Today we want to share 7 styling tips for wearing corduroy. When you think of corduroy, the first thing that often comes to mind is winter clothing. Of course, like any other material, you can sport corduroy any time of the year. However, corduroy’s thickness, durability, and comforting fit make it especially popular during the colder months.
Like denim and herringbone, corduroy is a twill weave fabric, which means that its threads are woven diagonally in thick vertical ribs. Its ribbed pattern gives it a unique look, which allows its wearers to play with textures while keeping warm at the same time.
There are many different kinds of corduroy clothing, including pants, skirts, and even jackets. If you haven’t tried it before, you can even buy corduroy leggings, which are easy to wear and coordinate with any ensemble. If, however, you’re keen on experimenting with this fabric and all it has to offer, you can take it up a notch by sporting flared corduroy pants, jumpers, and even suits.
Indeed, there’s much to explore with this cozy, textured material. To help you get started, here are a couple of styling tips you should keep in mind when wearing and matching corduroy clothes.
Always Consider Volume and Balance
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Pulling off corduroy clothes is all about achieving a balanced look. Because corduroy is thicker than the average material, it gives a lot of weight to the part it covers, such as your legs when wearing corduroy bottoms. Hence, you need to carefully consider the other garments and accessories you plan to wear with them.
The general rule of thumb is to balance out the corduroy with lighter clothes of more neutral colors. For example, if you’re wearing rich brown corduroy pants, wearing a top that has a more subdued shade of blue can help balance the bottom’s vibrant colors.
Top-bottom balance is also an important thing to consider. If you decide to wear corduroy bottoms, the bottom part has more weight, so try to also add volume to your top half by wearing neck scarves, blazers, or coats to balance out your proportions. The same idea applies when you wear a corduroy top and pair it with wide-legged pants.
Use a Monochrome Color Palette
A monochrome attire refers to an outfit whose pieces are of the same color in different shades. It’s one of the easiest ways to sport a corduroy garment and look effortlessly chic in the process. To accomplish this, use your corduroy bottoms as your ensemble’s starting point and choose the rest of the attire (like your shirt and jacket) in a similar hue.
Aside from making it easier to pick clothes, monochromatic dressing also elongates your figure, which helps balance out the weight of the corduroy. Going with a monochrome palette also allows you to play with different textures and give some excitement to an otherwise simple outfit. For example, if you have dark blue corduroy pants, pair them with a shirt and denim jacket of similar hues for an easy yet classy match.
Try Vibrant Hues
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Corduroy has a lot of personality. It is richly textured as it is deeply colored. The material comes in a wide variety of hues, from neutral browns to vibrant reds. Think of the colors in autumn when green trees turn red and the landscape takes on a warmer-tone; that is the color palette that corduroy usually comes in.
Considering the rich palette that corduroy offers, it would be a waste to stick to neutral tones all the time. Go outside the box by putting on a pair of vibrant-colored corduroy pants, like orange, purple, or bright blue. The pants are statement pieces, and they give off a sophisticated, retro vibe.
To balance out the look, pair the bottoms with neutral pieces, like a black turtleneck or a white sweater. In this manner, your outfit won’t look too loud but savvy and effortlessly eye-catching.
Dress Up Your Attire with a Blazer
If you’d like to elevate the corduroy look, you can never go wrong with putting on a blazer. No matter what you’re wearing, a well-fitting blazer can dress you up and make you look chic and sophisticated.
That said, you can’t just put on any blazer and expect the effect to be the same. To make the most of a blazer, make sure to coordinate its color with the rest of your ensemble, so your attire looks more planned and put together. Secondly, take the time to tailor your suit to your body’s measurements. Not only will it be nicer to wear, but you will also look better in it.
Pair Corduroy Bottoms with Voluminous Tops
As mentioned earlier, corduroy has a lot of weight visually, so it’s important to balance them out when picking the rest of your ensemble. If you’re planning to wear corduroy leggings or bottoms, opt for tops that have a lot of weight as well. These tops include sweaters, cardigans, and hoodies, among other options. You can also create an illusion of depth by choosing textured materials, like herringbone sweaters. In this manner, you create a sense of harmony in your outfit by striking a balance between your top and bottom halves.
If an oversized sweater feels too casual to wear, opt for a long cardigan instead. Then tie a belt around your waist to accentuate your silhouette. As such, you can still achieve a sense of visual balance while wearing a voluminous top.
Balance Volume with a Neck Scarf and Other Accessories
Layering clothes is one of the ways you can add volume to an ensemble. For example, if you sport a pair of flared corduroy pants, you can match it with a dress shirt and a coat to equalize the attire’s visual weight. However, adding more clothes isn’t the only way you can add volume; accessories can balance out your top and bottom halves as well.
Some useful accessories you can use include neck scarves, wide-brimmed hats, and large sunglasses, to name a few. It’s best to limit your accessories to just one or two pieces and only doing up to two garment layers so you don’t tip the visual balance of your attire.
Put on a Pair of Boots
Any type of footwear works well with corduroy clothes, from high-heeled sandals to white sneakers. However, putting on a pair of high-cut boots is arguably one of the best types of footwear to match with corduroy bottoms or jumpers.
The pairing works because of two points. First, corduroy clothes are often worn in the winter, which match well with boots in helping you stay warm. Secondly, high-cut boots with a simple design can also elevate your attire’s vibe, switching from casual streetwear to urban chic. In this manner, your feet are not only warm and protected but you look stylish as well.
Have Fun Experimenting with Corduroy
If you’re not used to wearing corduroy, it can be a tricky material to work with. Its thick fabric and high durability makes its fold and flow different from other more popular materials, such as cotton or cotton blends. That said, corduroy has a lot to offer, whether it’s in keeping you warm or giving you a more structured silhouette. Hence, take the time to experiment with this fun material and explore ways to incorporate it into your winter wear—and perhaps even other seasonal wardrobes.
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