Design 
Quality of Materials 
Value for Money 
Craftsmanship 
Customer Service There are two things I look forward to when warm weather rolls around.
First is World Rugby’s mid-year internationals. I spend summer in the UK, so I get to cheer England on with my British-American father and English in-laws.
The second thing? Finally swapping out outerwear and heavy knits for loose, breezy linens.
So, of course, I jumped at the opportunity to try some flax-based garments by Charles Tyrwhitt, a partner of England Rugby. In the past few weeks, I’ve stomped around New York City on 85-degree days, laid out on Nantucket beaches, and endured England’s lack of air conditioning—all in Charles Tyrwhitt linens.
Here’s everything you need to know about this range.
An Overview of Charles Tyrwhitt’s Linen Range
Charles Tyrwhitt was founded in 1986 by Nicholas Wheeler. Through strategic labor sourcing, high-volume production, and sales and promotions, the brand essentially brought Britain’s legacy of quality shirtmaking into the modern day. As such, Charles Tyrwhitt is known for high-quality, high-value shirts and suits.
The linen range is particularly impressive; here, you’ll find 100% linen shirts in the $100 range. If you stock up in one shopping session, you can get each for as low as half that price (at the time of this writing, you can buy one shirt for around $100 or five for $225 total). Plus, they come in every color imaginable.
The pieces I tried were excellently stitched, stylishly versatile, and functional. Sure, they’re prone to creasing, but that’s linen for you. Besides, wrinkles sink into the natural texture of the flax fabric anyway.
I tried the following garments:
- The Pure Linen Shirt in three colors: white, aqua green, and olive
- The Linen Shorts in navy
- The England Rugby Button-Down Oxford in cornflower blue
The England Rugby button-down isn’t from the linen range, but Charles Tyrwhitt was kind enough to send it to me. Moreover, reviewing it alongside the linens allowed me to compare, contrast, and see how different pieces across the brand can be styled together.
Things to Consider Before Buying Linen from Charles Tyrwhitt
Your Budget and Needs
As mentioned, I personally don’t think high-luxury linen shirts pack the same value as Charles Tyrwhitt’s. If you really want more unique, complex weaves, then feel free to drop $1,400 on a Loro Piana linen shirt. However, linen is inherently premium and long-lasting even in the mid-tier level.
Again, Charles Tyrwhitt often offers promos for buying in bundles. If you’re going on an extended tropical holiday or live a generally linen-conducive lifestyle (perhaps you live somewhere very humid), it may be worth buying five shirts to get that discount—that’s one shirt per weekday.
Fit and Size
The shirts come in extra slim, slim, or regular fits and sizes XS all the way up to XXXL. I’m slender and small, at 5’7” and 135 pounds. For cotton button-up dress shirts, I prefer a crisp silhouette and have historically worn an extra slim XS. For linen shirts, though, I like a relaxed but clean fit or even a slightly oversized fit, so I went for slim mediums.
With that being said, Charles Tywhitt delivers one of the most expansive size runs in the game—ideal if your frame lies on opposite ends of the bell curve.
Charles Tyrwhitt also does custom pieces in addition to its expansive sizing options.
Linen vs Cotton-Linen Blends
There’s no getting around the fact that linen is wrinkly. If you don’t love ironing, perhaps it isn’t for you. I take hot showers, so I usually hang my linen pieces in the bathroom during my ablutions to steam them. Otherwise, you might consider Charles Tyrwhitt’s cotton-linen blends. They’re not as textured as pure linen, but they’re breathable, non-iron, and dressier looking.
My Hands-On Review
Charles Tyrwhitt Pure Linen Shirt
Fabric and Stitching
As its name suggests, the Charles Tyrwhitt Pure Linen Shirt is 100% linen, which is immediately apparent. The surface features slubs and variation, adding depth and topography to the olive version and an airy lightness to the white and aqua green.
Despite the negative space between weaves (which also adds a slight translucence on the lighter-colored variations), the composition stays stubbornly intact no matter how hard you pull on the fabric. This is some strong linen. Additionally, it’s double-stitched throughout, adding fortification and substance that doesn’t take away from the material’s natural bounce.
A testament to its moisture-wicking abilities, I wore the white version on a particularly sweaty day on the beach and then to dinner with trousers and a blazer right after. I’m not saying to run a marathon in these shirts, but they maintain their freshness even in moderate humidity and are the next best thing to being shirtless in heavy humidity.
I’m actually surprised at how wispy the Pure Linen Shirt is given its robust build. Overall, these are well-finished, balanced, and comfortable linens that look and feel about three times their actual price.
Fit
Again, I opted for the slim fit over regular or extra slim, in a size medium instead of my regular small or XS. The result was an oversized—but not overwhelming—drape on my thin frame. I’ve absolutely no doubt most men will find their size and fit preferences in this range.
I can wear the Pure Linen Shirt shirts casually with shorts, slacks, or other linens. However, if I want to wear it with a summer suit to a professional event, I’d have to go for a smaller size, perhaps a classic XS or a slim and small.
Typically, a slim medium fits me in a loose, but clean-lined way. These are a touch bigger than that, which still works. That silhouette is in vogue right now anyway. And though it goes in and out of trend, it’s always relevant with linens since they’re meant to feel unstuffy.
Style
There’s almost nothing you can’t do with the Pure Linen Shirt short of pairing it with a tuxedo. I’ve worn them with dress pants, blazers, chinos, shorts, tucked in, and untucked.
My favorite thing to do with slightly oversized linen shirts is wear them as outerwear. I like taking a full-blown suit and tie, then replacing the suit jacket with an open linen shirt (my winter version of this is using an overshirt). It’s a bit high-low, but no one at a New England boat club would bat an eye at it.
The white version is very off-duty Bond, the aqua green’s light, bluish hue is fun and tropical, while the olive is classy and almost military-esque. I’ve worn the olive shirt with chambray pants and boots—there’s a hack for you workwear fans. You can still look rugged in hot weather.
This is the kind of linen shirt that feels featherlight but built to last—slubby texture, breathable weave, and surprisingly tough. Whether I’m tossing it over a tee or swapping it in for a blazer, it pulls off polished and relaxed without breaking a sweat (even when I do).
Charles Tyrwhitt Linen Shorts
Fabric and Stitching
Like the shirts, Charles Tyrwhitt’s Linen Shorts are 100% linen. Every good thing I’ve said about the shirts applies here, too. They’re strong, breathable, and springy. One distinction is that the surface variation isn’t as apparent on the navy fabric since it’s so dark.
Also, the solid stitching and added lining provide a polished-looking structure that doesn’t compromise the overall laid-back look you want out of shorts. More on this when we talk style.
Fit
The Linen Shorts come in sizes 30 to 44. I usually wear a 28 waist, but these fit me quite flatteringly, partly due to the buttoning system. While I lucked out here, these shorts might not be for those with even smaller waist sizes.
The waist is equipped with two clasps and one button. If I want a tighter fit, I could even hook the inner clasp to the outer hook, then hide the slack with a belt or an untucked shirt.
The hem hits right above my knee, which is perfect for me. I can keep it that way if I want a more Bermuda-esque approach, or cuff the hems if I want something shorter or smarter. This length gives me options, making these shorts dynamic on several levels.
Style
Infusing the easy-going quality of linen with some architecture ups the versatility factor of these shorts. They almost look like dress shorts (as in dress pants cut above the knee a la Thom Browne), but more cohesive and less high-low since linen is a casual fabric.
You can wear the Linen Shorts in a more traditional way—with a t-shirt, sandals, a polo, and so on. I’ve enjoyed wearing them with slightly more formal pieces. In fact, I wore these shorts to a beach wedding paired with a blazer, knit bowtie, linen button-up, and cable-knit sweater vest. I cuffed the shorts, which adds weight and further fortifies its structure, while maintaining that unstuffy bounce.
The Linen Shorts might be my favorite piece. They capture the effortlessly natty, slightly quirky yet noble heritage of linen.
These linen shorts feel structured but relaxed, with a clean look that still lets the fabric breathe and bounce. Between the adjustable waist and versatile length, they’re surprisingly polished. And yeah, I wore them to a beach wedding and didn’t look out of place.
Charles England Rugby Cotton Button-Down
Fabric and Stitching
Like the linens, the England Rugby Button-Down Oxford Shirt boasts tight and clean stitching throughout. However, the denser weave gives it more body, making it less conducive to high humidity. Still, the easy drape and casual button-down design allow you to wear it comfortably on more moderate summer days.
The washed cotton fabric is smooth and feels soft on the skin. It’s more breathable than regular cotton, but doesn’t circulate air as well as linen. Neither Charles Tyrwhitt’s linen nor cotton shirts are inherently better than the other. It’s just a matter of preference, weather, and style. I’m chuffed that their many pieces offer the same high-level detail, effort, and variation.
Fit
I again went for a slim fit and size medium. And again, it fit bigger than expected. Between the drape of the fabric and the shirt’s “bones” (its back pleats and stitching), even my small frame takes to the England Rugby Button-Down Oxford Shirt well.
If this were a traditionally crisp, button-up dress shirt, I’d need a smaller size. But with a washed cotton button-down, I can work with this.
I want to reiterate that Charles Tyrwhitt has a fantastic range of sizes and fits—it’s just a matter of learning what’s right for you within each collection.
Style
I enjoy the lived-in look of the England Rugby Button-Down Oxford Shirt’s washed cotton. Remember, this shirt is slightly big on me, so I fold the cuffs over, revealing the pinstriped lining for a fun contrast. With the body’s clean lines and the billowy sleeves, it has a sort of updated ‘90s look. Think a chicer Chandler Bing or Princess Diana’s at-leisure tomboy style.
And speaking of English icons, I love the England Rugby Rose embroidery. Whether or not you’re a rugby fan, the rose motif adds a touch of elegance.
Soft, breathable, and full of subtle details, this shirt nails that laid-back, slightly oversized vibe without feeling sloppy. The embroidered rose and pinstriped cuffs give it just enough flair to stand out—rugby fan or not.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
After scouring the reviews on the Charles Tyrwhitt website, Reddit, the rest of the internet, and consulting friends and colleagues, I can safely say most people agree with me. Charles Tyrwhitt linens are quite possibly the best linens for their price.
The company must use some truly acrobatic business strategies to bring such affordable 100% linen pieces to the market.
I’ve read reviews of users reporting shrinkage after the first wash. That wasn’t the case with me; if it was, it was too minimal for me to recognize.
The aqua green shirt has one review, and it’s negative, though that person doesn’t give specifics. Regardless, Charles Tyrwhitt’s customer service team replied with a thoughtful, solutions-based response, which has always been my experience with their team.
What I Like
- Charles Tyrwhitt offers 100% linen pieces for a fraction of the cost of the next brand up.
- The Pure Linen Shirt and Linen Shorts boast top-notch quality and construction, offering breathability, moisture-wicking, and style.
- Each linen piece comes in a variety of colors. You can find shirts and suits in traditional neutrals, dandified hues, and seasonal shades.
- There’s a wide range of fits and sizes for most pieces.
- One of Charles Tyrwhitt’s brilliant business strategies is high-volume production, which means promos and sales are often worth it.
What I Don’t Like
- Since there are so many sizes and fits, it was a bit difficult for me to navigate at first. I like different sizes for different styles of dress shirts, so this took some getting used to.
- The Linen Shorts’ smallest size is a 30, which could leave out men with smaller-than-average waists.
The Verdict
I really can’t imagine a person who wouldn’t benefit from trying Charles Tyrwhitt’s linen line. Perhaps you don’t like the fabric at all or have an unwavering allegiance to a brand or type of linen (I’m looking at you, Irish linen fanatics).
Otherwise, this range scores high on all fronts. The Pure Linen Shirt and Linen Shorts satisfy function-forward guys who like good, honest design and men looking to level up their fashion with expressive colorways—all while aiming to stay cool during the summer.
I particularly like how their promos and range of styles make it easy to stock up at the beginning of the summer. Typically, I’ll find one piece at J.Crew for a reasonable price, invest in something luxurious at another brand, and maybe thrift something. At Charles Tyrwhitt, I spend less money, less time, while still getting amazing quality that one can expect from British tailoring heritage.
Few high quality brands are as easy to shop with as Charles Tyrwhitt. I’m most impressed with the material selection and quality. From the pieces I’ve tried, the fit is exactly what I expected, and the finishing touches are well done.
