No fabric has been more (unfairly) maligned than corduroy, but - honestly - this season your wardrobe won’t be complete without it...
WORDS BY RYAN THOMPSON
If you were child of the Eighties, it is a certainty that at some stage your mother would have cornered you brandishing a pair of unwieldy, mustard-yellow corduroy pants and wrestled you into them. Cords were the de facto trousers for trussing up young boys for “smart occasions” and we hated them. Little did we know then that our collective matriarchy was imparting upon us their unspoken fantasies of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate wearing a pale corduroy jacket. But now? Mothers of the world, we apologise. We were young, stupid and shamefully incognizant of the delights of corduroy. The recent resurrection of the ridged fabric is like a second coming to the Eighties kid, and should be a revelation to all others. With it bossing the AW17 catwalks (not least at Prada), here we handily present the very best ways to incorporate corduroy into your wardrobe...without any kicking or screaming.
The Jacket
If you’re apprehensive about the virtues of corduroy, then the jacket is your best entry point. It’s equal parts rugged and refined, and infinitely wearable in a casual weekend context. Go for trucker styles that are cut high on the hip and wear with denim and hiking boots.
Get the look: The Gigi Jacket
The Blazer
Corduroy lends itself beautifully to winter blazers thanks to its density and velvet-like finish. Think of it as a smoking jacket for the daytime - plus, it seamlessly transitions to eveningwear in darker hues, and is especially easy to style out with a shirt and chinos or jeans.
Get the look: Tagliatore Blazer
The trousers
Although they take a backseat to cotton chinos and jeans for the best part of the year, corduroy slacks really come into their own in winter, as the thicker weave provides more warmth. Smarter styles will have a narrow wale (the groove between the ridges) and hence a smoother finish but don’t fear the wider wales as they can add a nice textural element to a look. Dress your cords up with a blazer and brogues or down with knitwear and sneakers.
Get the look: Pence Trousers
The coat
Corduroy coats may be few and far between but one thing they are not is boring. If you want a textural hero piece for the winter, look no further. Off-White, Prada and Marni have all gone big and bold this season with sculptural silhouettes that are sure to turn heads.
Get the look: Marni Coat
The bomber
A rare species indeed. In fact, only two styles of this exist in the entire Farfetch ecosystem, both by Gucci. With a narrow wale, contrast trims and exquisite embroidery, corduroy creativity doesn’t get better or more exclusive than this.
Get the look: Gucci Jacket
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