What is flannel-lined?
Flannel lining refers to the process of lining the inside of a shoe or article of clothing with a flannel cloth, for instance, a house slipper or a pair of chino pants. When a shoe or article of clothing is flannel lined, it will be able to provide that soft, warm touch of flannel you'd experience from a pair of flannel pajamas without looking so casual on the outside.
Let's picture a scenario. It's a cold winter weekday, and the first thing you do after getting out of bed is to pull on a pair of warm flannel pajama pants. The warmth and cozy comfort they provide is much appreciated on a chilly morning, and you're already dreading the aspect of having to change out of them and into the chinos you'll be wearing to work. Obviously, wearing those flannel pajama pants to work isn't an option. But in a perfect universe, you'd still somehow have their insulation and comfort while retaining a professional appearance.
But as it turns out, you're already living in a perfect universe, thanks to a little something called flannel lining.
What are the benefits of flannel-lined clothing?
The chief benefits found in a piece of flannel-lined clothing will be the warmth and comfort that cotton flannel provides. Flannel attains its unique properties due to its "nap," a term that refers to the raised yarns that give it a soft, almost fuzzy texture. But those raised yarns contribute more than just a pleasing hand-feel: they also help to capture and retain heat, making flannel an excellent natural insulator.
In short, you can think of any piece of flannel-lined clothing as a garment that comes with its very own insulation.
How to style flannel-lined clothing.
For many, the plaid patterns (and associated bright colors) traditionally identified with flannel is one of the fabric's biggest selling points. While it's not technically true that all flannel fabrics feature plaid patterns, the idea of flannel fabric is so intertwined with plaid that the two are often considered to be one and the same.
So it can be somewhat of a disappointment to anyone who loves a plaid flannel that the colors and patterns of flannel lining will not be visible from the outside. While the invisibility of the plaid pattern comes with its own advantage of a more clean and professional appearance, those that wish the flannel's color and pattern could be exposed have a point.
When to wear flannel-lined clothing
With how warm it is, it shouldn’t be a surprise that flannel-lined clothing is great for colder weather. It’s warm but breathable. So, you’ll be less likely to sweat and just be comfortable. Flannel is also super soft and cozy. So, flannel-lined clothing is best worn in the colder months of fall and winter. You might be able to get away with wearing it in the early spring when it’s still a bit chilly. However, flannel-lined items are not great for the summer unless you’re going camping or somewhere where it gets chilly.
The colors of flannel-lined clothing also lend themselves well to the fall and winter months. Typically, flannels come in darker colors which are a great look in the colder months of the year.
The best shoes for flannel-lined clothing
Since your flannel-lined clothing will mostly be worn in the colder months, you’ll probably wear them with a pair of jeans or maybe leggings. Make sure to add some comfy socks to keep your feet warm too. As far as shoes go, you’re probably going to look best with a pair of boots. Taller boots in neutral colors like black, brown, or gray work best. However, you can also pair flannel-lined items with ankle boots. If you’re not really a boots person, and pair of sneakers won’t be as warm, but they’ll look great, as well.
No matter how you style your flannel-lined clothing, the most important things are that you stay warm in colder months and that you feel confident.