It’s the time of year again when you start seeing browns and oranges, deep reds and purples, faded greens, and bright yellows. And I’m not talking about foliage, I’m talking about flannel.
First popularized as a statement of anti-fashion in the ’90s, the trend is enduring; it is an excellent blend of function and fashion. Originally worn as the grunge uniform, a proclamation of white semi-poverty, and ultimate dissatisfaction with modern life, the flannel has branched out to become a staple of fall fashion.
Flannel is a fabric people, not a pattern. It’s about the feel. Nowadays, flannel can be made out of a variety of materials, but not every plaid pattern has the flannel feel. You can’t rock any old plaid button-up at the Temple of the Dog reunion concert. If it doesn’t have that nap feel, it’s not a flannel.
Maybe you’re wearing it to express your angst, your dissatisfaction, or your “otherness,” but you can’t deny that wearing a flannel is like being hugged by your mother. Outwardly, you might be angsty and rebellious, but inside you’re cuddly and warm. An over-sized flannel is like a cup of hot cocoa; its warmth envelopes you and encourages you to curl your feet underneath you and stare thoughtfully through a window. Perhaps a paperback book lies open on your lap and a cup of warm tea is steaming on the end table beside you.
Flannels turn a laundry-day get-up into a high-fashion outfit. Were you fooled by the New England climate? Is it warmer than you thought it would be? That’s okay, just tie that flannel around your waist and keep rocking the cuteness. We should all take advantage of the warmth and beauty of flannels before the hipsters reclaim them in the spring.