There is a great conspiracy surrounding yoga pants. It’s not that they exist—no, their existence is well-documented. Nor is it that people find them comfortable, because clearly, people do. The conspiracy lies in the fact that I, personally, have never found them as comfortable as everyone makes them look. There is a certain smug ease with which people wear them, as if to say, “Yes, I am both stylish and capable of lunging at any moment.” Meanwhile, I put on yoga pants and spend the day peeling them off my legs like cling wrap.

Which is why I have always been on a quest for something that feels as effortless as everyone claims yoga pants are. Something breathable, something comfortable, something that allows me to sit cross-legged on the floor with my child and feel vaguely like an adult human being who makes reasonable fashion choices. And, as it turns out, the answer was linen all along.

The Great New-Mom Wardrobe Crisis

Early motherhood is a time of many transitions. Your body has changed, your priorities have changed, and—most alarmingly—you are now a person who regularly leaves the house covered in some combination of milk, mystery stickiness, and regret. At first, this means you wear pajamas all the time. Then, once you accept that society expects more from you, you begin assembling outfits based on a complex formula of “What is clean?” + “What is closest?” Eventually, though, your child will start dragging you outside every day, and you will realize that you need a wardrobe that functions in the world.

I cycled through all the usual mom-uniform suspects. Leggings, which made me feel like an overstuffed sausage casing. Jeans, which require too much commitment. Dresses, which—while cute—offer far too many opportunities for a toddler to expose your underwear to an unsuspecting public.

And then I found linen.

Linen: The Natural Fiber That Solves Everything (Except the Toddler Tantrum in Aisle 4)

Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant, which makes it one of the most natural and environmentally friendly fabrics out there. Unlike synthetic fibers, which trap heat and start smelling like regret after an hour in the sun, linen breathes. It’s the clothing equivalent of standing in front of an open fridge on a hot day.

It’s also biodegradable, requires fewer resources to produce than cotton, and—unlike fast fashion fabrics—actually gets better with age. Where polyester clings to stains like a toddler clings to a snack you told them they couldn’t have, linen softens and gains character the more you wear it. It’s durable, sustainable, and shockingly low-maintenance, considering it looks like the kind of thing only people who own fancy woven baskets should wear.

Yes, it wrinkles. But these are good wrinkles. Stylish wrinkles. Wrinkles that say, “I am effortlessly chic and far too busy doing important, interesting things to worry about ironing.” (Unlike cotton, which just looks like you slept in it because you probably did.)

The Perfect Mom Uniform

My go-to linen outfit is simple: linen shorts with a linen button-up. The perfect combination of put-together and here to have fun. It’s the kind of outfit that works just as well for chasing a toddler around the park as it does for pretending you have your life together while running errands. It looks intentional, but it’s as easy as throwing on pajamas—which, as we’ve established, is my primary criterion for acceptable clothing.

You don’t need much to build a linen wardrobe. A couple of well-made pieces can be mixed, matched, and worn into the ground. Linen button-ups, flowy pants, breezy dresses—it all works. And because linen comes in a variety of price points, you can start with whatever fits your budget. Even the most affordable options will last longer than anything made from the fossil fuel industry’s finest plastic-based fibers.

The Shoes Make the Outfit (and Also Keep You from Tripping Over Your Own Feet)

The best part about linen? It looks good with almost any practical, mom-friendly shoe.

• Minimalist sandals – Easy to slip on, breathable, and perfect for looking like a person who drinks fancy herbal teas (even if your reality is cold coffee and crushed Goldfish crackers in your bag).
• White sneakers – Linen loves a good sneaker. Effortless, comfortable, and ideal for chasing a runaway toddler without rolling an ankle.
• Espadrilles – Linen’s natural soulmate. Woven, breathable, and capable of making you look like you belong in a quaint coastal town even if you are, in fact, at a Target in the suburbs.
• Clogs – If you want that “I run a charming pottery studio in my free time” aesthetic, clogs are the way to go. Also surprisingly comfortable.
• Loafers – For when you need to look vaguely professional but also want to feel like you’re wearing slippers.

Effortless Style for Moms Who Do Not Have Time for This

Linen is the answer for moms who want to look put-together without actually putting anything together. It’s breathable, comfortable, natural, and effortlessly stylish. It’s the uniform of a woman who has accepted that she will spend most of her day bending down to pick up small objects but would still like to look vaguely like a functioning adult while doing so.

If you, too, have ever despaired at the limitations of leggings or struggled to find something that feels good to wear in the chaos of mom life, I highly recommend giving linen a try. It won’t solve everything, but it will at least keep you cool while your toddler has a meltdown about the injustice of you peeling their banana the wrong way.