The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - The Telegraph Magazine
Ginnie Chadwyck-healey Striking a cord
Hear the word ‘corduroy’ and you might think, ‘Brown, mustard, schoolmaster, country, cold weather…’ And you’d be totally justified. Yet in one brief visit to Anna Mason’s London atelier, my world (of work, as a fashion writer) was turned upside down. Mason’s handling of corduroy sealed the deal for me committing to this column today.
Corduroy is historically linked to heavy-duty clothes that can withstand long days of hard wear. It has been used in such sporting garments as breeches and hunting jackets. In terms of modern-day fashion, it peaked in the 1970s with an anti-establishment, free-spirited vibe: think burnt-orange flares.
Today, these vanilla corduroy jogging pants (vanilla corduroy?!) are a refreshing point of difference. The pockets are a feature, but cut in such a way that they don’t create bulk. The elastic at the rear of the waistband offers support without overzealous ruching. Side-zips at the ankle are a sweet detail, elegant with heels. When they’re undone, the trousers are more street-style, paired with your favourite Stan Smith trainers. The super-high waist elongates the leg. Ticking a lot of boxes so far. But mostly it’s the fabric that adds clout. Like a great tartan or a sharp velvet, corduroy does all the hard work for you: a talking point but not too shouty. Accessories can be kept to a minimum – that’s when you know a fabric is holding its own.
So next time you ponder a new jacket, skirt, waistcoat or pair of trousers, break out of your comfort zone and try cord. Springtime colours are appearing and you’ll be grateful for an alternative to denim.
Opposites attract when wearing corduroy. It’s all about balance: a cord trouser works well with a silk shirt. Navy or bottle-green cord is at ease with a pastel-tone top. A rugged brown cord can have its spirits lifted with grass green or tobacco. Or why not add a hint of cord with a monogrammed tote by London Velvet?
As history proves, this fabric has staying power. It should hold a venerable position in all our wardrobes – but if you need some cord cool, you’d best head straight to Anna Mason.