When it comes to classic style, flannel shirts can be hard to wear. Do they make sense? If they are, where do they fit? Why are they becoming popular for men to wear? Read this guide by Ridhiman Das to understand everything you need to know about how to wear them in style.
What’s Flannel?
Originally, the word “flannel” only referred to fabrics made from carded wool. During production, carded fabrics are brushed and keep both long and short fibres, which gives them a softer feel. On the other hand, combed fabrics are tightly woven and get rid of the short staple fibres. Worsted wool is an example of a combed fabric. This type of fabric is smoother and more formal than other fabrics. They are a cheap and stylish way for men to dress, especially in the winter. Exquisite Costume Designer Tiffani Moreno says,“There’s a reason flannels have been a staple for decades—you can wear them with almost anything.”
What makes a classic flannel shirt a classic?
Before we talk about how to wear a flannel shirt, we need to talk about what it is. When you hear the word “flannel shirt,” you probably think of a plaid or tartan button-up shirt with a button-down collar, button cuffs, and maybe some pockets. Even though a pattern, especially a check pattern like tartan, can be an important part of many flannels, the fabric is the only thing that makes a shirt a flannel.
What should you look for when you’re shopping for flannel shirts to add to your classic menswear wardrobe? Your top priority should be to find wool or cotton shirts that are made of real flannel. So, avoid synthetic fibres because they won’t give you the same real texture and feel.
How to Wear a Flannel Shirt?
If you have a classic wardrobe, the best flannel shirts to add to it are those that are made and structured more like traditional dress shirts. In other words, length is one of the most important things to look for here.
If you look at ads for flannels where all the models are wearing them untucked, they’re probably too short to be tucked in anyway, which isn’t the look you’re going for. A flannel shirt should be long enough to go past your waist and hips so that you can easily tuck it in. This will make you look more put together.
If not, you want your shirt to be loose enough to let you breathe but not too loose that it falls down. This doesn’t mean that your flannel shirt should be tight, and it also doesn’t mean that you should look for one that is too big. Just aim for that happy middle ground to find the right level of comfort.
Collars for Flannel Shirts
If you decide to wear a shirt with buttons, the collar will help frame your face. This is where other casual classics, like the white t-shirt, need a little extra help to show you off in the best way. So, choosing the right collar for your flannel shirt is a very important choice.
When it comes to flannel shirts, the button-down collar is probably the best. It keeps the points even and makes a great frame for your face. Because flannel is soft, it doesn’t usually have the ability to stand up in a way that looks good. The most elegant look is made by anchoring the points of your collar with buttons, like an OCBD shirt.
If you want something else, a classic spread collar is also a great choice. This may be one of the most traditional collar styles for a dress shirt because it looks good on most people. If your flannel shirt has a cutaway or spread collar, you should also use collar stays to keep things looking neat. If you don’t, the points on your soft collar are likely to fall over during the day.
Choosing a collar style for your flannel shirt should be easy, since most ready-to-wear styles come with the best collars for a flannel shirt. If you’re getting a made-to-measure or bespoke flannel shirt, you’ll need to pay more attention to the style you choose.
Additional Details about Your Flannel Shirt
Even though it’s possible to wear a flannel shirt with extras like double chest pockets, these extras will make your shirt look less formal overall.
If you want to look more put together, stay away from flapped pockets, snaps, and contrast stitching. This will make your plaid shirt look more like work clothes and less like something that fits into the classic style of men.
Classic Patterns for Flannel Shirts
Even though any shirt made of flannel can be called a plaid shirt, many people still think the tartan pattern is almost a must-have. But you can choose from a lot of different patterns, so it’s important to choose carefully.
Checks Rule
Without a doubt, the check is the most popular pattern for a flannel shirt. A checked pattern can be put on a flannel shirt in almost any way, but classic patterns like grids, window panes, and tartans work best. Even so, there is something very appealing about a plaid flannel shirt.
For the best results, look for patterns with checks or tartans that are medium to small in size. The boldness of the shirt will be toned down by these patterns, making the shirt more useful. Keep in mind that striped or patchwork patterns are going to be louder and less useful, so it’s best to stay away from them.
Multiple Colours
Most of the time, patterns with three or more colours will be less bold than patterns with only two colours. This is because patterns with only two colours will often try to include high contrast, which is always more bold.
We would suggest that you stay away from patterns and colours with a lot of contrast, like black and white together, colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel, like green and purple in bold and bright shades, or something very dark, like navy blue, next to something very bright, like yellow.
Think about texture
You could choose a solid flannel to be able to wear it with a lot of different things. And just like you should be careful when choosing patterns, you should also be careful when choosing colours. Basically, you should choose colours that look good together or colours that are soft and neutral.
If you choose a plain flannel shirt, the fabric’s texture will do the talking. This is a great way to strike the right balance between dressy and casual.
How to put on a plaid shirt
Keep in mind that flannel shirts are a little bit more daring in the world of classic style. By using the tips we’ve given, you can tone down some of that boldness and make the flannels more useful. Here are some ideas for how to wear flannel shirts that are sure to give you some outfit ideas.
Wear a sports jacket with a plaid shirt
To put it simply, flannel shirts are great for adding layers. As far as classic menswear goes, an odd jacket might be the most versatile casual piece of clothing. The easiest way to dress up a flannel shirt is to add a sports jacket or blazer with a more casual weave, pattern, or colour.
Since the patterns on flannels are usually bigger and more bold than those on most other clothes, you should keep the patterns on the jackets you put on top of them to a minimum. Obviously, if you’re wearing a flannel shirt with a solid colour, you have more freedom in how you mix patterns.
Overall, make sure everything works well together, and if you’re wearing more than one pattern, make sure they’re at different sizes that look good together.
Leather coats
A leather jacket, which is one of the more casual options for outerwear, looks great with a plaid shirt. The Belstaff Trialmaster might be a good choice if you like a more modern look. Pairing a flannel shirt with a shearling-lined bomber jacket gives off a retro vibe and keeps you warm.
Pair a flannel shirt with knitwear
A cardigan could be worn instead of a blazer to make the outfit a little less formal. Find out more about the benefits of adding cardigans to your wardrobe in our guide. They are easy to put on over your flannel shirt, and the V-shaped buttons will make your shirt collar stand out.
Another great thing to wear with flannel shirts is a sweater. Even though there are a lot of different styles, it’s best to avoid crew necks and look for V-neck sweaters instead. The V shape, like that of a cardigan or sports jacket, won’t squeeze your shirt’s collar. This means you can just put on your sweater and go about your day without having to change your outfit.
Because flannel shirts are more casual, you should stay away from flat, plain knits. These look great with more formal outfits, but a flannel shirt needs something a little more casual. Look for sweaters with interesting weaves, like a basket or cable knit, which will go well with the formality of your plaid shirt.
What pants go best with a plaid shirt?
When it comes to pants, you can choose from a few different styles. You can wear flannels with jeans, corduroys, odd pants, or anything else. As a general rule, the colours should go well together, and the fit should be simple. So, it should be clear that you shouldn’t wear black jeans.
Bolder plaid shirts look best with casual outfits that include items like classic blue jeans. Of course, more conservative flannel shirts look best with smarter pants and slacks. Those in the middle can be worn with corduroy, khakis, or chinos. You can try out your different flannels to see which ones work best.
What kinds of shoes to wear with plaid shirts?
When it comes to shoes to wear with flannels, it’s usually best to go for something a little more casual. This means you should stay away from more traditional shoes like Oxfords and dress boots. But don’t go too far in the other direction by wearing things like combat boots, which aren’t usually part of a classic wardrobe.
The best shoes to wear with a plaid shirt are Derbies or loafers, especially ones made of suede. When worn with a flannel shirt, the shoe’s overall casual style and the interesting texture of the suede make it a great choice.
Overall, the most important thing we can say is to try to dress up your flannels just a little bit. Don’t forget that for formal events, flannel shirts are better left at home. For instance, you shouldn’t wear a plaid shirt with a business suit. Instead, layer and pair the plaid shirt in a way that fits the smart casual dress code.