What to Wear With Corduroy Pants

Corduroy pants look best next to a texture that contrasts with them. A chunky knit, a fine-gauge turtleneck, a lace or printed blouse, or a denim jacket will all sit beautifully against the fabric's ribbed surface, and boots or a clean leather sneaker finish the outfit and stay out of its way. Keep one texture as the lead and dress everything else a notch simpler than feels natural. That's really the whole trick.

Corduroy has quietly turned into one of the most versatile fabrics in a fall wardrobe, so here's what actually makes it work, and how to wear it well this season.

Are corduroy pants still in style?

Yes, and not in a passing way. Corduroy has moved back into the center of the season's trouser conversation, appearing in wide legs, barrel shapes, cropped hems and relaxed pull-on styles. Texture is the theme running through fall trouser collections this year, and corduroy is showing up in nearly every silhouette, from runway shows to magazine pages.

Designers have shown it in flared '70s-inspired lines, wide-leg cuts, tailored high-waisted shapes, and cropped versions. There's a corduroy pant for nearly any body and any taste.

This revival looks different from the last one mainly because of the fabric itself. Modern stretch corduroy is softer, finer, and far more forgiving than the stiff, wide-ribbed cords a lot of us remember from the '90s.

What is corduroy, and what is corduroy made of?

Corduroy is a woven cotton fabric with raised vertical ridges called wales, created by weaving extra sets of yarn into a base cloth and then cutting and brushing them into a soft pile. Most corduroy material is cotton or a cotton blend, and the small amount of elastane in today's stretch versions is what gives the fabric its give.

Wale count is easy to get backward, so it's worth a quick explanation. It refers to the number of ribs per inch, so a higher number means finer, narrower cords, while a lower number means thick, pronounced ones. Fine wale skims the body and reads almost like a smooth trouser from a few feet away, so it tailors well. Wide wale is bolder, adds visible volume, and stays firmly in casual territory no matter how you style it.

NYDJ builds its stretch corduroy pants in a fine wale, on a cotton base with a touch of elastane, so the fabric has a smaller texture and a softer hand than traditional corduroy. Each pair also carries Lift Tuck® Technology, the patented criss-cross panel that smooths the front and lifts the back. That combination matters more in corduroy than in almost any other fabric, because pile fabrics catch light and can add visual bulk where you least want it. A fine wale plus a shaping panel is the reason a cord pant can look as clean as a trouser.

One piece of trivia our team enjoys: the popular story that corduroy comes from the French corde du roi, or cloth of the king, is almost certainly marketing. The word first appears in English around 1774 and most likely combines “cord” with duroy, the name of a coarse English fabric, since the French term for the cloth was always velours à côtes. In much of continental Europe it's still called “Manchester,” after the Lancashire mills where it was first produced. Nothing royal about it. It came from a mill town, which is rather more charming.

How to style corduroy pants

Chunky knits and sweater vests

A substantial knit on top is the pairing to start with. A ribbed sweater in cream, oatmeal or a deeper jewel tone gives the eye somewhere soft to land against the cords. Tuck the front hem only, so you keep the waistline without losing the slouch.

A sweater vest over a crisp shirt is the sharper version of the same idea. Layered over a white poplin with the cuffs showing, it turns a pair of straight-leg cords into something that works for a gallery afternoon or a long lunch.

A lace or patterned blouse

Most people default to a knit here and skip this pairing, but it works just as well. Corduroy is matte and structured, so it holds up beautifully against something delicate. A blouse with a lace collar, a frilled placket or a soft ruffle at the cuff gives a wide-leg cord pant a gentle, romantic edge without tipping into costume. A small floral or a painterly print does the same job with more energy. Keep the blouse tucked and the pant high on the waist, and the proportion takes care of itself.

A denim jacket

Denim and corduroy are natural companions. Both are cotton, both have visible texture, and neither is trying to be formal. A mid-wash jacket over a brown or camel cord pant makes for an easy, no-thought weekend outfit. For contrast, choose a wash at least two shades away from your pants so the two textures read as a deliberate pairing rather than an accident.

A nod to the '70s

Corduroy peaked in the '70s, and the current revival borrows from that era. The trick is to take one reference and stop there. A flared or wide-leg cord in cognac with a simple black knit is a nod. A flared cord with a paisley shirt, a suede fringe bag and platform boots is a period piece. Choose your one element and let modern tailoring do the rest.

Boots vs sneakers

Ankle boots are the reliable choice here, especially with wide-leg styles, where a slightly raised heel keeps the hem from dragging. A knee boot works with a slim or straight cut. For weekends, a clean white or off-white leather sneaker keeps things relaxed but still put together. 

Play with shades beyond brown

Brown is the default for good reason, but it's only the beginning. Our corduroy collection runs through chocolate, cognac and camel, then into black, forest, wine and stone. Each one changes the mood entirely.

• Camel or stone: pair with cream, white and soft gray for a quiet, tonal fall look.

• Forest green: works with oatmeal, rust and ivory, and looks unexpectedly fresh with pale blue.

• Wine: pairs well with black, and looks just as good with dusty pink.

• Black: takes the whole look into evening territory with almost no effort.

• Chocolate: a genuine neutral. Wear it with cream, navy, burgundy or more brown.

Corduroy skirt outfits

An A-line cord skirt with opaque tights and tall boots is the classic fall formula. A straight midi wants a flat boot and a tucked fine-knit sweater.

If you're wondering what colors pair well with a brown corduroy skirt, the strongest options are cream, ivory, forest green, burgundy and navy. Cream photographs best and flatters nearly everyone. Burgundy brings the most personality. Black can work, but it leans heavy, so lift it with a lighter shoe or a gold chain. Browse the full range of skirts to find your favourite silhouette.

Is corduroy dressy or casual?

Both, and the wale decides. Fine wale corduroy in a dark shade behaves like a wool trouser. Pair a black or chocolate straight-leg cord with a silk blouse and a heeled boot and it's entirely appropriate for an office or a dinner. Wide-wale corduroy in a lighter color is weekend territory. Cut matters too: a wide-leg or straight shape always reads more polished than a slim one.

What not to wear with corduroy pants

This is a short list, because most things do work with corduroy. But if you want to avoid a fashion faux pas, we would steer away from the following:

• Another heavy texture on the bottom half. Cords with a thick tweed or a bouclé skirt-weight jacket can look bulky through the hip.

• Head-to-toe matching cord unless you've chosen it deliberately as a suit. Otherwise the two pieces rarely match in tone once the pile catches the light.

• Flimsy fabrics without structure. A very sheer, unlined top can look underdressed next to something this substantial. 

• Anything too long in the hem. Corduroy can show wear where it drags, creating a scruffy look, so make sure you buy the right length or have them taken up.

A note on fit

Petite frames tend to look best in a high rise with a straight or slim leg, which keeps the vertical line of the wales working for you rather than cutting the leg in half. For a fuller figure, a bootcut or wide-leg cord balances the hip and hangs cleanly. Every NYDJ corduroy style is available in Regular, Petite and Plus, and our signature lift tuck technology is used throughout for a comfortable seamless fit. 

The last word

Corduroy rewards a light touch. It already brings texture, warmth and a little bit of history to an outfit, so the pieces around it do not need to work hard. One good knit, one pair of boots, one color you actually like wearing.

If you have been holding on to a pair from a few seasons ago, it is worth trying them again with a softer top than you would have chosen at the time. And if you are starting fresh, begin with a fine wale in a shade that already lives in your closet. The pants will do more for you than you expect, and they will still be doing it in three years.

Frequently asked questions

How do I care for corduroy?

Turn the garment inside out, wash cold on a gentle cycle with similar colors, and skip high heat. Air dry or tumble dry on low to protect the pile and keep the shape.

Do corduroy pants stretch out during the day?

Good stretch corduroy shouldn't. Look for a cotton base with elastane and a structured waistband. NYDJ's shaping panel also helps the pant hold its line from morning through evening.

Is corduroy only a fall fabric, or can you wear it into winter and spring?

Corduroy carries straight through winter without any adjustment, it's warm and holds up well in cold weather. Come spring, a fine wale in a lighter shade like stone or camel still works, especially paired with something lightweight on top. Wide wale in a dark color is the one combination that starts to feel out of season past February.

Do corduroy pants need to be broken in?

A little. New corduroy can feel stiffer through the first few wears, especially wide wale. It softens with normal washing and wearing, and most of that initial stiffness is gone within a couple of weeks. Stretch corduroy with elastane starts softer than traditional corduroy and needs less time to relax.