It is officially time to welcome back "Flannel-Girl Fall," and actor Dakota Johnson is leading the charge by reviving the ultimate millennial hipster aesthetic. Stepping out in a look that bridges the gap between leftover summer ease and classic autumn layering, Johnson reminded fashion enthusiasts everywhere why certain wardrobe staples never truly go out of style.
On September 13, the Materialists star was photographed leaving the men’s singles championships at the 2026 US Open, capturing the attention of street-style photographers and fashion commentators alike. True to her effortless approach to dressing, Johnson carried a cozy plaid flannel shirt casually slung over her shoulder. The relaxed styling choice offered a glimpse of a romantic white silk camisole underneath, creating a subtle contrast between rugged outerwear and delicate evening-ready inner layers.
This smart combination of contrasting textures effectively blends warm-weather staples with traditional cool-weather fixtures. However, before examining the finer details of her upper-body layering, the true focal point of the outfit rested firmly on her choice of legwear. As someone frequently dubbed "Denim Johnson" for her consistently strong relationship with great jeans, the actor utilized her trousers to elevate the entire nostalgic ensemble into something thoroughly refined and contemporary.
The outfit deftly sidestepped the trap of becoming a pure 2010s time capsule primarily due to the specific silhouette of her denim. Rather than reaching for the ultra-tight skinny jeans that defined the indie-sleaze era of a decade ago, Johnson opted for a pair of classic straight-leg Levi’s. Fashion historians of the street-wear movement will recall that Johnson spent years dutifully tucking her skinny jeans into the high shafts of her favorite ankle boots—a quintessential look of the early 2010s—before eventually transitioning toward wider cuts, boyfriend jeans, and skinny capris around 2015.
A decade after those styling shifts, Johnson’s appearance at the US Open confirmed once and for all that straight-leg denim successfully combines the best of both worlds. The streamlined silhouette of straight-leg jeans offers a clean line that neither bunches awkwardly at the boot’s shaft nor forces the wearer to leave their ankles exposed to the crisp autumn elements. While alternative cuts like bootcut denim certainly have their place in the modern wardrobe rotation, nothing quite captures the essence of a traditional northeastern fall like a slim pair of denim, flat ankle boots, and a comfortable flannel shirt.
The look serves as a gentle reminder that generations cyclical in their nostalgia eventually reclaim the trends of their youth, often refining them with the wisdom of hindsight. By swapping the skin-tight silhouettes of yesteryear for a relaxed yet polished straight-leg cut, Johnson demonstrated how a simple shift in proportions can completely modernize a nostalgic uniform. Paired with her choice of footwear—sturdy black buckle booties that add a grounded, practical finish—the ensemble is both deeply wearable and stylishly intentional.
As the autumn season settles in, Johnson’s US Open appearance provides a ready-made blueprint for transitional dressing, proving that the combination of reliable denim, subtle silk layering, and classic flannel is as relevant today as it was a decade ago.
