MY PERSONAL BLOG

Lisa · Columbus, OH · November 2026

I Nearly Dismissed It Because of the Plaid

I was sure a flannel shirt would make a 58-year-old look like she had borrowed her husband's work shirt. What started as a little hesitation turned into the shirt I reach for most this fall.

It was a gray Thursday morning in Columbus, Ohio. I stood in front of my closet in my robe, looking at the same three sweaters I had worn all week, and wondering why getting dressed on a cool day always felt like a choice between warm and nice.

My sweaters are either too warm indoors or too thin outside. My blouses look fine, but I am chilly by ten o'clock.

My daughter had sent me a link to the Rose-Marie flannel shirt from Laura & Rose. My first reaction was to dismiss it. Plaid flannel? At 58? I pictured my husband Tom raking leaves in his old work shirt.

Still, I was curious enough to look.

1What caught my eye

I kept coming back to the Rose-Marie on my phone. I liked the soft gray with the pink and light blue running through it, the two little flap pockets on the chest, and the way the sleeves could be rolled up once at the cuff.

The plaid was what made me hesitate. I have always thought of flannel as something for chores in the garage, not something you wear to lunch.

At 58, I wasn't sure a loose plaid shirt would look put together on me. I didn't want to look like I had given up and grabbed whatever was on the hook by the back door. But the more I looked at it, the more curious I became.

I chose the pink and decided to give it a try.

2Unboxing my Laura & Rose package

When the Rose-Marie arrived, I opened the box on the bench in our hallway. The first thing I noticed was how soft the flannel was. Brushed, not scratchy like the ones I remember.

I tried it on in front of the hallway mirror, expecting to see Tom's work shirt.

But with my jeans and a thin gold necklace, it looked soft and feminine rather than rugged. The gray keeps it calm, the pink gives it a little warmth, and the relaxed fit falls past the hips without hanging like a tent.

I was pleasantly surprised. It looked different from what I usually wore, but not in the way I had feared.

3First outing: the farmers market

That Saturday, I wore the Rose-Marie to the farmers market with my jeans and brown ankle boots. It was one of those mornings that starts cold and ends almost warm.

Early on, I wore it buttoned up and was perfectly warm. By eleven, I had opened the top buttons and rolled up the sleeves while I filled my basket with apples. No coat to carry, no sweater tied around my waist.

I also appreciated not having to think about it. One shirt, my jeans and my boots, and I felt comfortable and put together all morning.

And the plaid? Once I was wearing it, I found myself liking that detail most of all. It gives the outfit a little life without being loud.

4Lunch with Carol and Diane

A few days later, I wore the Rose-Marie to lunch with Carol and Diane at our usual café downtown.

Normally, getting ready for lunch means a blouse and a cardigan on top that I take off and put on all afternoon. This time I kept it simple: the Rose-Marie with the sleeves rolled once, my jeans and a little necklace.

Carol said the pink suited me. Diane asked where I had found the shirt, so I told her about Laura & Rose.

What I liked most was how comfortable I felt the whole afternoon. Warm enough on the walk from the car, not too warm inside by the window. I could simply enjoy the afternoon with my friends.

That was when I realized I would probably reach for it more often than I had expected.

5I decided to get all the colors

After a week in the pink, I found myself going back to look at the other colors, too.

I could picture the red for the holidays, the green with my cream turtleneck, the yellow and the orange for crisp October walks, and the dusty rose for church with my gray slacks.

I liked the idea of having a few options without having to rethink my outfit every morning. Each color has its own look, while the soft flannel and the easy fit stay the same.

What started as a purchase I wasn't completely sure about had turned into something I genuinely wear every week.

6The Anniversary Sale

When I went back to the Laura & Rose website, I noticed the Rose-Marie was included in the Anniversary Sale.

If you've been looking for something warm for cool days that still looks nice, it may be worth taking a look at the available colors and sizes while the offer is running.

I was glad I had taken a chance on something outside my usual style. Sometimes, the thing you hesitate over turns out to be the one you wear most often.

My cool-weather clothes next to the Rose-Marie

I have worn it four times in two weeks, which is more than most things in my closet manage. Does plaid flannel suit every 58-year-old? I have no idea. I only know what I saw in the hallway mirror, and what my friends said, which was that the pink suited me.

How long do I have?

I paid $59.95 for mine. The page shows $299.95 as the earlier price. It is called the Anniversary Sale. I cannot tell you how long it will run, but I would grab your chance.

$299.95$59.95

Anniversary Sale

• Soft plaid flannel shirt
• Brushed flannel, warm and cozy on cooler days
• Relaxed, roomy fit with two flap chest pockets
• Sizes S to 3XL
• $59.95 now, $299.95 earlier price
• Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee

SEE IF YOUR SIZE IS STILL IN STOCK →

Colors: Pink, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green and Dusty Rose. The Anniversary Sale price runs while sizes last.

I'm still the same woman who stood in front of her closet that Thursday morning, wondering how to stay warm without looking bundled up.

The difference is that I've found something that does both, and getting dressed on a cool day has become a little easier.

Lisa

This is a personal blog post by Lisa Miller, a Laura & Rose customer. · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.