I’m not a fan of corduroy pants. They look masculine and it doesn’t take long for them to start looking worn. They also develop protruding “knees and bottoms” that you can live without. Then there is their “iridescent carpet” effect. You won’t convince me that wide-waled, corduroy trousers look nice on women. They are a stylish no-no. Five pocket jeans in narrow-waled corduroy are closer, but still no cigar.

A pair of jeans in a dark colour like blue, black, charcoal or cream looks infinitely better than corduroy in any ensemble. The argument that corduroy feels warmer than denim and therefore perfect for cold weather is interesting because both fabrics are 95 – 100% cotton. (I have yet to come across a pair of cords with a wool content). But corduroy is softer and cozier than denim which might offer the illusion of extra warmth.

I can manage to get my head around a pair of cream, ultra narrow–waled corduroy pants that are cut like jeans because they look more feminine and aren’t iridescent. But the J. Crew cream version that’s available in stores right now is thin and see-through, so bang goes that idea. Tory Burch has a beautiful cream pair, but $200 is steep for a pair of casual cords.

I’m not dead set against corduroy fabric. I’m all for corduroy skirts and cheeky cord jackets as long as the wale is narrow and the styling is pretty. These are items that are undoubtedly feminine. The look is casual, a little boho and a wee bit rugged in a wonderful way.

One last fact about corduroy pants. They are smarter than sweats, but more casual than a pair of dark wash jeans. Corduroy pants are NOT a business casual option. If your colleagues are wearing cords to work because they’re not allowed to wear jeans, help them out. They’re actually a lot more casual than they thought they were.

Bring on the corduroy debate. I know many of you love cord pants and will continue to wear them. I’m going to be hard to sway, but as Frasier would say, “I’m listening”.

The model on the left is wearing a pair of charcoal grey, skinny corduroy pants. The ensemble looks fab because the pant fabric looks more like grey denim or stretch velour. It’s hard to see that these pants are waled. The green jacket and yellow skirt are lovely items to have in corduroy, and especially nice when paired with denim.

Tailored single-breasted jackets and blazers that are left un-buttoned are usually more flattering. They create a natural vertical line that elongates the silhouette, and draws the eye up-and-down. Leaving a jacket un-buttoned is also more comfortable and shows off interesting layering detail.

Bustier gals and gals who are a little broader in the shoulder can battle with jacket-button closure. The jacket fits everywhere else, but can’t button up. Going up a size means that the buttons will fasten, but that the shoulder line, sleeve length and torso are sloppy. An experienced and superb seamstress can alter anything, but jackets are tricky and expensive to alter (especially if they have lining). In this instance, alteration is often not worth the price and effective results are not guaranteed.

So I’m giving you the go-ahead to purchase a jacket or blazer that doesn’t close across the bust area, if it fits perfectly in all other respects. Obviously, outerwear trenches, coats, parkas and gear need to button up for practical reasons. There is little sense in braving the elements for aesthetics. But I’m fine with leaving other types of jackets unbuttoned as a cost-effective, stress-free and comfy solution.

Button-down woven shirts weren’t popular in the comments on the knits vs. wovens post a few days ago. Lack of comfort, tricky fit, severe look and overly formal appearance were the complaints. But I’m sticking up for the item today because there are many ways you can make the right one work in your wardrobe.

YLF forum member Julia was the inspiration for today’s post. She gave an old yellow striped button-down shirt new life by layering it with fun items and combining key accessories. The lesson is that we shouldn’t think of a button-down shirt as a wow-top that stands alone (unless it’s an Anne Fontaine). Instead, think of it as a vehicle that enables other items to shine.

Button–downs are great when layered under waistcoats and knitwear, belted in at the waist or peeping out from under tailored jackets. I like to tuck them into pencil skirts, pop the collar and scrunch up the sleeves. I also like to wear them un-tucked over skinny jeans with heels and a statement necklace. I’ve just purchased a grey and white baby pinstripe button-down shirt with exaggerated white French cuffs and collar. I can’t wait to belt it under my biker jacket with pearls.

Go beyond the conventional, strict, masculine button-down shirt. The right shirt can look soft, pretty and delicate if the cut, colour and fabrication is just so. My wardrobe wouldn’t function without fabulous black, white and cream button-downs. They aren’t a wardrobe must, but they can add style and spunk to your look if you’re creative with your outfits. They are also a great way to bridge the gap between different items. I encourage you to give them a second chance

J. Crew usually does a wonderful job of integrating an assortment of basic button-downs into their collection.

Skinny belts that are too long can still work if you use this shortening technique. It’s nifty and one I’m sure you’ve seen before.

Wrap the long, dangling end around the part of the belt that’s on your waist and pull it through to create “a knotted effect”. Pull the knot tightly and the belt stays put all day.

If the ends of the belt are too short to knot, but long enough to dangle, use double sided tape or Velcro adhesives to keep the belt end in place. Having belts professionally shortened by a cobbler is another route to go. But if you’re short on time like I was last week, knotting works just fine.