WearsMyMoney

I’m almost ashamed that it’s taken me until November to do a post on corduroy. It’s the queen of autumn/winter fabrics (the king being cashmere, of course). If there is one fabric that screams ‘Hey everyone, it’s getting a bit cold now!’ then it’s corduroy. I know it has its detractors – usually the same people who also won’t wear velvet, even at Christmas. I mean really, who ARE these heathens?

I believe there is a corduroy item out there for everyone. You can have baby needlecord, you could go for a quilted cord, you might even beef it up with jumbo cord. There is so much to choose from but, fear not, I am here to guide you through some of the best items available with six outfit ideas for you, my corduroy queens…

DOING THE DOUBLE CORD

Dare you go the full load and double up your corduroy? I think you can, but then I would say that. If not, you could try this look with a gilet/waistcoat of a different fabric, layer it over your trusty striped top and add an oversized blazer to complete the look. I sold almost all my corduroy trousers on Vinted recently. It was a sad day, but also a happy one (sort of) as I’ve dropped a dress size over the past year so none of them fit me anymore. This gave me the perfect excuse to buy a new pair. I plumped for these wide-leg ones (I got the brown colour) from Essentiel Antwerp at Feather & Stitch. They fit like a dream. I’m looking forward to us having many happy days together.

1. H&M cotton jersey stripe top 
2. H&M oversized grey herringbone blazer 
3. Bellerose Cognac leather Rosie bag
4. Essential Antwerp camel corduroy wide leg trousers 
5. Beaumont Organic cotton needlecord quilted gilet 
6. Adidas Black suede Gazelle trainers 

CORDUROY TROUSERS

If you’re only just dipping your toe into corduroy, maybe start with a pair of trousers. On the high street, these from Boden, these from Mango and these from M&S look good. You can’t go too far wrong with a navy and rust combo either. Autumnal tonal dressing at its finest.

1. Hush Taylah cropped wool jacket 
2. Pernille Corydon Daylight earrings 
3. Boden Westbourne tailored wide leg cord trousers 
4. Sezane Milo classic leather handbag 
5. COS pure cashmere navy crew neck jumper
6. Sezane Pippa suede ankle boots 

CORDUROY DRESS

This one will be best for your fine needlecord: you don’t want anything too chunky in a dress fabric. I do have an abundance of cord dresses that I have collected over the years. Nice and warm to wear and easy to layer up underneath. More on layering coming in a special post soon, but my top recommendation under dresses would be the Uniqlo Heattech vests. They give you that extra bit of cosiness without adding any bulk.

1. White Stuff navy cord short dress 
2. Rachel Jackson gold plated locket necklace 
3. Dilli Grey Harper navy corduroy dress 
4. COS knee high pointed leather boots 
5. Boden western suede knee high boots 
6. Oliver Bonas mary Jane pearl buckle shoes 

CORDUROY JACKET

Invoke that 70s Meryl Streep in ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ or Ali MacGraw in ‘Love Story’ or even Babs in ‘The Way We Were’ vibe with a cord blazer paired with a lace blouse, wide-leg jeans and retro trainers. I’m definitely going to be wearing this look over the coming months. I might add an oversized cable-knit jumper and a REALLY long scarf when it gets colder. 

1. La Redoute mandarin collar blouse with lace detail 
2. Anthropologie corduroy hair scrunchies 
3. Hush Lya pleated front wide leg jeans 
4. Monsoon corduroy cross body bag 
5. Uniqlo corduroy blazer jacket 
6. Adidas brown suede Gazelle trainers 

CORDUROY SKIRT

I bet your mum had an A‑line corduroy skirt in the early 70s. Maybe she even had an ill-advised bubble perm too. I know mine did. I too had an ill-advised home perm in the 80s. Like mother, like daughter. My perms were alway done by my Mum’s friend Linda in her kitchen. I don’t know if Linda was even a hairdresser, to be honest. But I can still smell those chemicals now, and that interminable wait of about four days for the perm to ‘drop’. Does anyone perm their hair these days? I doubt it, it’s too much of a commitment, and we have GHDs to deal with our hair issues now. 

1. M&S Per Una cable knit jumper
2. The Tartan Blanket company lambswool oversized scarf 
3. Mulberry Alexa heavy grain leather bag 
4. Matalan brown cord mini skirt
5. Hush Rose check double breasted wool blend coat 
6. Seasalt Tresmeer leather buckle shoes 

JUST A BIT MORE CORD

Because I love this vest/gilet/waistcoat from Boden. You can layer it over your simple knits and you could also wear it over your simple black dresses to give them a bit of a boost and keep you cosy. Side note: my friend Lisa has these boots from John Lewis and says they’re excellent as the elasticated fabric top means they fit perfectly under jeans and trousers. I may have been influenced. 

1. Uniqlo cashmere crew neck jumper
2. Arket relaxed fit quilted jacket 
3. DeMelier London smooth leather cross body bag 
4. Mango corduroy crop leg trousers 
5. Boden golden olive cord vest 
6. John Lewis ANYDAY Purcie leather Chelsea Boots 

Is it too early to be thinking about gift guides? I am going to say no: now that Halloween is over, it feels like we’re heading into Christmas. I’ll get looking… 

K x