Inspiration: Corduroy Day 2017
My dad was fond of saying If Fashion and I cross paths, it is Fashion’s good fortune. And that’s what has happened: corduroy, one of my very favourite fabrics, is in fashion this season. (Well, for you people in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a bit late for us; we’re already thinking of sundresses and tank tops. Maybe next year.)
It always made me feel thrilled and a bit smug when a fabric or style I enjoy wearing came to the fore….until the following season when everyone else moved on and I’m the one looking out of date. However, I don’t worry so much these days.
Dad was also a corduroy lover. When I was a child he had a tan suit of wide-wale corduroy with leather buttons and flared trousers. It had a red lining. Mum sewed it. We children liked to sit on his lap and feel the fabric.
Corduroy is a fabric with different personalities. It’s usually considered a relaxed, soft, informal yet smart-casual fabric, perhaps tailored or perhaps not. It has a few nostalgic, 1970’s associations (as above), but how about:
- Brightly coloured corduroy with 1980’s knitwear.
- A tough pair of corduroy shorts paired with a t-shirt and a mountain bike.
- Preschooler’s clothes in smart, soft baby cord, with gathers, ric rac or embroidery.
- Any cord trousers with a black skivvy = you’re in art school. Beret optional.
Corduroy combines beautifully with…
- tweed
- leather
- cotton shirting
- wool
- stripes
- glossy fabrics
- Liberty florals
- bias binding and piping
Corduroy Day 2017 is coming up this Saturday, the 11th of November (read about last year here). Do you have a project or outfit planned?
Cheers, corduroy lovers!
Love the photo of your dads cords. I recall my dad having something similar as well as a thick hand knitted jumper with weird toggles! I’m enjoying reading your blog posts and love the fact that you live in Clare too!
Hi Vanessa, thanks. The corduroy suit was a great 70’s look, as were thick handknits. Looking back on the photo, my sister and I co-ordinate very well with Dad! Lovely to hear from a Clare person -did you read Allan Aughey’s interview? Cheers!