Linen Co-Ord Sets: Five New Sets I'd Wear Through a UAE Winter

A linen co-ord set is the outfit I wear most in the UAE, and I don't put it away when summer ends. Our winter days still sit in the mid to high twenties, so a breathable fabric makes sense until spring. Linen and set are also two of the words people type most into the search bar on our site this month. I'm clearly not the only one thinking this way. Five new sets just landed, and each one solves a slightly different problem. Here's how I'd wear them.

Why a linen co-ord set works past summer

Linen breathes, softens with every wash, and looks relaxed without looking sloppy. A matching top and trouser takes the guesswork out of getting dressed, and you can split the pieces when you want more outfits from the same set. In cooler months I add a light layer on top and the set still works.

The five new sets and when I'd wear them

For the office: a peplum that holds its shape

The Ruqaya Pleated Peplum Set is the most tailored of the five. The top is shaped with princess seams and opens into inverted pleats at the waist, with a shawl collar and wide turned-back cuffs. With the matching wide-leg trousers it reads as a suit, not a weekend outfit.

Featured Product: The Ruqaya Pleated Peplum Set

For clean lines: a mandarin collar and bib front

If you like things minimal, The Nafisa Bib Front Placket Set is the one. A topstitched bib panel and concealed placket keep the front smooth, and the mandarin collar gives it structure. I'd wear the top alone with a black trouser too.

Featured Product: The Nafisa Bib Front Placket Set

For dressing up: pearl frog fastenings

The Zakiya Pearl Frog Fastening Set pairs a relaxed shirt-jacket with four pearl button and loop fastenings down the front. It's the set I'd wear to a lunch or a family visit, when I want detail without wearing anything formal.

Featured Product: The Zakiya Pearl Frog Fastening Set

For contrast: piping and side ties

The Dalal Piped Side-Tie Hem Set outlines its curved shirttail hem and cuffs in black piping, with side ties at each opening. The contrast makes a light linen look sharper, so it's a good pick for days that start at a desk and end at dinner.

Featured Product: The Dalal Piped Side-Tie Hem Set

For shape: pintucks and a tie waist

The Maysoon Pintuck Tie Waist Set is the softest of the group. Vertical pintucks run down the bodice, gathered bell sleeves add movement, and a self-tie cord lets you decide how defined the waist is. Tied close, it looks polished. Left loose, it's an easy weekend outfit.

Featured Product: The Maysoon Pintuck Tie Waist Set

How I style a linen set in cooler months

• Layer an open abaya on top. A plain abaya over a linen set gives you warmth for the evening and a longer line.
• Split the set. Wear the top with dark trousers or the trousers with a fitted knit, then wear them together again later in the week.
• Accept the creases. Linen softens and wrinkles a little. Steam it rather than iron it hard, and it looks lived-in in a good way.
• Keep accessories simple. When the set has pearls or piping, I skip the statement jewelry.

Related reading

• How to Mix and Match Abayas With Your Existing Wardrobe
• Co-Ord Sets for Running Errands: Comfortable, Put-Together, and Actually Practical
• The Everyday Co-Ord Sets Worth Wearing After You Land

A good linen set gives you three outfits for the price of one, and in this climate it works for most of the year. Choose the one that matches how your week actually looks, tailored, minimal or soft, and wear it on repeat. You'll find all five, plus the rest of our matching pieces, in the Co-ord Sets Collection.