Corduroy is Coming

It may not be cool enough to wear some of the fall fashions coming down the runway, but a good fashionista plans and shops ahead. If you can afford it and you don’t need to wait for a sale, it’s always a good idea to shop early in the season for the best selection of sizes and styles. One cool-weather fabric that is coming down the runway for both men and women is corduroy.

When the temperature does finally start to drop, it might not be time just yet for wool, but it will be time to start wearing some heavier fabrics and to start layering. The weather was crazy this summer, so who knows, it may suddenly get unusually cold. A perfect fabric that keeps you warm but also will let you breathe is corduroy. Corduroy isn’t one of my favorites, but it definitely is perfect for transitional weather, and it has a certain look to it that works for several of the hot trends going on this fall.

I consider corduroy an official fall/winter fabric. Like tweed and flannel, corduroy fabric could also be considered a classic. For both men and women, to me, nothing says fall better than a corduroy blazer with cool suede patches on the elbows.

In fact, corduroy blazers tend to be a favorite of the preppy crowd, and for fall 2012 it has reached high-fashion status. This fabric is one of the ultra-cool picks for this season. A corduroy blazer is perfect for both sexes to work the menswear look, but it also has a cool retro vibe and can pull double duty for the country or equestrian look.

Instead of the traditional wool, you might opt for a corduroy suit (or at least a blazer) when putting together your cold weather wardrobe. One suggestion is that you may not want to wear corduroy for a formal event, but it can easily go to the office or out on a date.

If you don’t want to go with a complete suit, just start with a blazer, perhaps in one of the “traditional” colors like black, dark brown, or camel, but don’t be afraid to try purple, red, or hunter green. A corduroy blazer looks great with a pair of khakis, jeans, or flannels topped with a t-neck, or perhaps shake things up with a cool denim shirt.