How YOU can strike the right cord for autumn with these stylish corduroy outfits

How YOU can strike the right cord for autumn with these stylish corduroy outfits, from floral shirts to snazzy jackets

  • Getting dressed in the dog days of autumn can be quite the challenge for some
  • It’s not cold enough to break out opaques, but bare legs feel freezing and wrong
  • So hurrah for the corduroy revival — the perfect solution to transition dressing 

Getting dressed in the dog days of autumn, before the clocks go back, can be a challenge. It’s still not quite cold enough to break out the opaques, but bare legs and floral frocks feel freezing and look wrong.

So hurrah for the corduroy revival — the perfect solution to transition dressing. Made from cotton, pieces in this versatile fabric let your skin breathe but feel cosy and can be layered with T-shirts, turtlenecks or cardigans.

When I was a young girl, my favourite skirt was a needlecord Laura Ashley number. With that nostalgic thought in mind, I’ve just invested in a rose-pink Boden needlecord dress. It’s just as wearable as my beloved childhood skirt but given a grown up spin with smocked cuffs and tie belt.

Dress, £290, cefinn.com; courts, £279, lkbennett. com; earrings, £32, susancaplan.co.uk; bracelet, £69, ottomanhands.com; ring (worn throughout), £22, orelia.co.uk

Floral cord shirt, £110, floral cord jeans, £120, and leather trainers, £110, jigsawonline.com; bag, £425, kaai.eu

Cardigan, £29.99,hm. com; jeans,£230, frame-store. com; boots, £35.99, mango. com; bag, £365, demellier london.com

Left: Floral cord shirt, £110, floral cord jeans, £120, and leather trainers, £110, jigsawonline.com; bag, £425, kaai.eu. Right: Cardigan, £29.99,hm. com; jeans,£230, frame-store. com; boots, £35.99, mango. com; bag, £365, demellier london.com

Corduroy jacket, £280, waistcoat, £145 and trousers, £155, yolke.co. uk; loafers, £229, fenwick.co.uk

Corduroy blazer, £49.99 and trousers, £35.99, reserved. com; loafers, £250, meand em.com

Left: Corduroy jacket, £280, waistcoat, £145 and trousers, £155, yolke.co. uk; loafers, £229, fenwick.co.uk. Right: Corduroy blazer, £49.99 and trousers, £35.99, reserved. com; loafers, £250, meand em.com

Trench coat, £180, cos. com; boots, £120, river island.com; bag, £390, demellier london.com; earrings, £45, jigsawonline.com

Sweater, £210, essentielantwerp.com; corduroy pinafore skirt, £130, anthropologie. com; boots, £499, lkbennett.com

Left: Trench coat, £180, cos. com; boots, £120, river island.com; bag, £390, demellier london.com; earrings, £45, jigsawonline.com. Right: Sweater, £210, essentielantwerp.com; corduroy pinafore skirt, £130, anthropologie. com; boots, £499, lkbennett.com

This sums up the reinvention of cord. It has left behind its long association with geography teacher’s jackets and is now supple enough to be drawn into an elasticated wristbands, puffed shoulders, or fall gently in folds to the calves in a midi dress.

Cefinn’s scarlet frock (£290) is a case in point, and versatile enough to take you from work meeting to wedding. As you might have guessed — beige is out. The new cord is all about jewel-toned pieces and floral prints.

Forget the flapping, unstructured flares of 50 years ago, the wide-leg cords of 2022 have gentle trumpet legs and elastane so the fabric moves with your body and, crucially, makes your bottom look good.

Empowered to go head-to-toe? Try a trouser suit such as Yolke’s bold three-piece in cobalt.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk