How to Wear: Flannel Shirts
Traditionally, men don’t get a whole lot of silhouettes to play with in our clothing. We pretty much get a shirt on top, and shorts or pants on the bottom. No dresses or skirts or different shaped blouses to mix it up. One of the styles we do get is the good, old-fashioned button-up. And we think one of the best ways to add character to that style is through different textures and fabrics. That’s why we love flannels and what they do to expand our wardrobe.
While many guys think flannels are just Winter shirts, we believe they can be worn in at least 3 seasons. The trick is just to figure out how to do it.
What is a Flannel?
First, we should probably define what a flannel is because a lot of guys confuse ‘flannel’ and ‘plaid’ and they are definitely not the same thing. Flannel is a type of loosely-woven fabric made of cotton, wool, or man-made fibers. It is woven in a twill (sometimes called brushed twill) or plain weave construction. Flannels are characterized by their ‘hairy’ texture, the result of brushing which brings fibers to the surface and traps heat for warmth. Many flannels are woven with different styled plaids, but solid color flannels are also a popular choice.
Here are a few different ways to wear your flannel shirt:
Just The Flannel
Flannels can easily be worn with a variety of different pants like jeans, chinos, cotton duck pants, fatigues, carpenter pants – the list goes on! Because of their texture, flannels tend to be a more casual option. However, some flannels have a reduced nap (texture) and can be worn in a slightly dressier setting, like the office. This is especially true if it’s a solid color or subdued plaid.
To Tuck or Not To Tuck
There isn’t a hard and fast rule about tucking your flannel in. But if you are trying to dress it up, you’ll want to tuck. Tucking your flannel will work best with a slimmer cut and less bulky fabric.
Shoes
We think flannels work best with a pair of nice sneakers or boots. If you decide to dress it up, you can opt for a suede derby or even a suede chukka boot.
What About the Details?
Flannels come with a range of details. Some have one pocket, some have two. Sometimes the pockets are patch pockets, sometimes they have flaps. Some flannels have button-down collars, others have semi-spread collars. Really, there isn’t a bad choice. Generally speaking, the less “stuff” going on the front of the shirt, the more dressy it can (but doesn’t have to) be.
Layer Your Flannel
There are a ton of layering options with your flannel. You can layer on top of the flannel or use the flannel shirt itself to layer over something else.
With A Vest
In the transitional months of Fall or Spring, pair it with a vest for a more rugged look. You can avoid lumberjack comparisons if you choose less traditional colors like red or green.
Layer With a Sweater
For a bit of added warmth, flannels layer great with a sweater or sweatshirt. A popular look is to layer a flannel on top of a hoody. You can also wear a sweater on top of a flannel if you are looking to dress-up a bit.
Layer Over a T-Shirt
One of our favorite ways to wear a flannel is to layer it over a t-shirt. This is a more casual look, but by doing this, you can extend the seasonality of your flannel and easily wear it into May or June. It’s best to choose a solid color t-shirt to layer it over without much texture (the flannel adds all the texture you need).
You don’t necessarily need a looser fitting flannel to pull off this look either. Since you’re leaving it unbuttoned, the shirt will already fit loosely on your body. This way you don’t need to have both slim and oversized flannels hanging in your closet.
We hope, in this brief guide we’ve given you the confidence to wearing your flannel throughout the year. It’s always been one of the first shirts we go to in our closet.
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