Luxury Is Set on Rebranding the Hard-Wearing Flannel Shirt Outfit

Comb the internet for flannel shirt outfit inspiration, and you’ll find looks for a forest-dwelling lumberjack or a grunge head whose style is stuck in the 1990s. Rugged outdoorsmen recommend shopping for thermal button-downs at labels like Carhartt and L.L. Bean, while rough-and-ready rock enthusiasts still wear the same plaid button-down shirt from when they saw Nirvana back in ‘93.

But if you ask the high-fashion crowd, they’ll paint a different picture than the flannel shirt’s well-known woodsy archetypes and subcultures. They’ll tell you it belongs in downtown Manhattan or Milan, worn by a quiet luxury lady running weekend errands. They’ll let you know it’s only a matter of minutes before Kendall Jenner or Jennifer Lawrence steps out in a humble tartan top—only theirs will undoubtedly have a not-so-humble price tag—and every fashion outlet (including, yes, this one) will report on it as a surprising Spring trend worth trying.

You may ask who or what is responsible for the pivot in perspective of flannel shirts. As many fashion roads do, our answer often leads us back to The Row when Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen opened their Spring 2025 collection with a red and blue tartan shirt paired with smart front-pleated trousers and open-toed flat sandals.

In doing so, the twins flipped the script on flannels, presenting them as a simple, laidback staple that possesses the level of luxury that The Row is known for. (The brand’s red Spring 2025 shirt hasn’t been released yet, but an all-black flannel button-down rings in at $1,490.) And it’s not just The Olsen twins either; Bottega Veneta’s Spring 2025 collection included a handful of flannel shirt outfits—including a spectacular styling of a cream and olive plaid shacket teamed with supper baggy jeans and an oxblood-colored tote bag.

Celebs are also in on the rebrand of the humble checkered button-down. At the top of the New Year, Katie Holmes wore a neutral version alongside pleated jeans and white sneakers, a new outfit addition to her arsenal of off-duty uniforms. Given the actress’s taste-making prowess as a casual cool girl (Holmes singlehandedly kicked off the subdued pastels 2025 color trend with a muted pistachio sweater), her flannel outfit is sure to inspire a slew of copycats come spring.

To help you prep ahead of the spring season—or for you to proactively wear it as a winter 2025 trend—below is a round-up of the best luxe-leaning flannel outfits to recreate. Consider the below looks a cheat sheet for mastering the 2025 fashion trend.

A Trusty Shacket

Reliably cozy and dual-purpose—flannel shackets, like Paloma Elsesser's ketchup and mustard-colored overshirt, are smart additions to your outerwear arsenal. Wear it open with a white tank underneath, and add a simple, sleek pair of tailored trousers.

An Unnatural Color Palette

Consider grabbing a flannel shirt in an out-of-the-crayon-box color—like bright Brat green (yes, the color is still trending in 2025). By choosing a shade that you'd certainly never find in nature, you're contrasting with the shirt's inherent crunchy, down-to-earth feel—and juxtaposition is often the secret sauce that separates a good outfit from a great one.

A Flannel Barn Jacket

Given its smash-hit success over the past 12 months, last year's barn jacket trend is trickling into 2025. But opting for a chore coat in a flannel print gives the silhouette a fresher feel than the traditional khaki or waxed forest green. Add in a flirty mini skirt and tan button-down skirt, and your look is complete.

Dark and Subdued

Another unexpected choice that adds intrigue to a flannel shirt outfit is to opt for all black—against a sea of fire engine red flannels, the neutral stands out. Try a cropped jacket in dark plaid with a black pant in a complementary tweed material and refined heels.

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Kick it back to Kurt Cobain with an homage to the 1990s trend with a red flannel shirt that features a crafty DIY touch—like J.Crew's embellished plaid button-down—leather trousers up the grunge ante.

Ladylike Spin

Alternatively, lean into more feminine stylings. Like this Paris Fashion Week guest, who paired a teal flannel with a structural midi skirt and cap-toe booties.

Weekend Uniform

Like Holmes, this Paris Fashion Week show-goer uses a brown flannel shirt as the foundation of a nonchalant and no-fuss look. Cargo pants and a sleek gray crewneck sweater will work to fill in the rest of the outfit.

A Flannel Skirt and Leather

Once you've mastered flannel button-up shirt outfits, level up your styling know-how by teaming a flannel skirt or dress with a leather jacket and stomp-ready combat boots. This look is another throwback nod to the 1990s grunge groups, so if you're someone who's still streaming Soundgarden, this might be a combination to consider.

Business Flannels

For a more professional and polished take, try a blazer done in tartan tweed with a simple white T-shirt and cropped black pants. As far as spring work outfits go, it's a fresh-feeling departure from the standard florals or pastels you'll spot everwhere else.

Crop It to Me

Consider a cropped flannel jacket if you want the graphic intrigue of a tartan top but crave a more feminine feel. Steal this London Fashion Week guest's style, a waist-level lady jacket in ruby red plaid with high-rise blue jeans.