Grayson Hero Flannel Review: Women Wear Capes

While button downs are classic tops that can work with many outfits, they were never created specifically to fit a woman’s body. Not until Grayson, that is. Founder Audrey McLoughlin and the Grayson team worked with 30 different women to create a button down that fits, helping women feel comfortable and empowered. With the same classic look as a traditional button down, they adapted small features that make a big difference. The Grayson Hero has strategically placed buttons to prevent a boob gap in the top, a draped cape-like back to be loose around the hips, and easy to roll up sleeves. Offered in different fabric types and prints for all occasions and environments, the Hero is a closet staple for women everywhere. I own the Hero in Grayson’s bestselling Liquid Flannel fabric, and walk through my experience wearing it below.

Grayson has reinvented the traditional flannel and created a power shirt for women called The Hero. I’m not sure if it’s because I only occasionally dress up for work while working from home, but when I put on my Grayson Liquid Flannel Hero I feel elevated and powerful, ready to take on what is thrown at me. There’s a level of ease that comes over me while wearing the Hero, and I feel comfortable completing many tasks throughout the day whether I’m working at my desk, cooking, watching Netflix, shopping, or playing with my dog without fear of damaging it or having to change into something more comfortable.

One of the things I love most about the Hero is that the buttons don’t start as far up on the shirt as most other flannels and button down shirts do. I don’t feel buttoned up and restricted in the chest, and there is no pulling across the front, making it more versatile for women of all chest sizes. Grayson’s founder Audrey McLoghlin wanted to create a flannel for women of all chest sizes after she herself had problems finding a shirt that fit right as a 34DD. Based on this cut, I think she succeeded.

Grayson’s Hero button up style comes in a few different fabrics so you have options based on what works best for you. While I own the Hero in their Lyocell material called Liquid Flannel, Grayson also sells The Hero in cotton, flannel and linen so you can wear the same elevated design in whichever fabric works best for you and your envrionment. The Liquid Flannel material is incredibly soft and luxurious to the touch, making it the best for year-round. The cotton and linen flannels would probably be best for warmer climates or the summer months, and the plush flannel would be great for colder climates and winter months. The Liquid Flannel is in between, not as heavy as a traditional flannel, but still heavy enough that you’re not shivering when it’s cold. Each fabric also comes in a few different colors and prints from a traditional flannel tartan and traditional white button to tie dye and stripes. It looks great with leggings or jeans, tucked in or loose, or with a jacket or sweater thrown over it.

The care of Grayson’s flannels is also very easy. Usually with high quality shirts there are many different steps to wash and care for your shirt to keep it fresh. It can take time and effort, which frankly I don’t always have and I get nervous that I’m going to mess it up in the wash. This is not the case for the Grayson Hero. All you have to do is turn the shirt inside out and machine wash it on delicate. Hang dry is preferred, but you can tumble dry and it will retain its shape, quality, and plushness. I brought The Hero with me when I travelled to stay with my family for 3 months, and the shirts held up when traveling. While the shirt did have some wrinkles when I took it out of the bag, the wrinkles fell quickly after hanging, and I looked polished throughout the day.

Grayson’s sizing is not exactly the same as other brands due to their focus on making a shirt that fits all women. I usually wear a size small in shirts and sometimes size up to the medium if I want my top to be less fitted. I also like my flannels and button-up tops to be a looser fit. When going through the sizing chart, I was on the edge between a 1 and 2. I ended up ordering the size 2 as I felt it would be more in the style, and found it was more loose and flowy like I wanted. I’m sure I could fit the Size 1 for a more fitted look without it being too tight. While I was a bit nervy ordering a product without knowing how it will fit due to the unconventional sizing, when I tried it on I knew that Grayson got the fit and structure of this shirt right.

Because this is a high-quality shirt, it comes at a higher price point. The Hero ranges between $138-$158 per shirt. It’s a high-quality staple to add to your clothing rotation that will last for a while. Based on the fabric, I think you can wear it throughout all the seasons, with many outfits, and in many situations. Reviews from customers on the website often said that they went back and bought a few more versions of the Hero after their first shirt had become a staple in their wardrobe. If you’re looking for a comfortable power shirt, Grayson is the one for you.