That time between the Winter and Spring can be an awkward one. Sure, Spring officially starts on the 20th of March, but there’s always that to and fro when it comes to finding the appropriate outfit. Sometimes the sun might be out but it’s still a tad bit cold, or it’s cloudy and a little balmy – leaving you regretting your choice as soon as it’s too late.

So how do you get around that? That’s a great question. It’s all down to being smart with your layering. By smart, we mean choosing the right fabrics, one of which is linen. Oftentimes, people assume linen shirts cost an arm and a leg, or that they’re exclusively worn on holiday - which is an easy assumption to make when living in the UK, so we'll let you off for that one.

Well, that’s no longer the case. But to give you a better idea, we put together these UNIQLO outfits, to show you just how good its linen shirts look when styled correctly.

The premium striped linen shirt can be dressed up or down, thanks to the scope of this light shade of blue. Of course, the horizontal striping leans into the casual, but can just as easily blend into a formal setting if necessary. This Take Ivy-inspired outfit does a great job of proving this, downplaying the shirt with these jean shorts. Had we opted for a smarter pair of trousers, the striped shirt would have fit in just as well. Whether you want to play off the shirt’s lighter tones with a pop of colour is up to you, an element we introduced with the burnt orange hat and jumper.

This time we took a different angle with the layering, popping this cotton blend linen shirt over a long sleeve waffle knit. Playing nicely into the darker hues of the cargo pants and hat, the linen shirt breaks up your traditional sandwich styling rule, implying an extra layer of thought to your outfit. It also acts as a form of protection against the lighter waffle top, hiding any scuffs you may encounter along your daily commute. Here, it not only elevates but provides a practical touch, all while sacrificing little to no weight at all. If you’ve never tried the short sleeve over a long sleeve method, then this is your excuse to give it a go.

An option for those slightly chillier days is this cotton linen blend shirt jacket. Similar to the classic French chore coat, but without the traditionally rigid feel, this cotton linen jacket is a great alternative. The navy edition is easily paired with a wide range of trousers, balancing out the dark denim wash in this example. Button up when you’re out on the move, or down when you’re back indoors and want to show off your funny graphic t or impressive layering skills, it’s completely up to you. UNIQLO’s wrinkle resistance means you can also throw this over your chair without needing to stress about any excessive creases.

For many, the hot weather can cause a lot of wardrobe-related stress, because getting in as many details while wearing less can prove challenging. But that’s where the linen shirt makes for another easy win, with this premium striped shirt and white vest combo doing a better job than your typical white t-shirt approach. Adding all the flexibility you could possibly require on a hot spring day, the long sleeve can be rolled up, buttoned up or even slung over your shoulder depending on the occasion. We all know how unpredictable the UK weather can be, so when committing to a pair of linen shorts, you want the top half to be able to compensate for any of the day’s twists and turns.