When the weather cools down, nothing feels more natural to throw on than a flannel shirt. It’s a staple that’s lived a thousand lives. Some people relate it to the grunge movement of the ‘90s, while others use the plaid button-ups to embrace their inner woodsman. And there are many more options than the tried-and-true red and black checkerboard. Brands are playing with color, fabric, fit, and texture to turn a workwear essential into something way more stylish. Here are The 10 Best Flannel Shirts for Fall.
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Chemist Creations S1 CRM Shirt
Buy the Chemist Creations S1 CRM Shirt on Complex.
Price: $110
C2H4’s nerdy counterpart, Chemist Creations, thrives on adding subtle tweaks to everyday staples. The S1 CRM shirt takes the classic plaid button-up and gives it a crinkled texture. It’s a small detail that's enough to set it apart.
Beach Brains Drop LS Shirt
Buy the Beach Brains Drop LS Shirt on Complex.
Price: $196.21
Beach Brains nails its surf-meets-street identity without cutting corners on quality. This flannel comes in a wool-blend plaid that's warmer than other run-of-the-mill flannels. The best part is that wool only gets softer with wear. This has the potential to become one of the most comfortable things in your closet.
Kody Phillips Cargo Shirt
Buy the Kody Phillips Cargo Shirt on Complex.
Price: $188
If you know Kody Phillips, you know he loves a good pocket (or five). This is his take on the classic flannel. It’s distressed and slightly cropped with cargo pockets placed throughout the front and back. It's the perfect item to compliment his signature RIP Van Kody pants or spruce up a plain pair of blue jeans.
Diallo Denim Cargo Shirt
Buy the Diallo Denim Cargo Shirt on Complex.
Price: $395
We understand that a denim shirt isn’t technically a flannel. However, when it comes to layering, this piece works anywhere you’d normally throw on plaid. Diallo made this shirt using the same premium denim it uses in its jeans and gave it a pre-wash to recreate that lived-in feel from the start. It's what you will reach for when you want a break from the same ol’ checkered shirt.
Krost Chevron Jacquard Knit Shirt
Buy the Krost Chevron Jacquard Knit Shirt on Complex.
Price: $175
Contemporary menswear brand Krost elevates a button-down shirt by making it a knitwear piece. The knitted construction gives it different texture and weight. It’s amplified even more by the black and white chevron pattern. Wear it buttoned up with trousers or open over a tee.
Madfrenzy Air Shirt
Buy the Madfrenzy Air Shirt on Complex.
Price: $120
A plaid shirt is synonymous with the punk scene. Punk style has always been about distressing, cutting, and DIY customizations. Madfrenzy channels that same energy with this shirt, which features cutouts in the sleeves and a sprayed, “pre-dirtied” finish. It's something for the rebels.
MNML Dip Fade Flannel Shirt
Buy the MNML Dip Fade Flannel Shirt on Complex.
Price: $78
Who said flannels only have to come in red, green, and black? MNML presents you a pink flannel that will help distance you from the lumberjack aesthetic. It’s made more contemporary in design with a boxy, oversized fit and layered-sleeve detail.
Fried Rice Color-block Pocket Shirt
Buy the Fried Rice Color-block Pocket Shirt on Complex.
Price: $295
Fried Rice has never been afraid to have some fun with its designs, whether it's through print, color, or silhouette. Built from a multicolored woven fabric, this shirt features two oversized pockets in bright yellow and green, and a magenta collar. The chunky weave gives it some weight. It sits perfectly between a shirt and a jacket.
Vowels Floral Dobby Shirt
Buy the Vowels Floral Dobby Shirt on Vowels.
Price: $285
If you would like to get a little more experimental, we suggest looking into Vowels’ shirt offerings. This shirt in particular sports a tapestry-like pattern created by using a dobby weave fabric, a textured fabric made on a special loom that produces small, geometric patterns. If you want to take it even further, there's even a matching tie.
L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel Shirt
Buy the L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel Shirt on L.L.Bean.
Price: $59.95
Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to keep it classic. L.L.Bean’s Scotch Plaid shirt is exactly that. It’s soft, brushed cotton that’s cut just right and built to last for years. It’s the kind of staple your dad probably has in his closet. At under $60, it's a foundational piece that will stay in your closet until you're a dad yourself.