feminine impression when paired with a skirt."

— The ribbon at the neckline—do you tie it or not?

Staff M: "I'm more of a 'don't tie it' type, I think. I'm not great with overly sweet decorative touches, so tying the ribbon isn't really my thing. But if I leave the ribbon untied and let it hang, it wears cleanly like a skipper shirt, so the impression changes quite a bit even on its own."

Staff A: "I like it both tied and untied. Even with an outfit that might feel a bit too casual in linen, tying the ribbon instantly makes it more feminine, so I'd switch depending on what bottoms I'm pairing it with."

▼You can find ZUTTO's linen wear here