Everlane Indigo linen dress (gift for review) | size 8
Birkenstock Arizona sandals
Admonish leather tote
Everlane launched their new linen collection today to those on the waitlist, and I received a few pieces to review for you earlier this week. I was able to actually wear the dress and the tee, but I haven’t worn the white shirt yet, other than to take photos. I have not washed anything yet, so I don’t know how much they will shrink or change after that (I wash in cold water and hang to dry).
So, first, my thoughts on the dress: I’m wearing a size 8, which is “my size” in this dress. It stretched out quite a bit with wear, as linen does, but when I sit, it’s still quite snug on my hips, and there’s a slight gap between the third from the last button and the second. In these pictures I’m not wearing a slip underneath, and honestly, I wouldn’t generally, but it would probably be prudent. It’s not particularly transparent, but in certain lighting you can absolutely “see through” linen, and that gap is in a slightly compromising position.
Overall, the dress is just BIG on me, but not really, because it just barely fits my hips/butt. It’s actually a pretty good length on me, and I love the pockets, but it just seems to swallow me. Of course, it would look better with my platform sandals, for some height, but I’d more often wear it with my birkenstock sandals. I love the color, surprisingly, but that’s also what throws me off a little…it’s pretty, but not very subtle at all. And it’s certainly not a neutral!
I do think this is a very nice linen shirt dress, and if you’re slimmer of hip/butt than I am, I would recommend taking your true size, or sizing down, so it’s a little more streamlined. Also, on Everlane the dress looks slightly more “denim-y” than it is IRL, in my opinion, it does not look like chambray or denim at all, the indigo is much brighter in person. I know it will fade with washing though.
Elizabeth Suzann silk florence pants (gift for review) | medium, short
Everlane Linen v-neck tee (gift for review) | medium
Beek sandals
Admonish leather tote
Here’s the linen v-neck t-shirt, in a size medium. I like it a lot, but in my eyes, this “heather gray” looks more like a brown-gray. Not a big deal, but FYI. The length is good (it will probably shrink a little with washing – my linen always does, even though I don’t dry it), and I like the deep v-neck. Here, I was wearing it with my Emerson Fry bra, which has a tube-top like silhouette, so you can see it under the v, but with a “normal” bra, it doesn’t show. The v is quite deep though, and the linen slightly transparent, so be aware. The sleeves are annoying to me; I wish they were either shorter or slightly longer, but that’s just me, and because I have flabby upper arms…
Everlane relaxed linen shirt (gift for review) | size 8
Elizabeth Suzann Cecilia pants (gift for review) | size 6 regular
Beek sandals
Kara midi tote bag
Finally…the Relaxed linen shirt. This is also a size 8 and again, if I want it to fit my hips, then that is my “normal” size. Honestly, I think it’s the right size for me, given my experience with linen shrinking, but it is slightly big/oversized. It’s a really good, easy, linen shirt, and a good price, although pretty un-remarkable honestly. It’s a good basic, but I sort of wish it had a straight hem, and was a little more tapered at waist; for a more interesting shape. But as it is, it’s great for wearing with leggings, or even for some coverage with denim shorts.
I like Everlane’s linen, I wore my long-sleeve linen shirt just last week, and linen shirts in general, but I haven’t found that linen washes well. It seems to shrink a little bit every time I wash it, or just randomly, although I love how soft linen gets over time. That’s also what happened with my Zady linen tee – it stayed looking the same for a long time and then I went to put it on and it seemed to have shrunk a couple inches in length. It doesn’t seem possible, but it absolutely doesn’t look like this on me anymore.
If you love linen, Everlane’s new collection is definitely worth a try; the price point is great and they make very good basics – I actually have the scoop neck tee and tank top in my cart to purchase.
Will you try anything? What do you think of the new linen pieces?
Just a reminder about my relationship with Everlane: Sometimes Everlane sends me pieces to review, like items that are part of big new launches, etc., which is at their discretion and never at my request. Otherwise, I purchase things from Everlane to review using credits I earn via my referral link. Everlane does not pay me for my reviews, nor do they require me to write positive reviews. When Everlane sends me items to review, all they ask is that I post about it/them on launch day and share my thoughts with you, whatever they may be.
I love that second outfit! Both on you, and in general. I would never buy woven linen, because it creases too much, and your pics also show this. But I absolutely adore knitted linen.
Man does it crease!!! I don’t mind it in white or black but on the indigo it really looks “messy”
Nice timing for your post! 🙂
I ordered the dress in size 10 and the collarless square shirt (also in blue) in size 2. I know. But I already have the striped square shirt and the 4 is swallowing me. I also ordered the linen scoop neck tee in white (medium). I usually hate see-through items – I hate wearing slips etc. – , but the white linen just looked too tempting on the model (the one enjoying in the sun 😉
That being said, I bought two linen tees at Madewell last year. They were perfect in every way – until the first wash. Both pieces shrunk completely random and were unusable. And we’re talking hand wash here.
i think linen just does that. although, i had a joie linen tee (maybe this exact style, but if not very close) that I loved loved loved so much, and wore until it just fell apart. i washed it carefully and never dried it, until…one day I forgot, and that was it. i kept wearing it anyway, at home, because it was too short to wear out, but i was so disappointed. it didn’t seem to shrink or change shape nearly as much as zady’s or everlane’s linen did though just with not drying. i wonder if there’s a difference in how it’s made?
I will be ordering 4 items from this offering of linens: the square short sleeved shirt in blue, the long sleeved shirt in white (agree nothing special, but feel I need it and it’s a great price,) the deep V sweater and the sweater dress in charcoal. I am may not like the latter two, as I find knitted pure linen harsh to the skin, but I guess I’m willing to give it a try. I don’t know if anyone else is into this, but I take my freshly washed, slouchy styled, woven linens and cottons and gently twist them (not too too tightly) and let them dry like that. That way one gets more, softer scrunches which hide the large, unintential creases (like when the garment gets squished in an odd way in the closet, or when you sit down for two seconds, or when you look at the garment cross-ways.) Sort of like crinkle cotton? Or gauze? Not a crisp, business look for sure, but I like it for travel, bouncing around town, beach to cafe/bar. Keep up the great reviews, Gretchen.
whoa. mind blown! i’m going to try that with these linen pieces and see what happens, thank you!! i do love linen as it softens up, but it is quite harsh in the beginning. and the creases!! maybe that’s why i don’t own any linen dresses – it doesn’t matter how nice it looks when you put it on, the moment you sit, all is lost LOL
I like the linen dress on you Grechen. From the pictures it doesn’t look to large on you at all and the color is so beautiful. I am relieved that it doesn’t look like chambray, thank you for noticing it.
I was going to purchase the dress but after seeing your post I may reconsider because it may be too short for me. According to size chart the dress’ length suppose to be 40″ which I like. Would you be so kind and measure the length of your dress for me Grechen? Do you find that the measurements provided by Everlane for your size fit the actual measurements of the dress?
I am a big fan of woven linen and I don’t mind the wrinkles, actually I like them as they give some kind of nonchalance to the outfit:-)
I find knitted linen scratchy as well, even after many washes.
It is me again:-)
If the striped cotton poplin shirt dress was made of blue linen or the blue linen one was as long as the striped one I would buy it in a heartbeat. Which one to choose?
:-))
I learned this trick back in my hippie-trippy days (ooops, age confession). There was a woman in my city who imported textiles and furniture directly from India, and I was told that in order to keep the crinkles in my beautiful harem pants I had to dry them twisted. I feel like I’m an elder passing my wisdom onto a new generation! Hilarious!
Like you, I am a neutral color fan, so had to pop in and say how great the blue looks on you! I wasn’t a fan of Everlane’s linen last year, but you in that blue has convinced me to give something a try.
Bea, I sooo agree with you! It was my first thought!
TBH, I’m not sold on the linen but you’ve basically convinced me to save up for some of those Elizabeth Suzann pants. I have yet to see an outfit you’ve posted where you don’t look absolutely smashing in them.
Ha! Well, that’s good enough 🙂 and it makes me so happy to hear, it’s still a silhouette I’m getting used to on me!!
By the way, I love your name. For some time now I’ve been trying to convince my son to have a daughter and name her that, and he isn’t even out of college yet! (And I wonder why he likes to keep our relationship quiet?)
Lol I’ve had exactly the same reaction. I hadn’t given those pants a second look the many times I have scrolled through their site lately, but wow, on Gretchen! They should feature you as one their “muses.” Seriously!
oh, thank you 🙂
haha!! well….
yes, i just measured and they match with everlane’s…
thank you so much Grechen, I appreciate it <3
Just saw this–linen needs lots of seams to help hold its shape or it twists back onto itself. So the more separate “pieces” to a garment, the better for structure; big unsewn surfaces will not fare well. (I only know this because of knitting, and I don’t really know WHY it happens, only that it does.)
Agree…I love the 2nd outfit with the Florence pants and v-neck tee. That tee looks better on you than on Everlane’s model!
I just received the blue linen dress and the square shirt and I’m in love. The color looks SO nice with skin tone! I nearly look tan, even though I’m anything but 😉 Also, the sizing (10 for the dress and 2 for the shirt) worked out perfectly.
I’m wearing the white linen tee right now. I love the cut and fabric’s weight, but since it’s all for nothing if it doesn’t wash well, I’ll hand wash it tonight – and report back 😉
I’m crazy about the dress, but I’m not sure why they went with numbered sizes instead of S-M-L since its loose fitting. Hmmm.
I would wear #3 to work all the time. I’m going to go shop in my closet right now because I know I have these pieces in some variation!
I received my order. The knit linen dress is actually cotton soft….i love it. But the v-neck long sleeve sweater is a more typical linen knit….a bit harsh. If you have sensitive skin, pass. I will keeep though. The blue linen square shirt…amazing.