Guide to Corduroy in Mens Fashion

Fabric Spotlight: Corduroy

With chilly weather in full force in much of the country, it’s the time of the year when rugged fabrics start coming back into play. There is perhaps no fabric that people look forward to wearing more this time of year than corduroy. Corduroy is a thick, velvety fabric that not only helps to keep one warm, but serves as a fantastic addition to a variety of different types of outfits. While typically worn in casual situations, cords can also look great when incorporated into formal ensembles. The following are just a few essential tips for wearing corduroy, all of which can help you to breathe new life into your winter style.

The Corduroy Suit
Anyone who finds themselves in the professional working world should own at least a few suits. For those who aren’t interesting in blending in with the rest of the world, however, the corduroy suit is a fine step in the right direction towards standing out in a crowd. Tan corduroy suits practically scream style, and are ideal for wearing during the fall/winter months of the year. Perhaps the best part of wearing a corduroy suit is that you don’t typically need an overcoat; even the coldest of days are made warmer with a corduroy suit paired with the right gloves and scarf. Go with a blue-striped dress shirt and a solid navy blue tie for the ultimate in professional business dress with a twist.

The Corduroy Shirt
When you’re not spending time at the office, you can still wear corduroy while dressing down. The corduroy shirt is a very unappreciated piece in the world of men’s fashion, and can look great when worn with a pair of plaid trousers. There are a variety of benefits that come along with wearing a thicker shirt like this, and the material itself can help to take the formality out of colors like black and navy blue. For an even warmer (not to mention more attractive) take, layer your corduroy shirt over a grey turtleneck.

Corduroy Pants
The most popular way for men to wear corduroy is in the form of pants. Corduroy pants are extremely functional, and are ideal for keeping your legs warm in the winter. When paired with a simple t-shirt or a snug cardigan, you can turn a lot of heads with a nice pair of corduroys. For added versatility, you may want to purchase a few pairs of colored cords; magenta cords, for example, can look great when paired with a tan pea coat. If you have thin legs, you can get away with wearing cords that are on the tighter side. Otherwise, stick to a relaxed fit for the most attractive look. We suggest you stick to non-pleated corduroy pants – a look that is more modern and fashion forward compared to the baggier pleated pant style. Note that not some corduroy is relatively stiff while some is much more soft and velvet-like; typically a result of brand variation, and something to look out for during the shopping process.

Corduroy Ties?
Yes, they do in fact exist. Typically neckties made from corduroy come in skinny width of less than 2.5 inches. The ribbs of the corduroy fabric typically runs diagonally across the tie but some designers vary from this look by cutting the fabric to arrange the ribbs horizontally as well as vertically. Corduroy neckties are not recommended because: 1. it is a trend (if you can even call it that) that is short lived, and 2. corduroy ties do not keep their shape well. The fabric gets twisted and wrinkled easily, ruing the drape of the tie after multiple wearings.

Other Suggested Articles:
How to Wear Corduroy Pants

Your Ties-Necktie.com Team