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On My Radar- Corduroy

Fall heralds the return of corduroy, and I’m seeing a lot of it in the newest collections. It’s got such a great fall vibe and feels just right for so many occasions. The funny thing is, I have no corduroy in my wardrobe. I’m pretty sure I rocked corduroy gaucho pants with my Frye boots back in the day, but I haven’t embraced it since.

L L BEANS BESTSELLING CORDUROY SHIRT IN 12 COLORS IN REGULAR, TALL, PETITE, AND PLUS

I love the look on other people, but something about it feels too sporty or preppy for my style, which is weird because I love denim everything.

The wider the wale (or rib), the sportier the look. Pinwale has the narrowest ribs and can be as soft and pliable as velvet, so I am looking at it more closely for fall. Iā€™m also on the hunt for some in non-traditional shapes.

THESE MAEVE WIDE-LEG PANTS HAVE A GREAT HIGH RISE. THEY COME IN STANDARD, TALL, PETITE, AND PLUS IN 6 RICH COLORS.

These Maeve pants certainly have a modern vibe and the front welt pockets are a nice touch.

I LOVE THAT THIS DUSTER HAS SPANDEX IN THE WEAVE. IT COMES IN COPPER OR THIS IVORY IN A FULL RANGE 0F SIZES.

Thereā€™s no end to the corduroy blazer options each fall. Dusters feel current to me and are a nice alternative to a classic blazer.

THIS FLORAL PRINT ADDS A FEMININE VIBE TO THIS PINWALE CORDUROY SHIRT

Printed corduroy items seem few and far between. The wale gives so much texture, Iā€™m not sure how many people like to add pattern to its mix.

Skirts and dresses seem less common in corduroy but are certainly available.

When I google ā€œmodern corduroyā€ Ā the results arenā€™t plentiful which makes me realize itā€™s a very traditional fabric thatā€™s usually Ā made in classic shapes. The ā€œtraditionalā€ factory may have a lot to do with why I donā€™t own any. Itā€™s simply not part of my 3-word style recipe.

Is corduroy in your style wheelhouse?

Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.

 

64 Comments

  1. I don’t have corduroy in my closet either. It looks good when it’s brand new; but after that first laundering (I’m reluctant to dry clean it), even my high-dollar Rowenta iron can’t get the seams as smooth & flat as they were when it came from the manufacturer. I don’t wear puckers & wrinkles. Also, the nap makes it bulky. I’ve had a few pieces over the years, but I usually look for other fabrics.

  2. I love corduroy, especially uncut (no-wale) or very narrow wale varieties. I have a couple of pairs of corduroy pants in my winter wardrobe. They’re so cozy, comfortable and warm in our Canadian winters and are a nice alternative to jeans.

  3. I have good memories of a pair of uncut corduroy jeans in my 20s… nice and warm. They probably did add bulk, but that was pre-children/when I wasn’t pear-shaped. Now I have an extrafine pinwale corduroy button down shirt from JJill in a beautiful shade of peacock blue with a coordinating plaid scarf in blues and purples… looking forward to getting them out of the closet when it’s cooler.

    1. They sound gorgeous!

  4. Omigosh, I wore a corduroy pantsuit when I got married 45 years ago. LOL! I remember feeling so modern! šŸ˜Š. That aside, I do have 2 pairs of Talbots pinwale corduroy pantsā€”I only wear them at home in the winter. They are super cozyā€”not much of a fashion statement, but I love ā€˜em anyway.

    1. Thatā€™s so cool!!
      Cozy is important for me in the nasty weather.

  5. Full disclosure about me: I’m 64, a high school math teacher after being a computer scientist, and I started working part time at a brand new LL Bean retail store a block away from my home. I do it because I’m divorced, and really enjoy conversing with customers my age as well as the incredibly upbeat and young staff. Oh, and I live in Vermont – land of flannel and maple syrup! I’ve been a customer of Bean’s for decades. Regarding corduroy: I’ve seen women of all ages and sizes wear the cord shirt shown from my mom (age 87) to my daughter and niece-in-law in their 20’s. These cord tops are SO soft, and SO forgiving shape-wise. Lots of pockets. I’m actually waiting to get my first one in the exact berry color shown! And my mom has bought three of them! Also, their flannel is marvelous – great quality. You can imagine that I don’t really keep my paycheck. While flannel and corduroy don’t work for everyone, they’re comfy and fun for those of us who’ve shed our gray flannel suits of the 1980s, and enjoy the rustic cozy feeling of the north. Love them with jeans and jean shorts and Ecco sneakers, shearling (or not) Birkenstocks, Blundstones, and any other bootie. I love our diversity here!

    1. I love our diversity here too. I think your job sounds fabulous. Iā€™d certainly enjoy it.

  6. Surely Iā€™m not the only woman who cringed when my corduroyed thighs rubbed together walking in a quiet room!! Not for me thank you, thin or thick wale šŸ¤£

    1. You are not alone. I remember the sound well.

  7. The only corduroy I have is a pretty Green Pin Whale Jacket by Eddie Bauer. I’ve had it for at least 5 years and it looks brand new. Haven’t worn it much. So glad I didn’t get rid of it. I wore corduroy a lot when I was in high school and college. You see it every now and then but I do hope it comes back. I like the pin whale the best.

    1. Itā€™s back this year for sure

  8. The LL Bean corduroy shirt comes in a gorgeous toffee that I would love to style as a jacket over a soft white shirt or sweater. I would add a long statement necklace and anchor the look with my new jeans. Years ago I wore the heck out of a pair of black, small wale, corduroy pants. They looked so nice with several sweaters that I had. I do have several flannel shirts that get in my fall/winter rotation quite often. Maybe since I live in the northern plains, this is a more popular choice for a lot of gals. I also feel it creates a more ā€œapproachable ā€œ style that I love too!

    1. Location definitely plays a roll.

      1. Oh my gosh, I know the exact shirt you’re talking about. (I have a part time job at LLB, so I see these fun colors on display.). I just made a post and said that I’ve seen so many women of all ages and sizes wearing this cord top. My mom is 87, and we gave her one for her birthday last week, and she went out and bought two more! She plans to travel with them. Glad you’re enjoying that toffee color. It looks great with denim and black for sure!

  9. Southside Girl says:

    I have a beautiful pale blue pinwale tunic I bought from JJill a few years ago, and I love it with leggings and booths. It’s fairly thin and very soft, but that’s the extent of my corduroy. I wish I could find that top again in perhaps a richer color. It is slightly shaped and long enough to cover one’s bottom.

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