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Corduroy will forever make us think of Mila Kunis in That ’70s Show. However, this year’s reworked cords have a more subtle nod to the decade. Instead of swinging bell-bottoms, choose a loose fit. Opt for a baggy style similar to the denim shapes du jour. As Vogue’s Laura Hawkins wrote in January, this silhouette will stop your cords from looking like a ’70s Halloween costume. Your muse of the season is more like a hippy music teacher on a hot date. It is not like a bell bottom-clad rock star at Woodstock. Picture an older Jane Birkin in slouchy chocolate cords. This is different from her younger self in a three-piece white suit with skinny flares.”
The return of cords was solidified when The Row gave this tired wardrobe staple a new lease of life. Their spring/summer 2024 collection features baggy trousers in burnt orange and scarlet. These trousers artfully puddled at the ankles. Miu Miu has also played a significant role in the cord comeback. They have introduced pea coats, miniskirts, baseball caps, and overskirts in digestive biscuit-hued tones. This has unsurprisingly translated into the high street’s current winter offering, as J.Crew, Madewell, and Banana Republic have all leaned into this trouser trend.
The word corduroy might conjure images of ginger flares, lava lamps, and homemade tie-dye. It actually has roots in ’90s minimalism, too. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy adored her cropped toffee cords. She typically wore them with a black rollneck. She also paired them with chocolate leather loafers. Also on our inspiration boards? Jane Birkin, who aligned cord trousers with the much-chronicled myth of French-girl style.
This year, there have been plenty of nods towards the ’70s. This is largely thanks to Chemena Kamali’s celebrated work at Chloé. Any archival mood board references are softened through a 2024 lens. We might all be wearing a lot of brown. We are also buying a lot more suede protector. However, no one will think you are making a journey to Abba Voyage. When it comes to styling, you should wear baggy cords instead of your baggy blue jeans. They look best with your everyday basics. Consider pairing them with the oversized tees at The Row. Dakota Johnson sums up the vibe perfectly in her cinnamon cords. She paired them with a white T-shirt. She also wore a red jumper looped around her shoulders, a baseball cap, and a pair of Adidas trainers.
