Quince Review: All Things Linen [Updated November 2024]
One of the first things I tried from Quince was their linen bedding and I was (and still am) a huge fan. Since then I’ve tried a multitude of their linen items because I love linen and Quince linen is quite good. How good you ask? Well, as a lightweight linen (at 160gsm) it ranks just below the slow fashion linen brands from Lithuania (NotPerfectLinen and LinenFox) but better than many other conventional brands that price their linen products higher (Ilana Kohn, Tradlands, etc.). You can peek my Ethical Linen Guide here. So without further ado, here’s what I think of the linen things I’ve tried from Quince:
European Linen Sheet Set
As I mentioned above, my first linen item from Quince was their linen sheet set. I actually got them as a gift from the brand but I loved them so much that I bought a second set in a different color so that I could use their linen sheets all year around. It’s been two years and the linen sheets have gotten softer with every wash. My husband and I love our linen sheets since they keep us cool in the summer but warm in the winter. And you won’t be able to find better prices for 100% linen sheets. At 150 gsm, the sheets are a tad thinner and lightweight than Quince’s linen clothing but you won’t be able to tell the difference. You can read my full review of Quince’s linen sheet set here. {July 2023 Update: After 4 years of constant use, my original white linen sheets from Quince got a major hole in them. This was the first time this has happened to me (probably because I used to switch from sheets to sheets, but these linen ones are hands down my favorite and all I’ve been using). But some of you guys have let me know that it’s not unusual for sheets (no matter the branding and quality) to get holes in them after 4 years of constant use.)
European Linen Crib Quilt
Another linen bedding item I purchased was the linen crib quilt for Emi. This is also 150gsm, like their regular bedding and yes, this also gets softer with multiple washings. Emi loves this quilt since it provides warmth without being too hot. It’s also the perfect size for her standard crib. You can read my quick blurb about it here when I first got it. [November 2024 Update: Even though Emi is no longer in a crib, she still loves using her crib quilt in the living room on cold days. This is a such a great quilt that has become even softer over time.]
Linen Tank
The first linen clothing item from Quince was this linen tank and it was love at first wear. I reviewed the Quince linen tank here. I loved it so much that when the small size got a little too small for me, I repurchased it in a medium in two colors (driftwood and black). Now this linen tank is back again this year in even more colors, including light blue and terra cotta. If you wear tanks, then this linen one is a high quality, versatile piece that will last you years.
Linen Shorts
After I got the linen tank two years ago, I decided to get the matching linen shorts last year to make a full easy breezy coordinated linen outfit. You can find my Quince linen shorts review here. In the review, you can see my linen “romper” look when I wear the top and matching bottom. But as much as I love the shorts I have to admit I don’t wear them that often out because the shorts wrinkle at the crotch quite easily. And most of the time I just end up wearing my denim shorts. But I do wear the linen shorts around the house because they’re super comfortable.
Linen Long Sleeve Shirt
My new favorite Quince linen item this year is the classic long sleeve linen shirt (wearing in the picture at the very top). I had a couple Everlane long sleeve linen shirts so I didn’t purchase this when it first came out (I think a couple years ago). But I tried the Everlane ones on this summer and found them to be a bit tighter than I liked. So I decided to get Quince’s version and I love it. I got it in a large because I wanted it to be oversized and breezy. And it’s perfect for layering or as a casual beach coverup. The linen quality is excellent as usual, but because it’s white the top is a tad sheer (you can kind of see where the shorts start in the photo above). But if you wear light colored underwear and get an oversized fit, you can’t really see your bra underneath. Or you could go with the driftwood color, which is still light but fully opaque. If you’re in the market for a classic linen button down, I highly recommend checking out this one from Quince. {July 2023 update: I love my Quince linen shirts so much that I purchased several more this summer. They now come in a wide variety of colors!} {June 2024 Update: I’m still wearing my linen shirts from last year and the year before, and they’re still looking great! I won’t be buying more this year since I have so many now, and it looks like I won’t need to be buying more for awhile.}
{July 2023 Update} I also recently tried out their Oversized Long Sleeve Linen Shirt (no longer sold), and they’re not joking, the shirt is very much oversized. I got in the medium and it’s longer and and as wide as my regular large linen shirts. It fits a lot like a men’s shirt. In the picture above I’m wearing the oversized linen shirt in a medium, and it’s about two inches longer in the front and three inches longer in the back than the regular large linen shirt. I do like how the oversized linen shirts have side slits so it’s not quite as overwhelming, and it’s great for a good french tuck look. Since I have so many regular large linen shirts, I probably won’t get another oversized one. But it’s a great option for those looking for an oversized option.
Linen Button Front Dress
I added this linen button down dress to one of my orders late last year and since it was already winter I didn’t have a chance to try it out. Well this summer I decided to give it a shot and unfortunately I’m not a fan. The style is just not me. The front is cut so low that you can almost see my bra and yet the overall length does not do my 5’4” frame any favors (though I have to say it doesn’t look too shabby in pictures when I’m wearing my light-colored platforms). I got it in a medium and I can just barely button up all the buttons (but it does make it more figure-hugging). At this point I’m probably close to a large, especially when it comes to the hip area. Anyway since it’s too late to do a return I’ll probably sell it to Crossroads.
Linen Pants
This was a surprise hit because tbh these linen pants look kind of awkward on the Quince website. They look so big, baggy, and cropped. But it must have to do with how they styled it on the model because on me, the pants are full-length and not baggy at all. They’re very much a straight-legged pants on me. Again I got these at the end of last year, so I didn’t really start wearing them until this year. And last year, I got them in a medium. Again, these fit but they’re a tad tight on me (the elastic band leaves a mark around my belly) and it’s a bit snug around the thighs. But it doesn’t look too bad in the pictures. I might try these out in a large and see if I like them better. But with both Elizabeth Suzann and Only Child Clothing out of business and no longer making my favorite linen pants, these Quince ones are a good option (and they’re quite affordable)!
{September 2022 Update: I sold the medium pants and am currently wearing the large ones and I have to say I really really love them! Everything fits a tad better and they’re so comfy they fee like pajamas. I try to make them look more polished by wearing a nice top (usually in black so it’s all black outfit). Also I just realized that these linen pants come with a belt loop so that you can hide the fact that the pants have an elastic waistband. Adding a belt makes the linen pants look more polished and I’m a huge fan of this feature!}
[November 2024 Update: I’m still wearing the large linen pants and they’ve become my go to travel pants. I wear them during our road trips as well as on the plane since the linen fabric is perfect for keeping me warm or keeping me cool. Plus the elastic waistband makes it so comfortable. I can no longer travel in anything but these Quince linen pants.]
Linen Short Sleeve Swing Dress
New for this year is Quince’s linen swing dress that comes in both short sleeve and sleeveless. In May I got the short sleeve version because I find that as I’m getting older I don’t feel as comfortable in sleeveless tops and dresses. I decided to try this dress out since easy breezy linen dresses are just the perfect thing for the 90+ degree weather we get out here (it was 103 degrees yesterday 🥵). I also got this in a large because having purchased all mediums last year (which are all snug now), I played it safe and sized up. And I have to say I’m glad I got it in large. I feel like a medium might have been a little tight in the shoulders for me. As it is, this large is just right, and yet it’s not so big that I feel like I’m a sail that can catch wind. I really like this dress. It’s cute but not overly cute, super comfortable, and perfect for hot weather. The only drawback to this dress (and I think it applies to most swing dresses) is that when I throw both hands up in the air, the dress rides up and becomes a bit scandalous (but it doesn’t show my underwear). So it’s probably a very good thing I got this in a large. Honestly I’m not sure when I would throw both hands in the air (I’m not participating in a wave at a stadium any time soon) so this dress works for me.
{September 2022: So after washing and wearing it out for a day, I realized that the linen is quite transparent when backlit. I think you can wear bike pants underneath to make it less scandalous. So it looks cute but not something that works for me.}
Linen Maxi Shirt Dress
{Added June 2024} So this is different from the linen button down front dress (reviewed above) and the linen shirtdress (not yet reviewed). This is the maxi shirt dress and I think it might be my favorite linen dress from Quince. I got this in a medium and unlike the linen front button dress, it fits with room to spare. This dress is on the oversized side, but it comes with a tie that cinches at the waist. I’m 5’4” and it hits right at the ankle (so if you’re taller, this probably won’t be as much as a maxi dress). The black linen is versatile to wear as an everyday dress, or can also be used as a beach/pool coverup (leave it opened or cinch it at the waist) since linen dries so quickly in the sun.
And that’s it, that’s all the linen things I’ve tried from Quince. I hope you liked this little linen round up, and you can find all my other Quince reviews here.