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" The fourth and final in a series of guides on the most important fabrics of the season from the September issue. Stay tuned to The Style Blog all month for everything you need to know about fall fashion in 2010.  Two-button wool flannel suit ($895) by Z Zegna; cotton shirt ($550) by Tom Ford; silk knit tie ($120) by Ralph Lauren Purple Label; leather monk-strap shoes ($1,750) by Santoni; white-gold Calatrava watch ($38,600) by Patek Philippe. Flannel is old stuff \u2014 the name derives from the Middle English flaunneol \u2014 and it&amp;#039;s traditionally made using an ancient process in which simple woven worsted wool is repeatedly dragged through piping-hot water and across log rollers until the surface takes on a polished and felted appearance. You&amp;#039;d be hard-pressed to find a warmer cloth for the season.  The Instructions:     1. Today&amp;#039;s flannel is lighter and thinner than previous generations, and you can wear it a lot of different ways, including in double-breasted suits like this one. You can opt for solid colors or you can choose a diffused chalk stripe like the detailed shot above; the vertical lines are woven into the flannel with the soft, dusty look of tailor&amp;#039;s chalk. Double-breasted wool flannel suit ($1,950) by Ascot Chang; cotton shirt ($245) by Ermenegildo Zegna; silk tie ($135) by Ralph Lauren Black Label.      2. Gray flannel pants are a skeleton key to the fall wardrobe, and the lighter the shade of gray, the more versatile they are. Lighter grays can easily make the transition from work to weekends while darker shades are pretty serious business indeed. Wool flannel trousers, from left: by Ascot Chang ($670); by Joseph Abboud ($175); by Saks Fifth Avenue Men&amp;#039;s Collection ($298).      3. Keep the shoes simple. You could get away with wing tips or even sneakers on the weekend, but for the ultimate finishing touch, opt for a pair of polished black oxfords. Leather shoes ($1,290) by John Lobb.  The Standard-Bearer: Fox Flannel Just as Harris Tweed carries the banner for tweed purists, Fox Brothers lays claim to the one true legacy of flannel. The British company has been in the flannel business for 238 years, and today high rollers from Henry Poole and Hackett to Herm\u00E8s and Ralph Lauren use the company&amp;#039;s soft, textured flannel. Always be sure to ask for it by name. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a25687/how-to-wear-flannel-0910/>