I really am a sucker for anything corduroy. Trousers, mini skirts, jackets, hats, you name it… there isn’t anything quite like corduroy that can bring both boyish charm and retro appeal to a look all at the same time. Essentially a ridged velvet, this durable yet buttery soft fabric has the ability to hug the body in the most sophisticated yet sumptuous ways. Moreover, practically every color unequivocally becomes more rich and saturated in its corduroy form. In my closet corduroy is mostly the fall/winter equivalent to my spring/summer twill chinos. Although a cold weather staple, corduroys are also great for easing your wardrobe from winter to spring. As the weather fluctuates and we go back and forth between reaching for the puffer jacket one day and sandals the next, corduroy pieces accommodate the undecided weather working just as well with cotton tees as they do chunky knits.
Ever since I acquired this faded red double breasted wool coat that I liken to the shade of a terra cotta pot, I have been utterly obsessed with the color. Teetering between red and orange, this shade is fair game for color contrasts with green and blue, and also as a neutral with a vintage 70’s feel. And of course, this shade pops even more in corduroy which is why this pair of trousers in “masala chai” really caught my eye. Even better, the high-rise and cropped flare silhouette gives a subtle nod to the 70’s.
I’ve become a die hard convert to cropped flare and wide leg pants. I’ll wear skinny pants during the winter when I’m wearing tall boots, but other than that I really don’t care for that style anymore. I have an athletic build and don’t really feel that the skinny style is flattering or comfortable on me. Cropped flare and wide leg styles on the other hand provide ample leg room but are still feminine and chic with a high-rise that emphasizes the waist.
This casual look is a remix of sorts from my last post with two styling formulas for the off-duty blazer. I’m slowly starting to transition some of my spring items into my main closet, and when I pulled out this blue seersucker blazer I instantly thought of how well it would contrast with the red hued cropped corduroys. Sticking to my first off-duty blazer styling formula, I paired the patterned blazer with matching base layers making the terra cotta red pieces neutrals in the look. This turtleneck is very lightweight cotton that is too thin to wear on its own for cold days, but is great for layering under sweaters or blazers.
White tennis shoes are one of my favorite kicks for spring and summer. Even though they do tend to get dirtied more often, it’s nothing a quick spin in the washing machine and sat out in the sun to dry can’t fix! Tennis shoes can take you pretty much anywhere from running around the neighborhood with the kids to a weekend brunch and strolling the city. The easiest way to approach the tennis shoe with more dressed up attire is to wear them the same way you would a ballet flat. In this case, the tennis shoe are in sync with the casualness of my corduroys and cotton top, but par down the blazer and make the look more casual.
