Classy Ways To Wear Corduroy

Corduroy …The last time I remember wearing it was back in the ’70s! I had a pair of really cool, baby blue, corduroy Lee jeans (hip huggers) that were so tight that when they came out of the dryer I had to fall straight back onto the bed, lay stiff as a board, breathe deep, and wiggle the zipper up until I was stuffed into my pants. Sound familiar?

Cords, as we used to call them, fell off the fashion bandwagon, but now they’re back – better looking and much more comfy to wear. You’ll find lots of new styles, with plenty of stretches, as well as some really cute and casual corduroy dresses, skirts, and casual jackets.

Here are some classy, of-the-moment ideas for how to style corduroy.

How to Style a Corduroy Dress

If you are searching for that perfect piece that can be dressed up or down to take you through pretty much everything in your life, this sporty shirtdress is it. It’s Veronica Beard, so it’s on the pricey side (although it is on sale here from now until Friday with the code EOTS17), but for quality, style, and versatility this dress delivers; It’s a great investment piece.

This rich olive shade is a lovely, warm neutral that goes with a ton of colors. It can be dressed up like I’ve done here with tan booties, a purse, and gold accessories, or it can be dressed down by rolling the sleeves up and adding fun and casual accessories and shoes like sneakers and booties.

Because a shirtdress is inherently ‘masculine,’ balance that out with jewelry or by layering a feminine camisole underneath and leaving a couple of buttons open. The list of ways to wear this dress goes on and on. Have a look at my post on tips for styling a shirtdress for more ideas.

How to Style a Corduroy Blazer

A classic blazer never goes out of style and throwing one on over jeans and a t-shirt is a classic trick for stylish women everywhere when they want to quickly add polish to a simple, casual outfit.

But instead of doing this with a typical fade-into-the-woodwork black blazer, why not stand out in a good way with a fine corduroy blazer in a fun color like this one in mustard? I love the way this bold hue makes everyday blue jeans look a little more dressy. (This blazer from Talbots comes in lots of other gorgeous colors too.)

How to Style a Corduroy Skirt

Here’s a skirt that is a wardrobe workhorse, I guarantee. The always-in-style A-line pencil skirt is super flattering, particularly on pear-shaped women as the A-line shape helps balance wider hips and thighs. I’ve dressed it up here with heels and this romantic ruffled blouse but I can also see it with black tights, boots, and a turtleneck or v-neck for when the weather turns chilly.

How to Style Corduroy Jeans

Skinny jeans may have just met their match in these flattering ladies’ corduroy pants. They are slim enough to tuck into boots and show your silhouette to advantage but not so skinny that every lump and bump is calling out for attention. Look at how I’ve styled them here.

When part of an outfit is bold and takes center stage, as these red corduroy pants do, many women feel inclined to keep the supporting act in the dark. Read black top and footwear. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a little ho-hum. Instead, while I’ve also stuck to neutrals here, instead of black I opted for an oatmeal top and leopard print shoes.

Yes, a leopard can easily be worn as a neutral, and it adds visual interest on top of that. And speaking of visual interest, isn’t this tan shoulder bag gorgeous? The thing I love is the mileage you’ll get from all of these pieces. They look great as a team here, but they will all easily mingle with everything else you already have in your closet.

See more great ways to style women’s corduroy jeans, here.