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A Versatile Fall & Winter Favorite
Another week, another terrific new addition to the He Spoke Style Shop to introduce you to. Today, I’m pleased to highlight one of my absolute favorite pieces in our fall/winter collection—our brown Glen plaid flannel sport coat. Classic pattern, seasonal color, exceptionally versatile, and deserving of a place in every well-dressed man’s wardrobe.
By way of introduction, I’ll be giving you a quick history lesson on the Glen plaid (a.k.a Prince of Wales check) pattern, talking about a few benefits of a brown Glen plaid flannel sport coat, how I chose to style this garment, and showing you one way to wear it.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Glen Plaid?
Glen plaid, also known as Prince of Wales check, is a classic pattern and is particularly popular in men’s clothing. It is characterized by a woven pattern of small and large checks that intersect to create a grid-like design. The pattern typically consists of alternating bands of twill and plain weave, resulting in a distinctive and timeless look.
Originally associated with the Scottish Highlands, Glen plaid gained popularity in the 19th century and has since become a staple in traditional menswear. It is commonly used in suits, sport coats, and trousers, adding a touch of sophistication and elegance to any ensemble.
The name “Prince of Wales check” is owed to the pattern’s association with Edward VIII, who later became the Duke of Windsor. He popularized the pattern during his time as the Prince of Wales, further solidifying its status in the canon of classic menswear patterns.
Today, Glen plaid remains a popular choice for both formal and casual attire, though as we’ll see, it really shines in more casually tailored situations. Its versatility and timeless appeal make it a go-to pattern for those seeking a polished and refined look, which is why we consider a brown Glen plaid flannel sport coat an essential for every man’s fall and winter wardrobe.
Benefits Of A Brown Glen Plaid Flannel Sport Coat
Those who know me or who have been readers for any length of time, know that brown in any shade is one of my favorite colors, particularly when it comes to sport coats. And when you add in that classic Prince of Wales check, well, now we’re really talking! But beyond my personal preferences, there are a variety of reasons why I believe a sport coat like this deserves a permanent place in every man’s fall and winter wardrobe. Here are three of them.
Less Formal, More Versatile
In the realm of sport coats, any time you throw a pattern into the mix, you immediately decrease the garment’s formality to a level below that of its solid color counterparts. This is incredibly beneficial as it vastly increases the sport coat’s versatility. The brown color helps with this as well.
Brown is much less formal than navy blue or gray, which again, allows you much more latitude in when and where you can wear it. But despite being less formal, brown is equally as easy to pair with other colors from the classic menswear palette. In fact, I often refer to it as an “alternate” navy blue for that reason.
Works With Jeans
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of a brown Glen plaid flannel sport coat is that it pairs effortlessly with jeans. Flannel is a great fabric to partner with denim due to its weight and texture and is one of the best fabrics—tweed, notwithstanding—to choose when opting for that pairing. It’s a great way to look smart, yet relaxed.
Tie Optional
Although you can certainly wear a tie with our brown Glen plaid flannel sport coat—see: this post—it’s a wonderful option for the guy who finds his style more squarely in the “sharp casual” zone. The Glen plaid pattern makes a nice substitute for a tie, adding a great deal of depth and visual interest to any outfit.
The Fabric
For this sport coat, we’ve chose a lovely flannel from Fratelli Tallia di Delfino. If you’re not familiar with the mill, here’s a little bit about them.
Fratelli Tallia di Delfino is an esteemed Italian fabric manufacturer known for its exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to quality. With a rich heritage dating back to 1903, Fratelli Tallia di Delfino is renowned for producing luxurious fabrics using traditional techniques combined with innovative technology that epitomize Italian elegance and sophistication.
This particular fabric is wonderfully soft with nice hand. Yet despite its softness, it still possesses a good bit of structure. This jacket is designed to be worn throughout the fall and winter, but the fabric’s weight also makes this sport coat an excellent standalone transitional piece of outerwear as well.
Styling
I’ve chosen to style this sport coat very much in keeping with its in-between formality stature while also making choices intended to maximize its versatility—two-button, notch lapel, double vent, patch pockets. For my money, there is no better pocket style for a sport coat like this than patch pockets. It just looks right.
I’ll have some more outfit inspiration for you later in the week, but let’s take a look at how I styled here.
I’m wearing it with our light blue micro-stripe OCBD paired with charcoal gray flannel trousers. It’s a classic combination that illustrates just how well brown works with blue and gray. I decided to take a monochromatic approach with the jacket and tie combination with our chocolate brown grenadine tie. And anchoring this look are a pair of penny loafers, playing into the casualness of the flannel fabric and the prep of the shirt collar.
Finally, let’s talk about the pocket square, or lack thereof. While I will typically eschew a pocket square for sport coat outfits sans tie, I decided to forgo it here as well due to the busyness of the Glen plaid pattern.
The Bottom Line
With its classic pattern, seasonal color, and inherently versatile nature, our brown Glen plaid flannel sport coat deserves a place in any well-curated fall and winter wardrobe. It’s the perfect garment to consider adding to your closet if you’re looking to expand your options beyond some of the more formal solid color sport coats you may already have and particularly if you are someone who likes to wear your sport coats with jeans.
Thanks, as always, for reading.