When should cords be retired?

My favorite pair of pants is a pair of corduroys. I'd love to buy more but it's March. About when do you think season-wise that they need to be packed away until next fall?

6 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Bijou

Veteran

If you like wearing them and they are comfortable, I don't see any rule against wearing corduroys in any season. This is a similar issue to wearing white jeans in winter, the unexpected makes them seem more fashion forward when well styled.

However, fabrics such as corduroy and velvet being heavier and plush lend themselves to fall, winter and early spring wear. I do think lighter colours (such as baby blue, pink, white and cream) will be easier to wear in spring than dark and earthy tones.

I love this picture of bright pink cords being worn in summer from Vogue and also love this cream outfit, which could be fine gauge cords.

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

6 years ago

Eva

Active Member

I think it depends on your climate, and maybe also on the colour of your corduroys.
I have a dark blue pair, and at the moment, the weather is gray, rainy and windy here. I will probably pack them away once I can see sun and blue sky for more than a few days, so not before may. Then again, I might decide to continue wearing them instead of dark wash blue jeans. If one can wear white jeans in winter, why not dark cords in summer?

6 years ago

Anonymous

Not a cord lover so for me they would need to be retired the first time you washed them. Eva has a good point. Wear them as long as you need to. It may be a cold spring and cool summer.

6 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

This year, I predict cold until May!

6 years ago

delurked

Veteran

I had a couple pair of lightweight cords, and enjoyed wearing them, but figured they fit seasonally from about October to end of April.

6 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

It depends on the heaviness of the fabric, the colour, and the style. I have a pair of clear raspberry red cropped pants in lightweight baby cord that I wear year round. My long black heavy cord pants are worn in fall and winter only. And fashion-wise, my spring started early this year: On February 23.

6 years ago

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

When younger I didn’t realize cords were considered seasonal, and I wore them in summer too until somebody made fun of me about it and I was mortified. Since then I keep them to fall/winter! But that was embarrassing moment was 20 years ago, no idea if the “rule” still applies.

6 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I haven’t owned cords in years, but I always felt the texture made them seem more seasonal. However I think it depends on color, thickness, etc. My husband has cords in various colors that he wears year-round.

6 years ago

Active Member

As it turns out, Talbots is now sold out of very "summery" (non-black) color in my size, rendering this entire conversation moot.

6 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

Agree with others that it depends on weight and color. I wear my light camel colored ones in Spring, Fall, and Winter. The only time I put them away is hot summer. So, right around June I'll put them away until early September. I have worn my maroon ones (wider leg, cuffed at ankle) with blush tees and white sneakers in Spring, but not often.

6 years ago

Anonymous

I wear them daily (thanks AG Jeans!) all fall and winter and I love them but there comes a time in spring, even before they're too warm, when they suddenly look wrong. It's almost like a quality of light thing for me, as though they look dusty or something.

6 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I don’t have any - but I do think of them as a fall or winter item - or the start of spring. I think of velvet the same way.

Conversely I think of linen as a summer fabric along with broiderie anglaise/ eyelet.

No rules though:)

6 years ago

Category