Has the casual wear icon, the plaid flannel shirt, left the fashion stage again? Not by a long shot. The traditional favorite is anything but dead. it could just as much be about ease of use! Flannel shirts in medium to heavy weight fabric are so versatile that they are equally good for class on Monday as they are for a date on Friday... just as pleasant under a jacket in winter as with sleeves rolled up on a summer's eve. So while there is no end in sight for the popularity of the classic plaid flannel shirt there is clearly a growing demand for a variety of cozy outerwear a touch more subdued than its criss-crossed and crazy cousin.