There's one item in a summer wardrobe that doesn't demand a fresh investment every season, doesn't go out of fashion and doesn't look cheap when it creases. Linen trousers. And the creasing is precisely why half the population avoids them - which, if we're honest, is a misunderstanding with the fabric itself.

Linen creases because it's linen. That isn't a defect in the product, it's its signature. A fabric that breathes, that doesn't stick to the body at 35 degrees and that gets softer with every wash rather than stiffer. Stylists call it "effortless elegance", which is a cliché, but behind the cliché sits a truth: linen trousers look good even when you haven't made an effort.

Seven ways to wear them, none requiring a new piece

Printed linen trousers in bright colours are the fastest way to break the monotony - colour on colour, no fear. The second combination goes full butter-coloured: a sleeveless blouse and trousers in the same tone, with a woven bag in chocolate brown and gold sandals. Tone on tone works even when you have no idea what to put on.

Linen bermudas in a relaxed cut in chocolate brown, with a fitted white T-shirt and comfortable sandals, solve the afternoon that's too hot for long trousers and too formal for shorts. Soft drawstring linen trousers pair with a loose strappy shirt and jewellery, a headscarf and a structured bag - an outfit that works for coffee and for dinner alike.

White linen shorts with a romantic blouse, ballet flats and a straw basket are what the whole internet calls Mediterranean aesthetics, and what the Balkans have worn for decades without giving it a name. Wider linen trousers under a black semi-sheer tunic dress create a layered effect more interesting than either piece on its own.

And finally - white straight-cut linen trousers, a blouse with gathered sleeves, a small structured bag and red sandals. A classic that returns every summer because it works.

Everything here is a piece you probably already own. And that's the one thing worth taking from any fashion list - the difference between seven looks and seven purchases. The industry sells them as the same. They aren't the same.