Jan 27 2010
Flannel: A Fundamental for the Whole Family
This is my step-dad wearing his favorite flannel shirt while cooking at the mountains.
This past week I began planning for the annual trip my family takes to the mountains over President’s Day weekend every year. While it is three weeks away, I always scour my closet early to make sure I have all of the necessities to ensure the perfect, frosty getaway. As I ran through the checklist in my head—boots, snow pants, vintage ear-muffs, check check check; I realized there was something I had left at home that had to make it into my bag before I headed away from Fredericksburg towards the West Virginia border: my bright red flannel shirt. Within 5 minutes I was obsessively dialing my mother’s number.
“Mommmmm,” unfortunately, I was whining, but at the moment I was incredibly distraught.
“Whaaat?” She mimicked me.
“I-I- I-forgot-my-flannel-shirt-at-home.” My words melted together and poured from my mouth like batter from a bowl–thick but just fast enough you couldn’t distinguish them. I could hear the TV broadcasting the evening news and the conversation of silverware as my mother searched through a kitchen drawer. She attempted to decipher my blurb.
“You forgot what?” I heard a cork screw.
“RED FLANNEL!” I exclaimed, imagining her cringing as she poured her daily glass of post-work wine.
“I’m on it—I’ll put it in my bag right now for the mountains.”
“Thank youuu.” I exhaled. I love my mother.
Moments like that are when you can truly tell I am my mother’s daughter. She, as with the rest of my family, knows the importance of that nurturing piece of fabric, warm and protective against the invisible bite of winter.
Which is why I believe everyone should own a quality flannel shirt. Versatile (the perfect work shirt, hiking shirt, lounge shirt, sleep shirt), comfortable, American, and fierce; yes, everyone should own a piece of flannel.
Flannel was a hot commodity this past year in fashion, and those luscious plaid prints popped up in a variety of stores, from the traditional retailers L.L. Bean and GAP, to the unexpected such as Victoria’s Secret, H&M, and the new millennium’s version of the Limited Too, Justice. The rugged look was popularized in the late 80s and early 90s by the grunge bands that emerged from the Pacific Northwest with original tunes and a retro look. Groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam rocked the stage wearing the shirts and kicking back, giving their fans a new image for a new era. In the new millennium flannel has appealed to both the hipsters and the preps, finding its way from Goodwill aisles to the windows of Macy’s in New York. While I am sure every store offers a lovely deal, I prefer to stick to the classic fashions, where the scents of a roaring fireplace and crisp pine infuse your head the moment you simply spot the store.
L.L.Bean, GAP and Eddie Bauer all offer quality shirts in a variety of sizes and colors. Currently, L.L.Bean is selling their Men’s Scotch Plaid Flannel Shirt for $29.50. This “Bean Value” boasts “high quality Portuguese flannel” and a “roomy fit.” It is also “yarn-dyed” to prolong those rich colors year after year. But if one for Dad or brother isn’t enough, you can browse the children’s selection or even glance at GAP for a flannel shirt with a bit more flair.
Complete the outfit with a pair of jeans, khakis, leggings, or a skirt and you are good to go. Flannel is perfect for the blue-collar day on the farm, relaxing evening in, or a strut in high fashion on Rodeo Drive. It is something every American consumer should own.
