When it comes to fall fashion, flannel shirts and hoodies are two staple items every man needs in his wardrobe. While you can wear each one separately, it’s possible to wear them together to enjoy the benefits of both clothing items. This post delves more into why this is the perfect clothing combo for fall and how to style it appropriately.
Why is a flannel and hoodie a good combo for fall?
Embrace autumnal colors
Flannel shirts are ideal for embracing different autumnal colors such as reds, oranges and yellows. Their plaid texture gives them an appearance similar to the leaves in fall. This is a color and texture that you’re unable to get from a hoodie alone.
Add warmth to your flannel
As the temperature starts to drop in fall, you may not feel comfortable just wearing a flannel shirt. Placing a hoodie underneath adds an extra layer of warmth, while still allowing you to show off the plaid design of your flannel shirt. You may not need this extra layer in early September, but you could desire it by late October.
Be prepared for the rain
Flannel shirts typically don’t have hoods. Fall is renowned for its surprise showers, making it easy to get caught out in the rain. Wearing a hoodie underneath your flannel allows you to put up a hood in the rain. It’s a great combo for those gray days when you’re not sure what the weather’s going to be like but don’t want to lug around a jacket.
Suit any occasion
The flannel and hoodie combo is so versatile in that it can be worn practically anywhere without looking out of place. It’s a great outdoorsy option when going on a short hike, but can also be a comfy option for lounging around indoors. It’s smart enough to turn up to college or even wear in some workplaces due to the addition of the flannel. At the same time, it’s casual enough for everyday meetups with friends.
Keep it effortless but varied
Throwing a flannel shirt over a hoodie is an easy put-together look. Because it can be worn in many settings, you don’t have to worry about your outfit as much from day to day. And you can still vary it up by trying different flannels with different hoodies.
How to style a flannel and hoodie
Different types of flannel shirts and different types of hoodies can create different effects. It’s important to understand how to pair these different items without them clashing.
These flannel over hoodie styles give you a good idea of some of the different styles you can pull off. For a more detailed breakdown of how to get the right combo, consider some of these styling rules.
Stick to plain hoodies
Flannel shirts tend to provide a lot of texture, so you don’t want to pair them with a hoodie that also has a lot of texture. Hoodies to avoid include camo hoodies, patchwork hoodies, floral hoodies, and tie-dye hoodies. Instead, stick to block colors. Neutral block colored hoodies are likely to be the most versatile option as you can pair them with any color or texture of flannel. If the hoodie has a logo on the front, make sure it’s not too multicolored and intricate, as this too could clash with the texture of the flannel.
Go oversized with your flannel
Avoid wearing a slim-fitting flannel with your hoodie as it will likely look too small and tight. The bottom of your hoodie shouldn’t extend below the bottom of your flannel shirt. Neither should your hoodie sleeves be longer than the flannel shirt sleeves. When choosing a flannel shirt to layer over a hoodie, go a size up from what you’d usually buy. The flannel shirt should look a bit baggy. The baggier you go, the more grungy your look will be. Just make sure that your sleeves aren’t so long that they go over your hands. Meanwhile, to make sure that your flannel is larger than your hoodie, avoid baggy hoodies and consider slim-fit options instead.
Keep the flannel shirt unbuttoned for a casual look
An unbuttoned flannel shirt over a hoodie helps to give it a looser look that draws attention to the layers. It also creates a more casual thrown-together look. You can emphasize this casual look by rolling up the sleeves of your hoodie and flannel. This is great if you want to show off wristwear or wrist tattoos.
Button up the flannel for a more polished look
Buttoning up the flannel helps disguise the hoodie and instead emphasizes the flannel’s shirt function. Because you’ve taken the effort to button it up, it also looks less thrown together. It’s a better way to present yourself if you’re looking for a semi-formal look. If you’re outside on a cold day, buttoning up the flannel can also help trap warmth in and stop your flannel shirt from flapping in the wind.
Explore hybrid flannel-hoodies
You can buy button-up or zip-up hoodies that have a flannel design and texture. These are often more padded than a flannel shirt on its own, giving you the warmth of a flannel and hoodie together. Such clothing items can save you from having to buy a separate flannel and hoodie and are even more effortless to put on. However, they won’t create the same layered look as a separate flannel and hoodie.
Be wary of clashing colors
Certain color combos will work better than others. For example, blue and green can work, but red and green could look jarring. As already mentioned earlier, neutral tone hoodies (gray, white, black) work well with almost any color flannel. You can also take the reverse approach of layering a neutral-colored flannel over a colorful hoodie. In other words, if you want to be safe, make sure that one layer is neutral.
Conclusion
The flannel and hoodie combo is a fantastic option for fall. It’s appropriate for many different settings and climates, and it’s easy to put together. Just make sure that you get the fit right, and that you avoid any clashing colors and textures.
