Fashion: Chill out in linen; Shereen Low discovers a summer wardrobe staple to help you keep crisp and cool.

Byline: Shereen Low

ALWAYS a perennial summer favourite, the Brits have a loving relationship with linen.

It may not be huge on the catwalks, but this fabric is a staple in our wardrobes and once the weather gets hot, we can't wait to pull out our favourite pair of slouchy linen trousers.

``Linen is quite easy to wear -- with today's busy lifestyles, people don't want clothes that have to be perfectly pressed, '' explains Eve's fashion director Elizabeth Cocozza.

``With linen it still looks great after it's been crushed and worn. ''

GETTING IT RIGHT Elizabeth's favourite linen look is drawstring trousers, donned with flip-flops for a casual look.

``I would team it up with a little top, but if you're not too keen on trousers, loose linen skirts are also perfect for the hot weather, or a fitted linen top which you can wear to the office. ''

However, she has reservations about certain linen items.

``I think linen jackets are out of fashion -- they just crease too easily and look messy, '' she says.

``The modern interpretation of wearing linen is to wear it casual. As for linen dresses, I think a lot of them are shapeless and don't accentuate the figure. ''

But linen's not just a casual look. Elizabeth points out you can dress up linen for the office or for the evening, especially if you invest in a pair of linen mix trousers.

to work, try Principles' chocolate pleat knot shell top, pounds 28, or the brown and cream flower print halterneck, pounds 24.

Marks & Spencer's black and white jungle print blouse, pounds 28, John Rocha's pale green sequin flower linen camisole, pounds 30 at Debenhams, and Lands' End's short-sleeved print linen shirt, pounds 32, will also fit the job.

Matalan's embroidered linen blend range, priced from pounds 10, includes a camisole, skirt, dress and crop pants which are ideal for the beach or for a formal event.

And Marks & Spencer's diagonal stripe orange camisole, pounds 23, is guaranteed to catch eyes at barbecues and parties.

However, sometimes you just can't beat a fitted dress. Warehouse has a rich seaweed green Castaway linen dress with embroidery, pounds 50, while Lands' End has an Irish linen dress in white, pounds 65.

BOTTOMS IN LINEN As Elizabeth says, a pair of drawstring linen trousers should be an essential in everyone's wardrobe so why not pick one up this summer?

Warehouse has a pair of drawstring trousers in the sale in either beige or khaki for pounds 25, and Dorothy Perkins has a neutral pair for pounds 25.

J By Jasper Conran has white linen trousers with a shell belt for pounds 45, while Lands' End's capri trousers, pounds 19. 50, and Marks & Spencer's drawstring trousers, pounds 39, are perfect for walking along the beach.

River Island's linen trousers, pounds 29. 99, come in pink, khaki and black and Uniqlo's linen and cotton mix pants are pounds 19. 99.

For skirts, head to Principles where you'll find a chocolate mid-length skirt, pounds 32, linen floral print skirt, pounds 28, and neutral striped skirt, pounds 28.

CAPTION(S):

Above, Warehouse's seaweed green Castaway linen dress costs pounds 50. Right, coolly casual in Lands' End capri trousers at pounds 19. 50