"I wouldn't buy the stock," said Ms. Tanner, a retired school administrator and longtime Loehmann's shopper, as she tried on a polka-dot summer dress and white linen blazer last week.

Even the most circumspect man might not be averse to slipping a batik vest beneath a linen blazer, or topping his trusty khakis now and then with an African-style shirt.

A pair of khaki slacks that somehow still had proper creases in them and a dark brown linen blazer came out of the closet.

Judging from the man's white linen blazer and pastel-colored silk trousers, subtlety was not one of his strong suits.

She checked her small tape recorder, tucked into the pocket of her linen blazer.

They're for chic, flung over a T-shirt, draped over a stone-washed silk shirt, crisscrossed under neutral linen blazers and cotton anoraks.

An unconstructed linen blazer by Tom Tailor in mustard, celery or basic black ($175) will lend a crisp springy feeling to almost any shirt.

Wandering the halls, she could almost have passed for a student again, dressed casually in jeans, a tank top and a short linen blazer.

And for boys, nothing is better-mannered than an outfit of crisp white linen blazer, carefree cotton sweater, pale pink shirt and buck oxfords.