Historically, flannel shirts are for woodsy lumberjacks and grunge heads whose style is stuck in the 1990s.
But if you ask the fashion set, they’ll paint a different picture. They'll tell you flannel shirt outfits are a regular sight in downtown Manhattan and at fashion week, worn by a lady running weekend errands while embodying quiet luxury and by models on Chanel runways (slash subway platforms). They’ll point out celebrity It girls like Jennifer Lawrence and Katie Holmes have co-opted the humble plaid shirt—only theirs typically have not-so-humble price tags.
Those same fashion know-it-alls will likely leave you with this tip: Now's the time to buy a flannel shirt. The style is trending this winter—up 13 percent from last year, according to Style Analytics—and on track to stay the course.
What's behind the great flannel shirt rebrand of 2025?
Cut to now, and the fashion-ification of flannel shirts has hit the mainstream.
Shopping-wise, you're all set with the hard-working shirt trend. But what about styling the flannel once it's in your possession? What do you pair with the outdoorsy staple to exude 'cool girl bopping around town' and not 'woodsman chopping down timber'?
Below is a round-up of 10 luxe-leaning flannel outfits for you to recreate this season and keep in your rotation for spring, too. Sourced from Fashion Month street style, the celebrity fashion circuit, and our favorite recent runway looks, not a single look below falls into lumberjack territory.
As A Graphic Layer
Michael Rider's Celine Spring 2026 debut had fashion folks buzzing. There were shirt sandwiches in complementary colors, silk scarves draped over shoulders in a French-girl fashion, and flannel shirts strategically layered as blink-and-you'll-miss-it graphic elements. The latter styling tip is what we're here to discuss today: You can achieve the playful pop of print with any flannel shirt you desire, as long as you pull its cuffs and collar out and over your top layer.
A Casual-Chic Combo
Behold, your new outfit idea for bleary Saturday mornings when you have a day of to-dos ahead of you. This Paris Fashion Week show-goer used a chocolate brown flannel shirt as the foundation of a nonchalant, predominantly neutral look. Cargo pants and a gray crewneck fashion sweatshirt (yes, that's a trend, too) round out the rest of the relaxed outfit.
A Color-Pop Flannel Shirt
A pinkish-red and white flannel, peering out from under a leather jacket and paired with split trousers, was a standout look on Coperni's Spring 2026 runway. It was a simple but effective lesson on an outfit color pop: All you need is a neutral base (a black cami and coordinating trousers, for instance) and one bright element, like a fun flannel, to add contrast.
A Plaid Shacket
Flannel shirt jackets are comfortable, versatile, and easy to style—for example, this ketchup-mustard yellow shirt jacket is a smart choice for your wardrobe, especially for those who find all-brown suede jackets a bit too plain. On sunny days, wear it open, layered over a white tank top and a pair of simple, slim-fit trousers. On winter days when a thicker coat is needed, it can also be an eye-catching fashion item, subtly revealing a hint of color for added personality.
Flannel On Flannel
This look from Tod's Spring 2026 show is a solid reference for those who dare flannel-on-flannel. A rule of thumb when piling on multiple prints is to pay close attention to the colors, making sure they coordinate, complement, and don't overwhelm the eye. As evidenced here, black, off-white, and camel, which are similar yet different minimal neutrals, work well.
A Dark And Subdued Flannel
Another unexpected choice that's more intriguing than a standard flannel shirt outfit is a dark-toned print. Not only will it stand out in a sea of fire-engine-red flannels, but it also achieves that effortless chicness of an all-black look that New Yorkers swear by. Try a cropped jacket in black and gray plaid with pants made of thick tweed or wool and a small-but-mighty kitten heel.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Kick it back to Kurt Cobain with an homage to the '90s fashion era with a flannel shirt that features a crafty DIY touch—like this ombre option, embellished with silver studs and distressed studs. Leather trousers up the grunge ante.
A Ladylike Spin
Alternatively, you can lean into more feminine stylings—exhibit A: a teal flannel with a structural A-line midi skirt and cap-toe booties, subverting the shirt's "rugged and ready to work"connotations.
A Flannel Lady Jacket
Consider a cropped lady jacket in plaid if you want the graphic intrigue of a tartan top but crave a more feminine feel. Steal this London Fashion Week guest's style by pairing yours with high-rise blue jeans.
