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Those colorful falling leaves and that crisp snap in the air mark the arrival of our favorite time of year: Flannel Shirt Season.

During the hot months, we all go around dressed as though we're on our way to physical education class. But in autumn, the flannel shirt replaces (or layers over) the ubiquitous T-shirt, briefly turning the whole nation into lumberjacks.

During the seasonal window between cutoffs and heavy coats, the fluffy flannel shirt is the ideal garment.

Unless you live where it's really cold or work outdoors, a flannel shirt is all you need on most days (although pants are a good idea, too). When you go outside, you're usually only exposed to the elements for those few minutes between indoors and in-the-car and indoors again. Why bother with a jacket?

When it gets colder, a flannel shirt is perfect for layering, especially if you like the "grunge" look or own a skateboard.

Unless it's a formal occasion, you never really have to tuck in a flannel shirt. This is important to those of us who are equatorially challenged.

Most flannel shirts have two pockets, often with flaps, giving the wearer room to carry around a lot of unnecessary stuff.

Lumberjacks are cool. Ditto Eddie Vedder.

Wearing flannel shirts indoors means you can keep the climate-control settings a little lower, and save on your utility bills. For further information, see "Domestic Harmony and the Treaty of Thermostat," Lawrence Hongenecker, 1989.

Flannel shirts last a long, long time and always look pretty decent, right up to the point where your elbows poke through the worn fabric. And for another two years beyond that, if you wear the sleeves rolled up. You can cut off the sleeves altogether, but only if you're willing to be mistaken for Larry the Cable Guy.

How do you know when a flannel shirt is too worn to go out in public? When passers-by keep trying to give you nickels. Time for that shirt to take on a new life as a "rag."

Flannel shirts were embraced early on by those of us who work at home. We don't have to worry about a dress code, and so we gravitate toward the most comfortable clothing. We recognized that there's a reason they make pajamas out of soft flannel.

Flannel shirts are legal pajamas. You can answer the door, run to the store, be seen by your children's teachers, all while wearing your jammies. If people notice you're rumpled, they'll give you the benefit of the doubt. They'll say to themselves: Maybe he's a lumberjack.

The danger, of course, is when you start wearing the same shirt around the clock. If you're already in your comfy pajama shirt, there's really no reason to change for bed. Then you get up the next morning and, what do you know, you're dressed already. This can go on for days. Pretty soon, you're giving a whole new meaning to "grunge."

Pair your favorite flannel shirt with sweat pants, and you never have to change again. Every day's a round-the-clock pajama party.

Caution: You can wear that get-up out of the house only if you use drive-through windows. If you see anybody you know, wave and zoom away. But don't get out of the car. Nobody looks good in sweat pants. Trust me.

Maybe some flannel trousers, though. Loose, comfortable. Something in a nice plaid to match your lumberjack shirt. Wait, that's pajamas again.

Note to self: Idea for a successful business - Drive-Through Pajamas. Seasonal sales on flannel shirts. Hmm. Sleep on it.