three men wearing flannel over hoodie

How To Wear A Flannel Shirt Over A Hoodie?

by Dylan Baker
Updated on

Wondering if you can wear a flannel over a hoodie? Well, that's what we are going to discuss in this article.

Flannel is a staple for every streetwear wardrobe, they are extremely stylish, and you can wear them in so many different ways and styles.

You can wear it on its own with a pair of jeans, or you can also use it for layering with other pieces like a t-shirt or jacket, but can you wear a flannel over a hoodie?

Yes, you can definitely wear a flannel over a hoodie. In fact, it can make for a great outfit if done right. To pull off this combination, you should go with a solid neutral color hoodie and flannel that complement the hoodie's color.

The fit of the hoodie and the flannel is another crucial thing to nail to pull off this outfit.

So you see, flannel and hoodie can work great together, but there are some things that you need to keep in mind to make this outfit work.

In this article, we will give some tips to pull off this outfit without any problem.

So let's get started.

Can you wear a flannel over a hoodie?

Yes, you can wear a flannel over a hoodie, and it is a great combination that is extremely stylish and works for almost everyone. 

But there are some things you should take care of as this is a combination that is quite easy to mess up.

The fit and color of the flannel and hoodie need to be spot on in order for this look to work.

You should go with a solid hoodie in some neutral color like black, white, grey, navy, etc. If you want something a bit different, then you can try out some earthy tones like olive green, maroon, or beige but definitely avoid patterns or graphics on the hoodie.

For flannel, stick to basic checks and plaids patterns, and your flannel should have two or three colors at max. Avoid flannels with too many colors in them as they won't go well with a hoodie or a sweatshirt.

And for flannels, too neutral colors would work the best. Avoid going for bright or vibrant colors and stick to the muted ones.

Now let's have a look at some tips for wearing flannel with a hoodie underneath:

Tips For Wearing A Flannel Over A Hoodie/sweatshirt

Flannel and hoodie is a stylish combination that can work really but is also quite easy to mess up.

So here are some tips that will help you pull off this look:

Size Up the Flannel

The first tip that we have for you is to size up the flannel.

Most flannel shirts that you buy today are quite well fitted, which is great if you are wearing it on its own or layering it over a t-shirt, but if you want to wear it over a hoodie, then it would look a bit weird.

It would look too tight, which would ruin the whole aesthetics of this outfit.

To fix this problem, you can size up the flannel; just go with a size larger than the one you usually wear.

So if you usually wear a size small, then go for medium and so on.

This would allow you to layer your flannel with a hoodie or a sweatshirt without it looking too tight.

Pick A Solid Hoodie

This is probably the most important tip that you should follow when going for this combination.

Always pick a solid hoodie to pair with a flannel.

Flannels already have a lot of patterns and colors on them, so you want to pair them with something that is more subtle in appearance.

If you pair a flannel with a hoodie with patterns or graphics, it will make for a strange, messy look that you don't want.

So for this look, it is highly recommended that you go with a solid hoodie and avoid any kind of patterns or graphics. 

We have talked about it multiple times, your outfit should have only one stand-out piece which is colorful or has some pattern on it, and for this outfit, it is the flannel shirt.

A simple solid hoodie will help neutralize the whole look, which would make it a lot more aesthetically pleasing.

Make Sure The Hood Is Fully Out

Another simple tip that most people ignore, but it can have a massive impact on your outfit.

Make sure that the hood of your hoodie is out of the shirt and not stuck under it.

If it is stuck under the shirt, it will look weird and create a bulge at the back, which would not look good.

And finally, the whole idea of this look is to pair a hoodie with a flannel, and if you don't show the hood, then that kind of defeats the purpose.

When the hood is fully out, it will make for a cleaner look which is what you want in an outfit where multiple pieces and layering are involved.

Avoid Flannel Shirts With Hoods

This is in continuation of the last tip, to achieve a cleaner look and avoid making your outfit look complicated and messy, you should avoid flannel shirts with hoods.

Most flannel shirts come with regular collars, but flannel shirts with hoods attached to them have started becoming popular recently.

There is a trend of "Shackets" that is taking off lately, which basically means a cross between jackets and shirts, and some of these shackets also come with hoods.

They can work well when paired with a simple t-shirt, but they dont go well with a hoodie and just makes the whole outfit messy.

So you should stick to the regular styled flannel shirts with conventional collars and avoid going for flannels with hoods on them.

Pick the right colors.

This is probably the most important tip to pull off this combination.

Colors can make or break any outfit, and picking the right colors becomes even more crucial when you are combining or layering multiple pieces together.

For the hoodie, I would suggest that you stick to neutral colors like black, white, gray, etc.; if you think that is too basic for you, then you can go with earthy tones like maroon, olive green, or beige.

Avoid colors that are too bright or vibrant as they would be a lot more difficult to pair with flannel. Instead, go with more subtle and muted shades as they are much more versatile and easy to style.

Also, avoid fabrics that have some sheen to them.

Flannels are known for their rugged look as they don't go well with shiny fabric. So pick a hoodie that has a more washed-out and rugged appearance.

And for flannels, again, you should avoid colors that are too bright as they dont work with the rugged vibe of the flannel shirts.

So you should avoid colors like bright yellow, hot pink, etc., and instead go with dull or washed-out shades. So instead of bright yellow, you can go with mustard or brown.

Most colors would work fine in flannel as long as the shade of color you pick is not too bright or vibrant. And your flannel should have only two or a maximum of three colors in it.

Matching the hoodie and flannel color shouldn't be too much of an issue if you have picked neutral colors. But you should try to create a bit of a contrast when pairing a hoodie and flannel for a more aesthetically pleasing look.

So if the color of your hoodie is too basic, like white or grey, then you can go with a more colorful flannel like red or green, but if the color of your hoodie is like maroon or green, then you should keep the color of your flannel basic like black, white, etc.

Choose the right pants.

Another important thing to keep in mind when going for this combination is to pick the right pants to pair with it.

So as we have mentioned before, this is a super casual outfit, so trousers or anything formal is out of the question.

Chinos are in a tricky spot, some of them could work in certain outfits, but they can also mess up the outfit if not done right.

The safest option would be a pair of jeans. You can go with pretty much any shade but avoid jeans with an acid wash or some crazy pattern or design.

Other than that, you can also try out cargo pants or joggers, but they won't be as easy to style as jeans.

Pick plaid or checkered flannel over solid. 

Another tip to make your outfit better is to pick plaid or checkered flannel shirts to wear over a hoodie instead of solid ones.

There's nothing wrong with solid flannel shirts, but using plaid or checkered flannel will add a bit of personality to your outfit and make it a lot more stylish.

We are anyway using a solid hoodie in this outfit, so if you pair it with a solid flannel, your outfit will look too bland, which is the last thing you want.

So stick with plaid or checkered design flannel shirts and avoid the solid ones.

Make Sure It's Appropriate

One of the most important things to know about this combination is that this is a very casual outfit and is not suitable for anything, even remotely formal or semi-formal.

It's a street style outfit, and like most streetwear looks, this one also is extremely casual, and you should only wear them to settings that don't require you to dress up.

This outfit is not appropriate for most workplaces or places that require smart casual attire so avoid wearing this combination to any such place.

This combination is perfect for a casual day out or for school or college.

Can you wear a hoodie and flannel with shorts?

You can consider wearing a hoodie and a flannel with shorts, but it is not the ideal pairing combination.

 First of all, if you are wearing a hoodie that too, layered with a flannel, then you must be in a cold climate, so it anyways doesn't make sense for you to wear shorts.

But if you still want to wear them with shorts, then you can do it but remember it's not the easiest outfit to pull.

You can wear it for a short trip to the grocery store or something, but in most other cases, a pair of jeans would be a much better and safer option.

The Bottom Line:

Flannel and hoodie work really well together, but it is not the easiest combination to pull off, but if you follow the tips given in this article, you won't face any problems.

It is a great combination, and if you are into streetwear and like to stay on the edge of fashion trends, you must give this a try.

Just make sure you pick the right colors, and the fit is on point, and you are ready to rock. 

Photo of author

About the author

Dylan Baker

Dylan is a Men's fashion and image consultant, He is also the man behind Dapperclan. He is extremely passionate about fashion and wants to help men style and look better.

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