Flag & Anthem Review: Ruggedly Refined

I’m standing at a crossroads, gentlemen.

Menswear has veered hard toward sleek, stretchy, athleisure-like garments built for air-conditioned offices and cushy commutes. And a few of these garments I really like.

But what ever happened to a good flannel you can toss on to work outside or show up to dinner in? Or the timeless combination of a henley and a pair of jeans?  

Some menswear staples won’t ever be replaced by trends and it seems Flag & Anthem is leaning into those. 

What Is Flag & Anthem?

Founded in 2016, Flag & Anthem is a casual menswear brand producing everyday apparel with a vintage-inspired, western edge. The brand’s focus is on producing daily wear that’s as affordable as it is versatile.

Having partnered up with big-name athletes and country stars like Christian McCaffrey and Dierks Bentley, the brand is slowly edging their way onto the mainstream radar.

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Things to Consider Before Buying Menswear Staples from Flag & Anthem

Flag & Anthem bridges the gap between outdoor ranch-style workwear and casual urban wear. It’s designed for everyday activities, but offers a vintage-inspired appeal. 

If you’re looking for chic, minimal garments, you’re in the wrong place. But if an assortment of flannels, jeans, and boots at consistent and affordable prices are your jam, this brand is for you.

They offer classic menswear and great layering pieces to wear on top of flannels and jeans in colder weather.

Flag & Anthem Review

Flannels & Button Downs

In fall and winter months, I used to lean heavily on flannel or fitted wool shirts. This season, I couldn’t find a single one laying around. So I restocked. 

I’m an athletic large and each of Flag & Anthem’s large shirts fit me like a glove. With a sizable collection of shirts in tons and tons of patterns, I’d reckon every guy will find a few he likes in here.

I prefer flannels made of 100% soft cotton and these were exactly that. The Linden Herringbone flannel shirt was my favorite of the lot; a versatile grey pattern that pairs with almost every color of pants and gives you a cozy, subdued look.

These flannels and button downs fall to medium length—right below the belt buckle—so you can choose to wear it tucked or untucked. I always wear my flannels untucked as they’re less formal than a dress shirt.

Flag & Anthem’s flannels are designed to have a “tailored athletic fit” and I’d agree with that description. Nothing is worse than a heavy, baggy flannel that has no shot of accentuating your arms or shoulders.

I also tried out the Madeflex Plaid Hero Knit Flannel which is part of Flag & Anthem’s performance-driven line. The added stretch—delivered by a blend of polyester, viscose, and spandex—made the shirt easier to move in, but I didn’t like it as much as their classic flannels.

I’d prefer to throw on a performance-oriented shirt for a high-movement activity like outdoor work or travel. I’m usually reaching for a flannel because it’s soft, thick, warm, and durable, not stretchy or performance-oriented. But if you’re a guy who hunts or works outdoors, a flannel with added stretch might be the item you never knew you were missing.

I wear mostly solid, neutral colors and tend to be pretty damn picky about what types of patterns I’ll wear. But, I found myself liking quite a few of Flag & Anthem’s simpler patterns like the Fisher Flannel, Peters Flannel, Mercer Flannel, and Herald Vintage Washed Corduroy Shirt. 

Other patterns felt a little too loud, colorful, and lumber-jack-y for me, but if you’re even thinking about adding some color and texture to your closet, this catalog has something for you. 

Since flannels are composed of thicker cotton than a standard shirt, the material on the button loops is harder to press the buttons through. The top button popped loose on one of my flannels and I had to get it stitched back down with new thread. But, since I got it stitched, none of the other buttons have been an issue.

For the thicker, warmer shirts in Flag & Anthem’s catalogue, I’d like to see them put firmer, more durable buttons on to avoid having buttons loosen or pop off. 

All of Flag & Anthem’s flannels and button downs feature a soft-cotton feel, medium weight, and an athletic fit. These are classic, versatile men’s shirts you could wear onto a ranch, into a bar, and anywhere in between.

Henleys & Long Sleeves

Why do I have such a fondness for henleys? I’ll tell you why.

With three buttons on a flat collar, henleys are the perfect “elevated casual” item. 

Toss one on and you’ll look better than the guy in the t-shirt and less stuffy than the dope who showed up still wearing the day’s workwear.

I tried two of Flag & Anthem henleys and liked both of them for much different reasons. The Birmingham Slub Henley henley is a classic henley with a three-button flat collar and a slightly heathered look. It’s a lightweight shirt which is great for warmer days when you still want to wear something tasteful.

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While you could wear this on its own with a pair of jeans or chinos, it’s really the perfect layering item to wear as the base. This looks super sharp beneath an open flannel, jacket, or vest.

The cut of this henley is where Flag & Anthem nailed it. This has a “tailored athletic fit” like nearly all of their shirts.

A good way to tell if a shirt is wide enough for you is to see where the seam on the shoulder falls. If it falls down onto your arm, it’s too big. If it’s stretched tight between your neck and shoulder, it’s too small. 

The seam on this henley lines up perfectly at my shoulder, allowing the sleeves to fall to the ideal length at the ends of my wrists. 

If I put my hands in the air, no one gets a flash of my stomach which confirms that the length is on the money, too. 

Much the opposite of the Birmingham Slub, the Elko Brushed Thermal Henley is a thicker, cozier layer for those colder months.

This shirt is noticeably soft and comfortable on your skin, feeling more like a pajama top than a henley. It makes a great lounge-around shirt for the holidays or something to bundle up with.

I found that Flag & Anthem’s long-sleeve shirts fit well across the board and are priced competitively, especially if you can get one at a discount.

Denim

Flag & Anthem offers five different styles of denim: straight, slim, athletic, relaxed, and bootcut.

I tried out two pairs of Flag & Anthem’s jeans. The Everetts Jean in Oakland Slim is a handsome medium-washed denim with traditional 5-pocket styling. While these jeans are made of 98% cotton, they’ve got a 2% touch of spandex which gives them a subtle but helpful stretch.

Similar to other good quality jeans, the material is comfortable but durable. The cut says it’s “slim through the thigh with a tapered leg” but these looked more like regular or straight cut jeans than slim.

These fit well around the waist and thighs, but they didn’t taper enough from the knee to the ankle to be considered a true slim jean for me. 

Some guys prefer extra space around the ankles. If you’ll be wearing these with boots, they will fit great, offering a fitted look at the waist and thighs, with more space at the bottom. And you’re looking for jeans that are slimmer than a traditional relaxed or straight fit, but not too skinny or constrictive, these would be a great option to try out.

But, if you’re used to traditional slim jeans you can wear with smaller shoes like sneakers or slip-ons, I’d go for something else. 

The Erie Jean in Oakland Slim had nearly the same cut as the Everetts Jean but with a lighter, more laid-back wash. Again, if you’ll be wearing these with chunkier shoes like boots or prefer a little more room around the ankles, these will serve you great, but I wouldn’t call them traditional slim jeans.

Outerwear

From lightweight shirt jackets and zip-up hoodies to puffer vests and lined jackets, Flag & Anthem is amassing a broad selection of outerwear.

My favorite was the Alloway Quilted Shirt Jacket, a versatile, medium-weight jacket built for all types of casual occasions.

This is another layering piece you could place between a t-shirt and a heavier jacket, or on top of a flannel or button-down. 

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Made from 100% cotton with a buttery-soft touch, this jacket feels super cozy and comfortable against your skin. I’m a fan of the snap buttons which make it easy to button up or down depending on what type of weather you’re in.

My only small callout is that this shirt jacket hung on the longer side. At 6 foot, 190lbs, I’m not a small guy, and the large draped pretty far down over my pants. 

Like henleys, shirt jackets elevate your style just enough to make someone think “this guy’s put a little thought into what he’s wearing” while still remaining casual and unpretentious. Any item that’ll do that is getting loads of use in my closet.

The Springhill Sherpa-Lined Jacket was the heaviest of the outwear pieces I tested out. This is more of a military-style cargo jacket with a big, burly body and four massive pockets on the front offering all kinds of storage options.

The body is made of thick cotton and the lining is made of polyester fleece that’s snug, insulating, and more than capable of keeping the cold out. The pockets are big and noticeable so unless you plan to cram them full of camping, hunting, or tactical gear, this wouldn’t be the jacket I’d take out for a date or a walk around town.

This jacket fit me big on me, especially around the torso. I could easily wear a t-shirt and a flannel under this bad boy and still have some room. So if you’re eyeing this to wear by itself, I’d go one size down.

Boots

I laced up the Edgemont Boot to kick around on some back trails and explore an industrial part of downtown. 

These were designed to be hybrid-use boots made to “combine innovative comfort with rustic style.”

I agree that these hold up for multi-use days. The stacked rubber sole gave me grip and clearance over dirt, but the faux leather and wool upper looked stylish with jeans on city streets.

These lace up to your mid shin, but also offer a side zipper for easy access. I wouldn’t lace them up for outdoor work, though. They aren’t steel-toed and err on the side of being more stylish than functional. If boots are part of your daily style in or outside of work, these are a great addition for date night, socializing with friends, or casual weekend activities.

What Do Other Reviewers Think About Flag & Anthem?

At the time of this review, Flag & Anthem has only been around for 6 years, a short stint in the realm of menswear. 

Because of this, they haven’t amassed thousands—or even hundreds—of reviews on most items just yet. But the reviews they have rounded up are notably positive.

As a whole, guys praise Flag & Anthem for making simple, casual apparel that they can easily layer and wear year round in varying climates and conditions.

Like me, a lot of guys noted how the flannels felt softer and fit better than the ones they were used to from other brands. This tells me the tailored athletic fit makes a big difference and works for guys with different body shapes.

My Overall Thoughts on Flag & Anthem

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