How Many Collars Should Be Showing

STYLING

Two collars, one folded over the other: the version most people mean when they picture a flannel and an overshirt together.

A flannel and an overshirt both come with a collar, and the way they are worn together comes down to one question: how many of those collars can be seen from the front. One, two, or none. Each answer is a different outfit, and each has a right way to set it.

One Collar: the Flannel on Its Own

Over a plain tee, the flannel is the whole top half. Leave the top button open and the second one closed so the collar sits flat against the chest instead of flaring. Sleeves can roll twice to the forearm or stay down; both work, but a half roll that stops at the elbow looks unfinished.

Tucked or untucked follows the hem. A flannel cut to sit just past the waistband stays out. One that drops below the back pocket of your jeans goes in.

Two Collars: the Flannel Under the Overshirt

This is the version most people picture. The flannel collar folds out over the overshirt collar, so both show, the flannel on top. For it to work, the flannel collar has to be the smaller of the two and the overshirt has to be worn open or buttoned no higher than the chest.

Check it in a mirror from the side. If the flannel collar is riding up the back of your neck, the overshirt is pushing it; open one more button. Keep the patterns to one: a plaid flannel under a solid overshirt, or a solid flannel under a textured one, never two plaids.

One Collar Again: the Overshirt Over a Crewneck

Swap the flannel for a tee or a crewneck sweater and the overshirt collar is the only one showing. Now it can be buttoned higher, to the second button or even the top, because there is nothing underneath to crowd it. This is the cleanest way to wear an overshirt and the one that looks most like a jacket.

The pockets carry the look here. With nothing under the overshirt, keys in one flap pocket and a card wallet in the other give the front some shape, and the flaps stay closed.

No Collars: Both Under a Coat

On a cold enough day a coat goes over everything. Fold both collars inside the coat collar rather than letting them fight it. The flannel does the warmth, the overshirt does the structure, and the coat does the weather. Taking the coat off indoors brings you back to two collars without any adjustment.

Setting the Collar Once

Whichever count you land on, set the collars when you get dressed and then stop touching them. A collar that is reset every twenty minutes never sits right. Button to the point that holds the shape, fold the flannel collar out with both hands at once, and walk away from the mirror.

What each layer is cut for, and how roomy the overshirt runs through the chest, is described on our About Us page.

Thank you for shopping with us, and for leaving the house with your hands free.