If You’re Bored of Denim, Try This Instead

Mens corduroy trousers have quietly gone from ‘lecturer in a draughty uni office’ to one of the most useful things you can have in your wardrobe. If you’re fed up of denim every day but can’t quite bring yourself to live in suit trousers, cords sit neatly in that middle ground: relaxed, a bit nostalgic, but still smart enough that you don’t feel underdressed in a pub or at the office.

Part of the appeal is that corduroy genuinely has history behind it, rather than just being another recycled trend. The fabric’s roots go all the way back to heavy fustian cloth used in Egypt and medieval Europe, then into 18th century England where it became a favourite for outdoor wear and workwear because it was warm, hard-wearing and relatively affordable. Over time, mens corduroy trousers went from mills and fields to professors, then on to rock bands and students in the 60s and 70s. 

The texture is what makes them so satisfying to wear. Those ridges running up and down the leg are called wales. The lower the wale number, the thicker and chunkier the cord; the higher the number, the finer and dressier it looks. So a big, wide-wale cord feels a bit rugged and almost country, great with boots and a chunky jumper. A fine needlecord trouser in navy or black can look surprisingly sleek with a shirt and blazer.

If you’re just dipping your toe in, colour is where most people get stuck. The 70s did a lot of damage with mustard, avocado and muddy brown everything, and cords are guilty by association. You don’t have to go full geography teacher, though. Safer starting points are:

• Navy, which is as easy to wear as dark jeans but looks a bit more considered  
• Chocolate or tobacco brown, which works brilliantly with cream, denim and grey  
• Olive green, which looks good with pretty much every neutral you already own  

Once you’re comfortable, you can branch out into autumnal oranges, rust, deep burgundy or even cream. Just avoid going head to toe in strong colour unless you’re fully committed to the look.

Fit-wise, mens corduroy trousers suit the current shift away from sprayed-on skinny silhouettes. The fabric has a bit of body to it, so a slim straight or gently tapered leg tends to be the most flattering. Too skinny and you lose the drape and end up with odd pulling around the knees; too wide and you can stray into costume territory unless everything else you’re wearing is quite clean and modern

Think about length as well. Slightly cropped cords that just skim the top of your trainers or boots feel more contemporary and stop the fabric stacking up around your ankles. If you’re shorter, that little flash of sock can help keep things from looking heavy.

Styling them is easier than you might think:

• With trainers and a sweatshirt for weekend errands, as a swap for your usual jeans  
• With a roll neck and Derby shoes for a low-effort, “grown up” evening outfit  
• With an Oxford shirt, knitted jumper and desert boots for very British, low-key smart  

If you’re braver, a cord suit in a dark colour can look fantastic worn separately or together. A brown cord jacket with navy chinos one day, then the full suit with a simple T-shirt on another. The key is to keep everything else fairly plain so the texture can do the talking.

Corduroy is also very practical for the British climate. It’s warmer than plain cotton but breathes more than most heavy wool trousers, so it works nicely through autumn and winter and doesn’t feel unbearable on those odd mild days. It’s tough too, so if you’re someone who goes through the seat and knees of their trousers at speed, cords can be a bit of a saviour.

Care is pretty straightforward. They don’t need washing as often as you might think; brushing them down and airing between wears helps them last longer. When you do wash them, turn them inside out, go for a gentle cycle and avoid blasting them with a hot iron. A quick steam or hanging them in the bathroom while you shower is usually enough to get the creases to relax without crushing the texture.

The nicest thing about mens corduroy trousers, though, is how much personality they have. Denim is everywhere. Chinos can feel a bit office-uniform. Cords have a quiet character that suggests you’ve thought a little bit about what you’re wearing, without looking like you’ve tried too hard. Whether you see yourself more as countryside rambler, record-shop regular or just someone who wants a comfortable pair of trousers that look good with what you already own, there’s a version that’ll slot in easily.

So if you’ve been side-eyeing corduroy from afar, it might be time to give it another go. Start with a simple navy or brown pair, pull them on with the same jumper you’d wear with jeans and see how you feel. Chances are they’ll very quickly become the thing you reach for on chilly mornings when you still want to look vaguely put together.