Linen vs. Gauze…
Linen…
If you had asked me even a month or so ago, I would have told you my favorite summertime fabric is linen. I know many people dislike linen because it wrinkles. When I buy a new piece of linen, I will press it to get the wrinkles out (you know, the ones from packing). But, after that, I rarely press linen again unless I wash it. I love how cool linen keeps me, and I like the texture of it, too. Linen can be dressed up or down. I have linen dresses, pants, shirts, skirts, and tees. I have collected these pieces over the years and purchased them from J Jill, Quince, J Crew, Talbots, and Gap. Oh, how could I forget? I buy my favorite linen (linen blend now) pants from Old Navy. So, one could very easily say I love linen! You could easily search the blog for linen and probably have hundreds of hits. OK, maybe not hundreds, but you’d have a lot!
Gauze…
When gauze first came onto the scene a couple of years ago, I wasn’t a fan. I’m not sure why, but it just didn’t appeal to me. I know several bloggers were wearing it and extolling its virtues. I didn’t even try any on to see if I’d like it or not. So, what is gauze? Well, Wikipedia says this: Gauze is a thin, translucent fabric with a loose open weave. In technical terms, “gauze” is a weave structure in which the weft yarns are arranged in pairs and are crossed before and after each warp yarn, keeping the weft firmly in place. This weave structure is used to add stability to the fabric, which is important when using fine yarns loosely spaced. However, this weave structure can be used with any weight of yarn, and can be seen in some rustic textiles made from coarse hand-spun plant fiber yarns. Gauze is widely used for medical dressings.” If y’all know what weft and warp are, you know more than me!
A sale…
When Debbie at Tulip Clothing ran a sale over a weekend on gauze (though I forgot to use the code), I bought the Palazzo Pant in White and this amazing Simply Perfect Dress in Abyss. Now, usually, I like to make up my own outfits, but when I saw the dress with the pants underneath, I couldn’t resist wearing them just that way. As I said in my last post about Tulip Clothing, one of the things I really like about Debbie’s website is the presence of measurements for each size. Use those because I’ve found them to be very accurate. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your size, the Abyss dress is only $29! But, it’s only available in XS! Y’all know how I love to buy duplicates. If this dress was available in different colors, I would buy more!
How does it feel…
I put this dress/pant outfit on to go to Nigel’s physical therapy appointment, and I felt all twirly and princess-y! So, I did what every good blogger does, I did a photo shoot! Actually, I did it before his appointment! But, I kept the outfit on all day. It is like wearing a cloud, I kid you not! I am a convert! I am going to be checking out more of the gauze selections at Tulip Clothing, and I urge you to give it a try!
World Cup of Fabric…
So, which fabric wins the World Cup? I’m going to take the easy way out, and say each of the fabrics wins! Linen wins because of its versatility. You can dress it up and down. Gauze wins because of the comfort level. I also think it would pack and go fairly easily. Just hang it in the bathroom when you shower, and the steam should take the wrinkles right out! It’s tie for the World Cup of Fabric!
The Lewk!
I just love these Miz Mooz Farrah blush flats. I am still breaking these beauties in. So far, they’ve been very comfortable, and no blisters have appeared. The necklace is the Sylca Pink and Blue Calista Statement Necklace. The earrings are one of my favorites…the Assuta from Sylca in blue. I liked bookending my outfit with the blush flats and the blush beads in the necklace.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I have to admit I used that title on purpose…hoping for some SEO help. But, I doubt it will even matter! What does matter is the beauty and simplicity of these two pieces from Tulip Clothing! I honestly love both pieces so much and will probably add another pair of palazzo pants to my closet. I couldn’t find a place to sign up for emails, but I’m sure if you poke around a bit, you can find one. Do that, and you’ll be notified of any sales. I also have a code (MARSHA20) for 20% off, but I think it may be a one time use. So, can we talk? Are you Team Linen or Team Gauze? Are you watching the World Cup? Can you explain to me why it’s being played in so many different countries? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for reading today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. I also very much appreciate those of you who comment, email and/or subscribe. It’s what keeps me going! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. My April Cornell code, MARSHA15, now works, but it’s good for only one use. You can get $15 off $100. I’d wait and use it during a really good sale! Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA15, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. Use MARSHA15 at Katia Designs for 15% off your order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post. I have now have a code for Tulip Clothing. Use the code, MARSHA20, for 20% off your order.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World . I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
I don’t think I ever had anything in linen. I crinkle a fabric just by looking at it.
I did have a least one gauze top. I remember when we met up with people from the cat diabetes forum, one of my friends kept chasing us through whatever town we were in because she absolutely needed one of those “cheesecloth” tops. I can’t remember if she ever found something she liked, though.
That’s a lovely airy looking outfit, no wonder you like the combo.
Thanks, Cat! I really do like that airy look and feeling! I have seen gauze tops that look like cheesecloth…those are not for me, though! You always make me giggle! I didn’t buy linen for years because I didn’t want to mess with the wrinkles. Then, I decided I really didn’t care. So, the wrinkles showed I sit down. I’m also old and figure I can wear what I want!
What a lovely cool outfit that looks and I can how much fun you had wearing it.
Thanks, Rosie! That is the ultimate compliment…you can see how much fun I had!!
I really like both linen and gauze too. That outfit is lovely!
Thanks so much, Joanne! I am betting you will be getting the opportunity to wear both in the coming weeks. We’re supposed to be getting hotter weather next week. So, it won’t be long before you get it!
What a fun outfit! I love that you felt twirly and princess-y even just going to PT with Nigel. I love linen and like gauze. I don’t think all gauze is created equally (I guess linen isn’t either) and I have had a few gauze pieces that just felt cheap. But I am open to it!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! It probably helped that it was a bit windy so my twirling was naturally occurring! I’ve just never been drawn to it before, but when I saw how much this dress cost, I thought I’d give it a whirl. It’s a good thing there aren’t other colors of this dress because I’d be buying them, and I honestly don’t need any more!
What a lovely outfit Marsha, so cool – just wants needed in the UK at the moment with the excess heat.
We’ve hit 30 degrees in North Yorkshire, that’s very hot for here but nothing like London and other places that have had 35+.
And you’re wearing those fabulous shoes.
I like linen and have several pieces, I’ve never worn gauze though.
Thanks, Linda! I feel so badly for you all in the western part of Europe. We can handle that kind of heat because of all the air conditioning though there are many in the big cities who don’t have it. It’s definitely a privilege we forget we have here. Aren’t these shoes just beautiful? I wanted a pair of Mary Janes, but these were just so much more my style. I will wear them constantly, I know because I already have!
Oooh, I love this dress and pants pairing! The dress color is so pretty and the white palazzo pants are glorious! I prefer gauze over linen because I often find linen to be too scratchy. If it’s a linen blend then I’m more likely to buy it. But I do love the lightweight flowiness of gauzy fabrics. By the way, weft and warp are basic weaving terms, The warp are the vertical threads that attach to your weaving loom and the weft are the horizontal threads that are woven through the warp. I often confuse the two terms but the easiest way for me to remember them is that the weft threads go left to right and weft rhymes with left! Warp are the other ones! LOL
Shelbee
Thanks, my friend! I absolutely love the color of the dress. The pants are so perfect, too! I did have a pair of linen pants that were scratchy…I gave them to my daughter because I knew she’d wash the scratch out of them! This is my first go round with gauze, but it won’t be my last! I love a mneumonic device so I’ll remember that one!
The pants under a dress as a topper…SUPER idea!!! Also adore that beautiful misty color!
(I finally had to come and do a little research for the Nigel/Mike reveal. How he became Nigel is hilarious, and well worth the digging. My girls would binge watch ANTM after school, and I always found Nigel to be very professional and reasonable.)
Have a lovely day!
Thanks, Em! Some people were in on the joke because I’d commented on it way early in the blog. Others noticed I’d refer to him as Mike in my comments but Nigel in the post. So, confusion was completely understandable. I thought Nigel was just plain handsome!!! Thanks so much for the compliments, too!
What a perfect runaround and do errands, kind of outfit. The pants under that dress is absolutely a perfect combination.
Xoxo
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! It’s exactly that as well as wear it out to dinner, visit the museum. It’s just so versatile and will be worn a lot! I can’t claim the idea of putting the pants under the dress as it was shown that way on the website.
Hi, Marsha – This set is a perfect example of how to wear a dress over pants. The outfit looks beautiful on you, both the shapes and the colors. I like both linen and gauze, but I have everything you do in linen and only one gauze set, again just like you do! My gauze set, though, is double layered so that it’s not see-through and that makes it feel bulky to me. Great photos! – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! I wish I could claim I’d come up with it on my own. When I saw the dress with the pants on the website, I just had to have both because it’s so much my vibe. These both feel like they’re double, but I don’t think they are. They honestly feel like wearing a cloud!
This outfit is amazing! Now I kind of wish I had kept this one tie dye flowy dress that would have worked great over linen pants. I have been admiring Shelbee’s layered outfits lately and getting some inspiration for future outfits.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille!! My guess is you’ll soon find something while thrifting! I don’t think I would have thought to do it except that’s one of the photos on the website! I think that’s what sold me on the dress (that and the price tag)!
I really enjoyed this comparison! I’ve always been a linen fan too, but you made a compelling case for giving gauze another look. Your description of the dress feeling like “wearing a cloud” definitely caught my attention! I just got some gauze pieces and I like how they disguise wrinkles more easily than linen.
Thank you, Laura! They really do disguise the wrinkles. I just wasn’t a fan of the way gauze looked. I think I might have been looking at the double gauze I keep reading about. I’m glad you have some now and can also compare!
A very breezy summer outfit! I have been seeing items with gauze fabric but haven’t bought one yet (not really shopping right now), but it definitely looks worth trying.
Thanks, Sally! I haven’t really tried gauze before this because I just didn’t like the look of it. It seemed so bunchy and heavy. These pieces are so light and airy. I really, really love them!
I’m a fan of both linen and gauze. Your dress is fabulous! Love the breezy vibes!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I really, really like this dress and pants together. I would probably never have done it if they hadn’t been put together on the website.