A men's corduroy jacket is easiest to wear as the one textured piece in an otherwise plain outfit: put it over a T-shirt, roll neck or fine knit, add jeans, chinos or wool trousers, and finish with simple trainers or boots. Stick to one cord item at a time and choose an earthy colour. Treat it like a denim jacket that happens to be warmer and a little smarter.
Corduroy is back, and it is one of the easiest ways to add texture to a smart-casual wardrobe. A cord jacket or overshirt looks warmer and more interesting than plain cotton, and it gets better with wear. Here is how to wear corduroy without looking like a 1970s geography teacher.
Cord jacket, cord overshirt or cord shacket?
- Corduroy jacket: a structured outer layer, often in a trucker (denim-jacket) cut. It works as your main jacket on dry autumn and spring days. See the Notting Hill cord jacket.
- Corduroy overshirt: lighter and softer, worn open like a jacket or buttoned like a shirt. See the Barbican cord overshirt.
- Cord shacket: a shirt-jacket, which usually means an overshirt cut roomier and made in a heavier cloth so it can go over a jumper. We explain the term in what is a shacket? and compare the two in overshirt vs shacket.
As a rough guide, pick the jacket if you want something to replace a denim jacket or casual blazer, and pick one of the men's overshirts if you want a layer you can wear indoors all day.
The golden rule: one cord piece at a time
Unless you are deliberately wearing a matching suit, stick to one corduroy item per outfit. Pair a cord jacket with jeans, chinos or wool trousers, not cord trousers. Corduroy is a busy fabric, so everything around it should be smooth: plain denim, flat cotton, fine knitwear. Two different cords together almost always clash, because the ribs rarely match in width or shade.
How should a corduroy jacket fit?
- Shoulders: the seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder. Cord is thicker than it looks, so a jacket that is too big quickly looks boxy.
- Length: a trucker cut should finish around the belt line. An overshirt or shacket is longer and should cover the waistband but stop short of the bottom of your seat.
- Room for layers: try it on over the thickest jumper you plan to wear with it. You should be able to fasten it without the buttons pulling.
- Sleeves: they should end at the wrist bone, so a little shirt or jumper cuff can show.
Wide cord or fine cord?
The ribs in corduroy are called wales, and the wale count is the number of ribs per inch. A low count means wide, chunky ribs. A high count means fine ribs, often sold as needlecord. Wide cord looks more casual and rugged. Fine cord looks smoother and is easier to dress up or wear as a shirt layer.
7 corduroy outfits for men
1. Cord jacket, white tee, jeans
A taupe or ecru cord jacket over a white heavyweight tee with light or mid-wash straight leg jeans and clean trainers. This is the simplest answer to what to wear with a corduroy jacket, and it works from April to October.
2. Cord jacket over a roll neck
A darker cord jacket over a roll neck with grey trousers and Chelsea boots. Smart enough for dinner.
3. Cord overshirt, henley, chinos
Wear the overshirt open over a ribbed henley with stone chinos. Relaxed and textured.
4. Cord overshirt under an overcoat
On cold days, a cord overshirt works as a mid layer under an overcoat or puffer. Keep the layer underneath thin so the arms do not feel tight.
5. Cord jacket with a quarter zip
Layer a knitted quarter zip under a cord jacket, with the collar sitting outside. It is a warm, modern alternative to a blazer.
6. Cord jacket, check shirt, dark jeans
A plain olive or tobacco cord jacket over one of our men's check shirts, with dark men's jeans and brown boots. Keep the check small and the colours muted so the shirt and the cord do not compete.
7. Cord shacket over a chunky knit
Leave a cord shacket open over a cream cable knit jumper with navy or olive men's chinos. Two textures work here because one is knitted and one is woven. For more ideas, see five autumn outfits with a corduroy overshirt.
Which colours work best in corduroy?
Earth tones suit the fabric: taupe, olive, forest green, tobacco and ecru. They pair naturally with denim, cream knitwear and brown footwear. Black cord is sleeker and easier to dress up.
| Cord colour | Wear it with | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Taupe or tobacco | Blue denim, white or cream tops, brown boots | Everyday and weekends |
| Olive or forest green | Navy, grey marl, ecru, dark denim | Autumn layering |
| Ecru | Light denim, navy knitwear, white trainers | Spring and dry summer evenings |
| Black | Grey trousers, black jeans, a roll neck | Evenings and smarter plans |
Corduroy and the British weather
Corduroy is at its best in the in-between months. The raised pile traps a little warmth, which makes a cord jacket ideal for a dry day in spring or autumn, or a cool summer evening. It is not a rain jacket. The pile soaks up water and takes a while to dry, so on a wet day wear it as a mid layer and put something weatherproof on top. In deep winter, the same applies: cord under a coat, not instead of one. Our layering pieces are a good place to build the rest of the outfit.
What shoes go with a corduroy jacket?
- White or off-white trainers: the relaxed option, best with jeans and a T-shirt.
- Chelsea boots: brown or black men's Chelsea boots smarten the outfit and suit autumn.
- Loafers: a pair of men's loafers with chinos and an ecru or taupe cord jacket works for warmer, dry days.
Common corduroy mistakes
- Wearing cord on top and bottom when the two pieces do not match.
- Choosing a jacket a size too big. Thick fabric plus extra room adds bulk.
- Pairing it with other loud textures or bold patterns in the same outfit.
- Relying on it in heavy rain.
- Ironing straight onto the ribs, which flattens them and can leave shiny marks.
Caring for corduroy
Wash inside out on a cool, gentle cycle and avoid tumble drying to protect the ribs (the wales). Smooth the fabric by hand and hang to dry. More tips in our care guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you wear a corduroy jacket?
Wear it as you would a denim jacket: open or buttoned over a plain T-shirt, shirt or fine jumper, with trousers in a smooth fabric such as denim, cotton twill or wool. Keep the rest of the outfit simple and limit yourself to one corduroy piece. Earthy colours with blue jeans and brown or white footwear are the safest starting point.
What do you wear with a corduroy jacket?
Jeans, chinos and plain wool trousers all work underneath. On top, choose a white or grey T-shirt in mild weather and a roll neck, quarter zip or crew neck jumper when it is cold. Add clean trainers for a casual look or Chelsea boots to smarten it. Avoid cord trousers unless they are a deliberate match.
Is a men's cord jacket smart or casual?
It sits in the middle, which is why it is so useful. A cord jacket is smarter than a hoodie or denim jacket and more relaxed than a blazer. With a roll neck, tailored trousers and boots it suits dinner or a relaxed office. With a T-shirt, jeans and trainers it is a straightforward weekend jacket.
How should men wear a cord shacket?
Treat a cord shacket as a light jacket. Leave it open over a T-shirt, henley or jumper and let it hang a little longer than the layer underneath. Straight or tapered jeans and chinos balance the roomier cut. When it gets colder, button it up and wear it as a mid layer under an overcoat or puffer.
Can you wear a corduroy jacket in winter?
Yes, with layers. On dry, cold days a cord jacket over a thick jumper is often enough. When it is wet or close to freezing, wear the cord piece under a proper coat, because corduroy absorbs rain and is not windproof. An overshirt or shacket is easier to fit under a coat than a structured jacket.
Can you wear a corduroy jacket with corduroy trousers?
Only if they are made as a matching set in the same colour and the same width of cord, which reads as a suit. Two unrelated cord pieces tend to look mismatched. If in doubt, wear your cord jacket with denim, chinos or wool trousers and keep cord trousers for outfits with a plain knit or jacket.
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