If you haven’t taken the plunge already, this spring, it’s time to welcome the flannel shirt into your wardrobe. No longer confined to pumpkin spice season, this versatile essential is currently dominating all of our favorite stores right now proving time and time again that like the classic white shirt, this trend never really goes out of style.
Not to be confused with its plaid cousin, flannel is essentially a type of woven material that has a napped finish on one or both sides. While it used to be made primarily with wool, today, the fabric, believed to have originated in Wales in the 17th century, is typically made from brushed cotton, which is cozy and soft yet still breathable.
Throughout the history of pop culture, musicians, actors, and social media darlings have kept the trend alive. In the ‘90s, the flannel shirt exploded into the zeitgeist as a grunge fashion staple, and today, fashionistas line up to get their hands on one when luxury streetwear labels like Off-White reinterpret the look.
Whether worn with sweatpants or jeans, layered over a white t-shirt, or worn as a jacket, a high-quality flannel shirt can be paired with just about anything. Finding one that checks off all the boxes—fit, fabric and silhouette—can be quite a feat, so we’ve done all the hard work for you.
Best for Cold Nights
Outerknown Women’s Blanket Shirt
If you’re going to buy one item of clothing from Outerknown, the sustainable California-based clothing brand known for using only eco-friendly materials, it has to be the Blanket Shirt. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel like they’re wrapped up in a snuggly blanket? Crafted from a heavyweight organic cotton twill and back this season with an updated fit, the modern rewrite is slightly longer and can be worn as a shirt or a lightweight jacket. Featuring a rounded hem, twin chest pockets and buttons made from the nut of the tagua palm, you can champion sustainability while keeping a timeless style. Every piece of clothing that Outerknown manufactures is made using planet-friendly fibers and fair trade.
- Materials: 100% organic cotton; corozo buttons are made from the nut of the tagua palm
- Color Options: 22 colors, including Atlantic Blue Bigbury Plaid, Wheat Rainbow Stripe, and Ultramarine Green Arcadia
- Fit: Relaxed
- COO: Peru, China, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, California
- Price: $148
- Takeaway: This high-quality, durable shirt is super warm, wrinkle-resistant, and won’t lose its shape even after multiple washes.
California Cowboy Women’s High Sierra
Not only is California Cowboy’s High Sierra flannel shirt made with ultra-soft luxury Portuguese cotton, this button-down is lined with even more cotton (model thermal), for extra warmth, and features the perfect slouchy, relaxed boyfriend fit ideal for layering. The shirt features a reinforced bottle pocket to hold beer, another pocket to hold the bottle opener that comes with the shirt, and a zippered water-resistant pocket to hold your phone. It’s also equipped with separate loops for sunglasses and gloves, a beer koozie, and a stack of conversation-starter cards—because you never know who you might run into around the fire pit.
- Materials: Cotton, Modal
- Color Options: Ember Check, Sonoma Plaid
- Fit: Relaxed
- COO: United States
- Price: $148
- Takeaway: Featuring all the bells and whistles one would expect from a flannel with this price tag, this uber functional shirt includes a beverage pocket and a zippered dry tech pocket.
Faherty Brand The Classic Flannel Shirt
Once dubbed as having a “surf hippie” aesthetic, Faherty has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a clothing brand “about the beach.” Like the rest of Faherty’s designs, the Classic Flannel Shirt is made from sustainable fibers and features a lux, soft, brushed finish with just a hint of stretch for more mobility. The perfect cozy yet lightweight shirt, it features a slim shape that won’t cling, and comes in a variety of soft muted shades.
- Materials: 50% organic cotton, 48% Ecovera, 2% spandex
- Color Options: Norwood Buffalo Plaid, Juliet Plaid, Cruz Stripe
- Fit: Classic (not oversized and not too slim)
- COO: United States
- Price: $128 (currently on sale for $79)
- Takeaway: Organic cotton makes this shirt incredibly soft while spandex gives it a bit of stretch.
Woolrich Made in USA Boyfriend Overshirt
If you’ve never worn anything Woolrich, you may join countless others as a fan after trying the company’s Made in USA Boyfriend Overshirt. Light, soft and comfortable, it’s made from a medium weight Italian wool blend and carries a certain sophistication of a flannel shirt that’s done well. The overshirt has a longer fit and features traditional styling details like a button front and single chest pocket. As minimal as it is, there’s something magical about this classic look with its looser, more masculine silhouette.
- Materials: 60% wool, 35% polyester, 5% polyamide
- Color Options: Gray Purple Check, Purple Black Buffalo
- Fit: Regular
- COO: United States
- Price: $160
- Takeaway: The fit of this Made in USA Boyfriend Overshirt is universally flattering while luxurious Italian wool makes it a slightly elevated take on your standard flannel.
Best Sustainable Option
Orvis Women’s Tech Flannel Shirt
For a laid-back look, the Tech Flannel Shirt from Orvis is an eco-friendly option you can get behind. There’s something unfussy about this flannel; maybe it’s the fact that it’s wrinkle resistant or that it’s treated with odor control tech to keep it smelling clean. It’s made from a blend of cotton and MarinoWul+™ – a fiber derived from recycled plastic bottles and pulverized oyster shells, which wicks moisture, regulates temperature, and is a great alternative for those who are sensitive to wool. Plus it’s a more sustainable option.
- Materials: Cotton, recycled polyester, spandex
- Color Options: Hot Sauce Plaid, Roe, Sangria Plaid, Dark Gray
- Fit: Active Fit (fitted but not restricting)
- COO: United States
- Price: $98 (currently on sale for $69)
- Takeaway: Made with an eco-blend that includes oyster shells and plastic bottles, the Tech Flannel Shirt features quick-drying moisture wicking fabric and the added bonus of odor fighting technology.
BDG Keanu Flannel Button-Down Shirt
Millennial shoppers can get their plaid-shirt-fix with the Keanu Flannel Button-Down shirt courtesy of Urban Outfitters’ in-house brand, BDG. Featuring a slouchy, oversized fit perfect for layering, this borrowed-from-the-boys look has retro-appeal and comes in a soft woven material making it both breathable and flexible. Channeling the nonchalant attitude of the 90s grunge era, it’s got two deep chest pockets and is emblazoned with a selection of neutral checks.
- Materials: 72% rayon, 26% polyester, 2% spandex
- Color Options: Blue Multi, Pink, Green, Green Multi, Navy
- Fit: Oversized
- COO: Imported
- Price: $59
- Takeaway: While this flannel might not be well-suited for the great outdoors, it remains a simple statement piece with a strong urban vibe.
Best for Layering
Madewell Ex-Boyfriend Plaid Flannel Shirt
An oversized take on their bestselling ex-boyfriend shirt, Madewell’s plaid flannel is a roomy option that’s crafted from 100 percent cotton for a soft worn-in feel. Draping just below the bottom, this breezy button-up is majorly cozy and features a classic button front and button closure at the sleeve cuffs. Equal parts relaxed and chic, wear this for an updated take on the lumberjack look.
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Color Options: Blue Tartan Plaid
- Fit: Oversized
- COO: China, Italy, United States
- Price: $88
- Takeaway: Drapey, oversized and not too heavy, Madewell’s Ex-Boyfriend Plaid Flannel Shirt is roomy without being boxy.
Outdoor Research Women’s Feedback Flannel Shirt
Outdoor Research knows a thing or two about outdoor clothing and gear. The Seattle-based company has won awards for a bunch of their products including their Carbide Sensor Gloves and their Hemispheres Gore-Tex Bibs which took home the Apparel of the Year Award in 2018. A long-standing best-seller, the Feedback Flannel Shirt is equal parts rugged yet totally stylish, and features moisture-wicking functionality and a cozy brushed flannel. There’s also two-button-down chest pockets and hidden hand pockets large enough to accommodate your tech.
- Materials: 100% polyester
- Color Options: Sand Plaid, Poppy Plaid, Nimbus Plaid
- Fit: Relaxed
- COO: United States
- Price: $89 (currently on sale for $62.30)
- Takeaway: Quality and functionality is what Outdoor Research is known for so it’s no surprise that the Feedback Flannel shirt stands out from the pack. It’s also ultra soft, wicks sweat and will keep you dry.
L.L.Bean Organic Flannel Shirt
Made from organically sourced 100 percent certified cotton, this heavyweight flannel is super soft, durable and well-built. The center back pleat allows you to move with ease, and the relaxed fit can stand alone or layers perfectly. Tailored with a spread collar and a front patch chest pocket, this shirt is double-brushed for an exceptional feel. And with 970, 5-star reviews, and an impressive average rating of 4.7/5 stars it’s no wonder fans of the shirt are opting to buy it in multiple colors.
- Materials: 100% organic cotton
- Color Options: 8 colors, including Bright Navy, Indigo Ink, and Smoky Lavender
- Fit: Relaxed
- COO: United States
- Price: $64.95
- Takeaway: Because it’s so thick and plush, L.L. Bean’s Organic Flannel Shirt can be worn as a jacket (shacket) which makes it the perfect transitional weather staple.
United By Blue Women’s Organic Flannel Button-Down
With a focus on sustainability, United By Blue’s clothing is built to last. Take for example their organic flannel button-down. It’s crafted with an irresistibly-soft fabric made from organic cotton and hemp – one of the most durable and environmentally-friendly fibers around. Plus, it gets softer with every wear, is breathable and anti-bacterial. Sometimes you don’t want a super fitted silhouette and while not baggy, the shirt is slim yet never clingy and sits just below the hip. And with each purchase, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways.
- Materials: 87% organic cotton, 13% hemp
- Color Options: Purple Rhododendron/Stripe, Bitter Chocolate/Plaid, Botanical Green/Plaid, Sunburn/Plaid
- Fit: Standard
- COO: Turkey, China, Vietnam, United States
- Price: $59.99
- Takeaway: United By Blue’s Organic Flannel Button-Down provides an extra layer of warmth and is made from eco-friendly materials.
Pendleton Girlfriend Double-Brushed Flannel Shirt
In an increasingly casal world, one should still look pulled-together even when dressed in an oversized flannel shirt. Case in point: Pendleton’s Girlfriend Double-Brushed Flannel Shirt is a true wardrobe essential featuring a rounded hem that’s slightly longer in the back for flattering coverage. It’s made with a mid-weight cotton weave that’s brushed on both sides for extra softness and is ideal for retaining warmth.
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Color Options: Ivory Multi Windowpane, Brown/Black Ombre Plaid, Red/Black Ombre Plaid, Mountain Blue/Apricot Plaid, Red Rock/Gold Ombre Plaid, Warm Sand/Red Plaid
- Fit: Oversized
- COO: China, Central America, United States
- Price: $89.50
- Takeaway: The fact that it’s made with double-brushed cotton guarantees that this flannel shirt by Pendleton is more luxuriously soft and cooler than other types of cotton while still keeping you warm.
Patagonia Organic Cotton Midweight Fjord Flannel
With a strong stance on protecting the environment, for years Patagonia has been working on reducing their environmental footprint. The Organic Cotton Midweight Fjord Flannel shirt is made of soft organic cotton flannel, grown with organic practices that eliminates the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and GMO seeds. Available in seven plaid patterns and one solid shade of brown, it features two chest patch pockets with button-flaps and a slim fit suitable for everyday wear.
- Materials: 100% organic cotton flannel
- Color Options: 8 colors, including Tundra: New Navy, Ice Fjord: Fox Red, and Jaspe Twist: Dusky Brown
- Fit: Slim
- COO: Imported
- Price: $89
- Takeaway: This cozy, mid-weight shirt from Patagonia is soft and sturdy and perfect for the days when a jacket is not required.
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