Flannel Shirts Stage Fashion Comeback: From Grunge to Guardiola
In a surprising twist for 2026, the thick, checked flannel shirt is experiencing a major fashion revival. Once relegated to gardening attire or winter layering, this workwear staple is now being celebrated as a marker of laidback cool on runways, red carpets, and city streets.
Celebrity Endorsements and High-Fashion Takes
The resurgence has been propelled by high-profile figures embracing the trend. Fashion editors, stylists, and models like Adwoa Aboah and Emily Ratajkowski have been spotted sporting flannel shirts. Notably, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently turned heads with his £270 Our Legacy flannel shirt, admired for its contrast with the tight-fitting outfits typically worn by his football colleagues.
Major fashion houses are also championing the look. Brands including Marni, Chloé, and Chanel featured flannel shirt versions in their recent shows. A standout piece is the Bottega Veneta "flannel" shirt made of leather, originally from the spring/summer 2023 collection and worn by Kate Moss on the catwalk. Priced at £4,600, it appears in the new series of the Gen Z drama Euphoria, worn by Jacob Elordi's character, Nate Jacobs.
Vintage Appeal and Styling Innovations
While catwalk versions make headlines, the trend is flourishing on vintage platforms. Depop reports a 47% increase in searches for lumberjack shirts since last year. Affordable options like a £90 blue version by COS became a favourite at New York Fashion Week, styled open or tied around the waist with slip dresses.
Hitanshi Kamdar, deputy commerce editor at Grazia, notes this styling approach: "What we've really been seeing in fashion lately is this dichotomy of laidback piece paired with more polished separates. It makes you look fashion forward without really needing too much forethought."
Historical Roots and Cultural Significance
This isn't the flannel shirt's first fashion moment. Grunge culture made them hugely popular in the 1990s, but their origins trace back to 19th-century American outdoor brands like Pendleton and Woolrich, which borrowed patterns from Scottish tartan and Indian madras.
Andrew Groves, director of the menswear archive at Westminster University, explains: "What is happening now is that all those references are being collapsed together. A flannel shirt can suggest heritage, rebellion, and ordinariness at the same time."
The Importance of Fit and Authenticity
Crucial to the trend is the fit—loose and relaxed, reminiscent of Kurt Cobain's 1990s style, rather than buttoned-up preppy looks. Mahalia Chang, style editor at GQ, praises Guardiola's outfit: "I really like this look on Pep because it felt quite relaxed ... it made him look a little bit younger, a little bit cooler."
Chang sees the lumberjack shirt as part of a broader workwear trend: "It feels real, casual without being sloppy." Groves adds: "The checked shirt symbolises everyday masculinity. It may look ordinary, but it is interwoven with ideas of labour, rebellion and authenticity."
Embracing Vintage and Personal Wardrobes
For an authentic touch, fashion insiders recommend looking beyond new purchases. Chang advises: "Flannels are cool because they get better as they age and get more worn in. I think you can really tell when one's fresh off the rack."
Kamdar shares a personal example: "One of my favourite checked shirts I have is a really old Ralph Lauren piece from my father's wardrobe. I wear it to death." This emphasis on heritage and personal history underscores the shirt's enduring appeal as a versatile, timeless garment that bridges practicality and style.
