Are cream/white cords acceptable? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Are cream/white cords acceptable?

Dani

Veteran

I know Angie is going to do a blog post on the topic of corduroys, but I remember somewhere that she mentioned cream/winter white cords might be acceptable for smart casual.

I'd like to get some opinions as I'm running out of options for alternatives to jeans (the Gap pants that Angie blogged about last week looked and felt wrong on me) and I can see a lot of uses for a cream/winter white pair of cords.

Do you guys have any thoughts on this?

Dressing

38 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Tanya

Veteran

I am a personally a fan, but then again I am generally pro-corduroy if worn correctly. I used to have a pair of cream bootcut cords that I wore to death and sadly had to retire them last fall because they shrank ( put them in the dryer a few too many times). This season I have my eyes on the J Crew Matchsticks in Sea Salt. They also have that color in trouser and bootcut models.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I'm waiting for Angie's thoughts before I purchase the pewter colored cords. I personally like the look and find it 'acceptable' for my lifestyle. I know Ana was considering a pair of cream/white cords to replace her white jeans for fall. And now that I have a pair of white jeans I can see how hard it will be to put them away this winter.
I too tried on the Gap micro check pants and they didn't look right. I'm hoping to try the Esprit pair sometime. I'm not giving up hope because I think something like this could work. I'll keep my eyes peeled and let you know if I find something else, Dani.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I was wondering this as well, Dani. Thanks for asking!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's on my blog list for next week, Dani. I can get my head around cream cord pants if the wale is thin and pretty. Smart casual is debatable. Casual for sure. Have you tried the J Crew ones? The cream seems very thin and see through.

Patience

Veteran

What about Boden's microcheck pants? I'm not sure of the fabric content-- it may be too dressy-- but I think the model looks great with her purple sweater. (See the boden ad to the right).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dani, did you try the checked pants? Sorry they didn’t work Sarah.

Apart from corduroy, there are black-black jeans, cream jeans, skirts and dresses to wear for Autumn and Winter both casually and smart casually. (And the right micro-check of course).

I might be able to get my head around pewter cords too. I’ve seem them, tried them, worked with them. I can’t help it ladies. I do not prefer corduroy pants. There are nicer things to wear. I have held this opinion forever. Every season I have an open mind about corduroy and every season I’m left with the same opinion. I pop corduroy skirts and jackets into another category though. It’s cord pants I am hard on.

Personal preferences are superfluous in my line of work. Everyone has their own style and taste and I work with all sorts of different styles and taste levels. My adversity to cord pants is nothing personal, it’s general – like maxi dresses and basic T-shirts.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I understand, Angie. And I'm not holding out on cords in the hopes that you'll change your mind. I do think I could make cords work for weekend wear. I love skirts for work with boots, so I'm waiting for the temps to cool off a bit more.
My office is fairly casual - the other two employees (male) wear polos and khaki pants every day. They do not give me specifications on what to wear. Do you feel that colored (black, cream) jeans are appropriate in this setting?
I hope I'm not taking away from your original question, Dani, but maybe this will help you out, too.
Patience, I did see some nice 'casual' pants at Boden's website. Thanks for the recommendation.

Dani

Veteran

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I was actually considering the J Crew cream cords, but I tried the matchstick and they were AWFUL. I was going to try the bootcut but if they're thin, that's definitely not what I want. I'll keep looking.

Angie, I did try the Gap checked pants and they didn't feel or look right. I hadn't considered cream jeans. Any recommendations for those?

I like these Boden pants:
http://www.bodenusa.com/col.as.....oom_viewer

but they're on backorder for 15 weeks. I don't think I can wait that long

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I'd much rather have a pair of cream straight leg jeans, but I have had absolutely no luck in my search so far. I hope some retailer or other will come out with this.

Tanya

Veteran

Ana, I don't know if you'll like any of these, but I'll try anyway:

http://www.ralphlauren.com/pro.....Id=2961532

http://www.electriccouture.com.....de=crmblnk

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dani, how about brown jeans? I see quite a few around. Great with turquoise and red ( which I know you like). Charcoal grey denim is another option. They’ll look nice with purple. Just a thought. How about a cord skirt?

Ana, remind me why the J Brand cream jeans didn’t work?

Tanya, good job! Do you feel a little better?

Tanya

Veteran

Oh, I love the idea of the charcoal jeans Angie! Now I only need to find them.

I did get some sleep last night so I feel better in that way, but unfortunately I am really sick now with some virus - all of that non-sleeping probably weakened my immune system. So that probably means that I'll spend whole evening tonight and day tomorrow here on YLF

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh you poor thing. Take care of yourself, Tanya. We're sending you loads of feel better energy. I’m personally giving you permission to add to your extensive denim collection. Bring on the charcoal jeans!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh no, Tanya! I hope you feel better soon. Thanks for posting the two links. I have seen the RL jeans, and they are actually like a shimmery yellowish cream, which I don't think would work in my wardrobe that well. The second pair are the exact color I want and have tonal stitching, but the rise is way too low, and knee opening isn't big enough. Thank you for looking, though--I really appreciate it!

Angie, the J Brand cream jeans just didn't fit at all. I really need a straight leg jean, and they were definitely skinny. I could barely get my calf into them (forget about my thighs). Also, they have tonal stitching, and I really would like just a very plain pair of cream jeans. I wish I could find them and have them be exactly like my white straight leg jeans--those are so wonderful!

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks Angie&Ana! I'll stay in bed tomorrow and see how it goes.

Ana, I'll keep my eyes open for cream jeans for you.

Here are some charcoal finds:

http://www.revolveclothing.com.....C&d=5

http://www.tobi.com/product/49.....re?cmp=shp

Dani

Veteran

Thanks for all the links. I could definitely go for some brown jeans...any leads on brands?

Charcoal is a nice idea. I'll just have to see...I don't tend to get much use out of grey pants in my wardrobe but I'm open to trying them.

Tanya, feel better soon!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I don't know if anyone saw my traumatized post in the where to shop section about matchstick jeans not fitting, but I have to add here that I tried the charcoal corduroy matchsticks and they fit great. I wore a 28 short in the corduroy (I wear a 6 petite) and couldn't even come close to buttoning the same size in the denim version.

Ultimately I feel the same as Angie about corduroys so I didn't buy them. Plus I feel like they add pounds but maybe that's my own personal hang up.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Tanya! I bet if anyone could find them it would be you.

Nicole

Veteran

I wonder if it's a West Coast/East Coast thing??

Tanya commented that she liked cords in the right situation. I also like cords.

I have a pair of ATL boot cut cords that were my go to casual pants last winter. (They will probably be too big this year--yay and boo at the same time). I bought a pair of cords from Esprit last spring, and have not worn them yet. I'll have to try them on to see if they will fit.

I find that the finer the wale and the shorter the fibers are, the more I like them. I prefer cords in a classic jean style though--not really into them if they are trouser style.

I think one of the thing I like most about them, is they are warm...warmer than denim. They are also very wrinkle resistant, they tend not to whisker around the crotch, and it's an alternative to denim.

Tanya

Veteran

Some brown jeans:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....ID=1609763

http://www.couturecandy.com/de.....oduct.html

http://www.madisonlosangeles.c.....oduct=2951

http://www.bodenusa.com/col.as.....38;col=BRN

Julia

I'm on the fence about the corduroy pants. I actually wore it today to take this picture:

http://i282.photobucket.com/al.....-28011.jpg

However I didn't wear the right shoes so it's hard to tell the best look of them. I got them from JCrew last year. They have fine wale and not see through. I'm not sure if they still sell them though.

After studying the pictures, I agree that they are very casual and not as polished as a pair of white jeans. The reason I like them is that I can pair them with denim jackets while I feel too matchy-matchy wearing white jeans with denim jackets, but I could be wrong.

Nicole

Veteran

I think another plus to cream or white in corduroy opposed to denim, is the fabric makes it more fall/winter-ish. In New England, I wouldn't wear my white jeans past October. But if I had white cords, I would not wear them until September. To me corduroy is a winter fabric, so it makes the white a winter white.

Tanya

Veteran

Nicole, I tend to agree with everything you said about corduroy

Nicole

Veteran

I bet you it's a climate thing then. Is your homeland a cooler climate? And did you wear corduroy when you were living there too?

Tanya

Veteran

My homeland climate is very similar to Boston's : hot summers, freezing winters, the only difference being that it's dry not humid like here. And yes, I did wear corduroy there too, as did many of my friends.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yooohooo. I live in a Western European climate. Seattle is just like France, Germany and Holland. Cool most of the time. Does my perception of corduroy bust your climate theory?

shiny

Veteran

I have yet to drag out my fall clothes and rotate my closet, but I do have a few pairs of cords that I wore before I found my perfect jeans. I suspect I will still wear them and they won't get culled. I have:

1) A pair of highly flattering brown cords- no front pockets, thick waistband that hits just right to "lock and load" and no back pockets either. Sorta wide wale - definetly not fine wale. I think Kenneth Cole or somethng like that - found them a few years ago at Marshall's. I had to have them hemmed dramatically, and unfortunately they may not be PPL with anything but flats. But they are so comfy AND make my butt look great, so they are keepers. I just feel ultra skinny and yet curvy in these cords.... so hard to let them go!!!

2) A pair of straight leg cream-ish cords, fine wale, from BR last season. Fit like my straight leg jeans. I like to wear them with a tunic-length cowl neck sweater in similar color, belted. Gives a nice lean long monochromatic look.

I have a few other pairs of cords that I wore a lot before I lost weight; I need to go through and see if they are worth saving (I have maintained my weight loss for 18 months now... so maybe it's time to let them go). One pair has no wale at all... more like a pseudo velvet... I don't know how you would describe. Ralph Lauren. Not black, more like a gray. Nice for dressing up. But they may not fit anymore though.

My jeans are my "go-to" wear in fall - but cords are a nice change of pace every now and then.

marianne

I am looking forward to the post about corduroy. I do wear corduroy, but I usually own one pair at any given time and I agree, they feel very casual. I guess I always want to have a pair for variety, just because they are the only non-jean casual pants option. I also find that they bag quite a bit (at least on me) and look tired very quickly. I am starting to agree with Angie on this matter and I don't think I'll be getting another pair. Even though I could see Tanya sporting them with style
I do like corduroy jackets though. I am relieved to hear they are not banished.

shiny

Veteran

Maybe it depends on the cords! The two I listed do not bag and have not look tired. The pair #1 I have worn for three seasons now - and quite often. This season I'll probably wear them less, simply because I now understand PPL and I goofed when I had them hemmed.

I have owned cords that do bag and look tired after awhile. Guilty brands include Old Navy and Gap and some department store brands (Macy's in particular; can't remember the store brand is called...)

My opinion is that cords are like jeans; you get what you pay for. There are "premium" cords out there that hold up well and can look sharp. My Ralph Lauren ones - if they still fit me - are quite fancy and smart looking.

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