Please help me build and style a linen shirt from Proper Cloth.

I'm buying my first linen shirt to deal with 90 degree days. To avoid an immediate trip to the tailor, I'm considering making my first purchase from Proper Cloth.

How to style the shirt?

I suspect I'll prefer to wear the shirt untucked, top two buttons undone, and the sleeves rolled up. I also suspect the items I pair with the shirt will impact what options I should select when ordering the shirt (collar, placket, etc) so I'm trying to figure that out first. If I have the following items:

  • Shoes: espadrilles, white koio sneakers, and C&J Cadogan unlined tobacco calf suede loafers
  • Pants: jeans, linen pants/shorts, chino pants/shorts, and a pair of trousers
  1. Can all of these items generally be mixed and matched?
  2. Should any of these combinations (or even entire items) be ruled out entirely?
  3. I suspect shorts may call for espadrilles, trousers may call for loafers, and chinos/jeans may be particularly flexible?
  4. Should I consider additional items?

Which options to choose for the shirt?

I don't have the fashion sense to imagine how each option from Proper Cloth will look or what each option communicates stylistically. If possible I'd like to pick options that maximize versatility/cohesion to wear with the items listed above.

  1. Color? I'm leaning toward beige because I hope it is versatile and "classically linen". I'm also considering blue (a bit redundant since I have a blue OCBD?), white (may be see through?), and gray (feels a bit drab for summer?).
  2. Collar? Perhaps the Soft Ivy Button Down is perfect for the more numerous casual items I listed, but won't look out of place when paired with trousers and loafers?
  3. Cuff? Perhaps a long one button or a soft long one button?
  4. Pocket? Perhaps rounded pocket, vintage ivy rounded pocket, or angled pocket?
  5. Placket? Perhaps front placket or soft front placket? Is no placket too formal?
  6. Yoke? Split yoke or one piece yoke? Perhaps split yoke is more functional/flexible?
  7. Hem? Perhaps a rounded hem?
  8. Buttons? Is mother of pearl too formal? Is roma or cream horn the way to go?