Crushing On Corduroy

Our obsession with touch-me textures continues. Regularly referred to as the casual sister of velvet. The groovy 70s staple corduroy is getting remixed smarter, harder, faster, stronger and it doesn't just come in 50 shades of brown. Although who can resist it in chocolate?

Technicolour explosions of cord are hitting the streets in the many futuristic guises of Annie Hall. Director Woody Allen’s zingy 1977 film starring actress Diane Keaton is still the ultimate muse when it comes to borrowing from the boys. Her preppy NY intellectual look became cult and the ripples are still being felt quite literally on our skin by the shiny ribbed fabric she wore in slouched two-piece suits and high-waisted beige trousers. Her thrown-together look became synonymous with embracing your inner weird. And it was her unselfconscious scruffiness that made us fall in love with cord as a timeless essential for our modern uniform.

A few decades later we’re rejigging the rules to better suit our expanded cord consciousness. Here’s clever ways to update the quirky cool texture to wear now.

Pop

Uplevel seventies cuts and the lush texture of cord with bright pastels. Annie may have been all about beige but these days we’re not scared to play with shades that aren’t neutral. Pale yellow, lilac and blush are all cord-friendly and utterly feminine.

Got slouch

We’re forever enchanted with androgyny in the wardrobe. Corduroy is just one of those fabrics that works well with oversized everything. Blazers, wide-leg trousers, maxi A-line skirts, loose-fitting overalls and especially a larger-than-life sherpa jacket. Choose one or wear as many at once.

Double trouble

The cord two-piece suit has been the sartorial creme da la creme when it comes to styling this plush texture. Director Wes Anderson knows this look far too well but lately many a lady has been seen corded out. Choose tee underneath for casual days and turtleneck for business. Work it in summer with elegant strappy sandals, coloured aviators and a tiny bag.

Skin is in

Given its rich history as a men’s textile, add an unpredictable pairing with ultra-feminine details. Wide-leg cord trousers look incredibly sexy when fused with bare arms and midriff. Flaunt your play on yin and yang with delicate lingerie-inspired singlets or tanks and tailored cord bottoms. A baker boy hat (also in cord) is the final touch. Just remember to go all out with chunky jewellery.