Linen Tableware Products

Labor Day has come and gone, and decorum dictates that white shoes and linen pants be retired for yet another season.

But anyone who wants to hold onto that last bit of summer can now transfer their style from closet to table.

A new outcropping of artfully designed napkins, tablecloths and aprons are harnessing the casual, simple elegance of linen, which looks good on tables any time of year. Here are the ones we're coveting and buying as gifts for others:

Canvas: This superthin, hand-stitched linen from Tunisia is the epitome of simple design, with only a few colored stripes for decoration. Use it as a table runner to play backdrop to your favorite fall recipes ($100; click here to buy).

South Street Linen: Based in Portland, Maine, this operation is run by three artists who print and stitch each piece by hand. The napkins, which feature geometric designs, have just enough color to enliven a place setting, and the aprons are made with heavy-duty linen to stand up to your cooking while still keeping you cool ($139; click here to buy).

Terrain: These tea towels, decorated with calligraphy, equal screen-printed hospitality for a table of guests ($18; click here to buy).