How to Wear a Flannel Shirt (3 Outfit Ideas)

The flannel button up shirt is a wardrobe staple that every man should have in his arsenal.

Read on to learn how a flannel shirt should fit and what makes it casual. Plus, see three example outfits from my own wardrobe.

Okay, first we’ll talk about how a flannel button up should fit. Then we’ll go over the little details that make a casual button up different from a dress shirt.

Finally, I’ll show you three ways to wear a flannel shirt using examples from my own wardrobe.

How a Flannel Shirt Should Fit

A flannel button up shirt should fit just like any other casual button up shirt, although I think it’s okay if it’s a little more relaxed.

Flannel is an inherently casual fabric that’s meant to be functional and comfortable. So your flannel button up shouldn’t be super slim or tight fitting.

That said, here’s what to look out for:

#1: Shoulder seam should sit where arm meets shoulder (without hanging past that point)

#2: Collar should button comfortably without being too tight (room for one finger)

#3: Length shouldn’t go past bottom of fly when worn untucked

#4: Sleeves should hit your wrist but not go past it

These are just guidelines, so don’t get too hung up the specifics. For example, if you never wear a tie, it’s okay if you’re collar is a little too tight to be buttoned comfortably.

That said, if you’re buying a custom shirt, you should be able to achieve a near perfect fit.

Casual Details

Besides fit, there are some other little details that make a casual button different than a dress shirt.

The great thing about buying made-measure is the fact that you can customize these details.

#1: Hem is straight or slightly curved (no deep “wings” like a dress shirt that’s meant to always be tucked)

#2: Cuffs are short and soft (no stiff interfacing)

#3: Collar length is short and soft (no stiff interfacing)

It’s also important for shorter men to opt for shorter cuffs and collars. This means, no matter what style your collar is (button down, point, club, spread, etc.), the point length should be short.

Same goes for sleeve cuffs. No matter what style they are (single button, double button, rounded, etc.), it’s best if they’re on the shorter side.

3 Ways to Wear a Flannel Shirt

Now that we understand how a flannel shirt should fit, and the details that make it different from a dress shirt, let’s look at some example outfits.

Here are three ways to wear a flannel shirt:

Outfit #1: Lumbersexual with a Twist

This is your classic “jeans and boots” flannel shirt getup, but it’s much different than the classic lumberjack look, mostly because of the color palette. The dark blue, grey and black is a pretty edgy color combo that will definitely set you apart from the crowd.

Outfit #2: Office to Happy Hour

You can still wear casual flannel shirts to the office. Just throw on a v-neck sweater or quarter zip pullover and you’re good to go. You could swap in whatever shoes you like – wingtips, loafers – but you know I love the chukkas!

Outfit #3: My Fall Uniform

This is basically my fall uniform – jeans, causal button up, light vest, light jacket and of course, boots. If it’s colder, I’ll just throw on a heavier jacket.

It’s it’s not too cold, I’ll ditch the jacket altogether. If I had to pick one outfit to wear for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

Questions? Comments? Leave a comment below!