Are you looking for a new way to style your flannel shirt? Maybe you have seen people wear their flannel shirts over hoodies and want to try it too?
Or are you curious and want to know more? Whatever the reason might be that brought you here, we have the answer for you!

Wearing a flannel shirt over a hoodie is a style we have seen for years. It can seem super simple to do, but there are so many ways that this look can leave you looking disheveled, bulky, or just a little unstylish, and no one wants that!
But finding advice on the best way to style a flannel shirt over a hoodie can be challenging. You can quickly find yourself struggling to wade through the advice, unsure where to turn or who to trust.
Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers that you need! Just keep reading to see our 7 top tips for wearing a flannel shirt over a hoodie.
No matter your style, we can help you achieve your goals! We have a tip to suit everyone, so don’t delay! Grab your hoodie and flannel shirt now.
7 Tips For Wearing A Flannel Shirt Over A Hoodie
Let’s get straight into today’s article! Below we have 7 tips for wearing a flannel shirt over a hoodie. Keep reading to find a tip that works for you today.
Check It’s Appropriate
The first thing you will want to do is check that the flannel shirt is appropriate. For those that don’t know, flannel refers to shirts made with flannel fabric.
Usually, these shirts have a tartan or plaid pattern on them (think lumberjack vibes). Typically, layering a flannel shirt over a hoodie only works in casual settings or cold weather where you need to layer your clothes.
So where is it appropriate for? We would say when you are eating at cheaper restaurants, hanging out with your friends, or going to the movies.
This isn’t the outfit for formal dinners or engagements, or even smart-casual events. Keep your flannel shirt and hoodie combo to casual settings only!
Once you have established that the dress code is formal and you have decided to wear a flannel shirt over a hoodie, you can take a look at our next tips to help you style the outfit!
Size Up The Flannel
If you wear your usual size flannel shirt over a thick or bulky hoodie, you are going to find the shirt is a tight fit and leaves you feeling a little too snug.
No one wants to look like they are bursting out of their shirt! So, size up your flannel shirt. This will give you more room between your arms and the sleeves for a hoodie, and you shouldn’t look like the Hulk about to break free.
For really thick hoodies, you might want to jump up two sizes, to give an oversized effect or allow plenty of room for the hoodie. We recommend some caution here, as you don’t want to look like a kid in your Dad’s shirt.
The best way to avoid this is to take your hoodie with you when you are trying on shirts.
Try the shirts over your thickest hoodie to see how they will look. If you have enough room to move comfortably without the shirt looking too big, you are good to go.
However, if it seems a little baggy, too long, or the fit doesn’t look right, then we suggest dropping down a size. Often, you can just move up a shirt size and have no problems getting the flannel shirt over the hoodie!
Don’t Be Afraid Of Going Bold
Flannel shirts often come in bright and bold colors. So why not opt for one of these shirts and pop it over your hoodie? Typically, flannel shirts will feature the main color with criss-cross stripes in contrasting colors over the shirt.
Usually, one or two contrasting colors are used. These flannel shirts are eye-catching, so why not embrace that when pairing them with your hoodie?
While we suggest that you make your flannel shirt bold and eye-catching, you will want to take the opposite approach with your hoodie. Go for a neutral color to prevent the chance of it clashing with the colors in your flannel.
But what do we mean by neutral? Well, any navy blue, olive green, gray, beige, black, or off-white hoodie would be considered a neutral color.
You will want to choose a hoodie that contrasts and compliments the colors in your flannel. We know this can sound tricky, but you can easily find hoodies in these neutral colors!
We recommend purchasing a few hoodies in different neutral colors as this gives you plenty of choices when it comes to pairing your flannel shirt with a hoodie.
To help you know what colors you can pair with each other, we have a brief list for you below! Check it out now if you aren’t sure what color hoodie you should pair with your shirt!
- Blue Flannel – works best with a gray hoodie for a good contrast
- Black Flannel – would suit a white hoodie being worn underneath it
- Red and Black Flannel – looks fantastic with a black or hoodie underneath it
- Red and White Flannel – looks good with a light gray hoodie underneath it
Keep Your Hoodie Plain
We’ve talked about avoiding clashing colors, but you also want to keep your hoodie free of any pattern. The last thing you want is to clash patterns as it can look too busy and take the focus away from your flannel shirt!
Go for a plain hoodie that doesn’t have a pattern. We would recommend avoiding any branding or graphics on a hoodie too, as it can be visually overwhelming and take attention away from the flannel shirt.
A few words or a short slogan won’t be much of an issue, but the more you have on the hoodie, the more likely it is that it will overwhelm the pattern on the pattern!

Leave The Hood Out
Once you have the flannel on, you need to make sure that the hood is out. You don’t want a hood tucked in or only half of it on show. If you do, it will look a little awkward! You want your hoodie and flannel combination to look intentional, rather than a mismatched mess!
So before you go out, make sure that the hood is fully out of the back of the flannel shirt. Doing so ensures that the look is intentional and everyone is going to know that you are the layering king!
Avoid Shirts With Hoods
The last thing you want is to have to deal with two hoods! These days some overshirts with thick linings will have hoods.
While it is good as a single layer, you don’t want these shirts with hoods when you are layering! Instead, don’t wear a hoodie under flannel shirts with hoods.
The last thing you want is to have too many hoods getting tangled or caught around your neck! The hoods can clash with each other and make your outfit look bulky, especially on the back!
Two hoods can also make your silhouette look unnatural. To avoid this, wear a regular flannel shirt over a hoodie.
Pair Your Shirt With Jeans And Sweatpants
To finish your outfit, you can pair your flannel shirt and hoodie with jeans or sweatpants.
Both of these are fantastic options and will complete your casual look. Sweatpants will give you a super casual look, which is perfect for situations like going to the movies to see your friends.
But if you want something a little more dressed up, then opt for some jeans. These will keep the look casual, but smarter than using sweatpants.
You can use virtually any style of jeans or colors to pair with the hoodie and flannel! We think tapered dark jeans always look great, although you could also wear stonewashed, distressed, or light jeans with the look.
Another good option here is to wear cuffed sweatpants or jeans. These will ensure that your pants don’t trail along the floor and get dirty, and also allows you to showcase your sneakers!
Shoe-wise, we think sneakers are the best to wear with this outfit. Boots or other shoes will look out of place with the casual look, so be sure to stick to sneakers to keep the look cohesive.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, seven fantastic tips that will help you wear a flannel shirt over a hoodie! These methods are tried and tested to deliver a stylish look that you can wear for years to come!
Just be sure to use a hoodie and flannel shirt that fit you properly and to opt for colors that work well together to create an outfit that works perfectly for you.
Don’t forget that you should be comfortable in your clothes, you don’t have to follow our tips if you don’t want to! Just be sure you are expressing yourself and your style in a way that feels right for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you leave us today, check out our FAQ section below!
Can I Wear A Flannel Over A Zip Up Hoodie?
You can wear a flannel over a zip-up hoodie if you want to, but we think it looks better with a pullover hoodie! We think this is because an open-fronted buttoned flannel works better with a zipless hoodie, rather than a bulky zip running down the center.
Now, there are plenty of people that wear a flannel with a zip-up hoodie, we just don’t think it’s the best option. But you don’t need to take our word for it, why not try one on and see how it looks?
Just make sure that you purchase the right size and that the color of the hoodie and the flannel match too.
Can I wear A Short Sleeve Flannel Over A Hoodie?
We think it’s better to wear short sleeve flannels over t-shirts or vests rather than a long-sleeved hoodie. This is because it’s no longer fashionable to have long sleeve tops worn under short sleeve tops (unless you count Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory).
You could get away with it if the flannel is oversized, but we do think it’s better to keep your short sleeve flannels for the summer, as they don’t look the best with a long-sleeved hoodie.
What Do I Wear With My Shirt And Hoodie?
You should wear jeans or sweatpants with your flannel shirt and hoodie and sneakers on your feet to maintain the casual look.
- MANSCAPED® The Tool Box 4.0: Complete Review - January 10, 2023
- What To Wear In Cancun – Men’s Outfits For Cancun & Packing List - December 30, 2022
- Best Dress Pants For Cowboy Boots (How To Choose) - December 30, 2022