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Oh corduroy, how we’ve missed you. The unofficially official fabric of fall — this makes corduroy pants the unofficially official pants of the season — is an autumnal darling for a reason: rarely does the fabric make an appearance prior to the turn of the leaves (unless you happened to indulge in a pair of corduroy shorts recently), but its appeal as an in-season uniform is as sensible as it is widespread. After all, the best corduroy pants don’t just drape your thighs in ribbony cotton comfort, but are a whole look level-up for any guy who recognizes the significance of the phrase Take Ivy.
From Our EIC: Corduroy Weather Is Just Around the Corner
From Taylor Stitch to Ralph LaurenIt’s for this exact reason that we need corduroy pants now more than ever. Allow the supple (yes, supple) fabric to imbue not only your wardrobe but the entire season with that familiar feeling of warmth fall is meant to provide, especially when rendered in rich hues — your chestnuts, olives, mochas, you understand. With so many iterations and silhouettes of the cord pant now available, there’s zero reason not to wear them all season long.
Because we’re firm believers in the power of fall (and the power of corduroy) we’ve highlighted a good variety of waled styles to incorporate into your wardrobe. From Alex Mill to Buck Mason, the best corduroy pants for men are all you should be wearing this fall.
The Best Corduroy Pants for Men
- Best Overall: Alex Mill Standard Pleated Corduroy Pant, $165
- Best Classic: Polo Ralph Lauren Whitman Relaxed Fit Corduroy Pant, $198
- Best Casual: Mfpen Straight-Leg Cotton-Corduroy Trousers, $380
- Best Affordable: Uniqlo x JW Anderson Corduroy Work Pants, $60
- Best Chino: Todd Snyder Relaxed Wide Wale Corduroy Pants, $178
In This Guide
- The Best Corduroy Pants for Men
- More Corduroy Pants We Love
- Corduroy FAQ
- How to Wear Corduroy This Fall
- Why You Should Trust Us
Why We Love Them: Leave it to the creators of our favorite chinos to nail a perfect corduroy pant, too. Don’t fear Alex Mill’s acres of pleating, but embrace it with this pair of crsipy corduroys that might as well have been made for foliage hunting and steaming cups of cocoa. The rugged detailing makes for vintage-looking pants while also providing just the right amount of slouch for that instant casually cool look. They’re just the best, hands down.
Who It’s For: Anyone who isn’t an autumnal grouch.
Size Range: 28-38 Waist, 28-30 Length | Material: 100% Cotton Corduroy | Fit: Relaxed | Colors: 3
Why We Love Them: Sure, you might already have some relaxed-fit cords. Maybe they’re even pleated, a plus in our book, especially if you’re channeling some form of ivy style. But chances are, they not a replica of the massive PRL cords that arguably started it all. This should change ASAP.
Who It’s For: Corduroy purists.
Size Range: 28-42 Waist, 30-34 Length | Material: 100% Cotton Corduroy | Fit: Relaxed | Colors: 7
Why We Love Them: Hardpressed to give up your jeans this autumn? Ease yourself into the season with Mfpen’s straight-leg pants — despite being cut from substantial cotton corduroy, these pants feel just like the standard lived-in jeans you wear every day, plus or minus some skater swag.
Who It’s For: Chill guys.
Size Range: XS-XL | Material: 100% Cotton Corduroy | Fit: Straight | Colors: 1
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Why We Love It: Uniqlo is a great place to snag basics, and you shouldn’t don’t sleep on their recent collaboration with JW Anderson, which includes a pair of solid corded work pants for being just $60. Between a fine wale material, internal belting system and deep pockets for all the gear you could possibly tote, consider them a real corduroy contender.
Who It’s For: Broke Dior fans…or anyone looking to save a buck this fall.
Size Range: XS-XXL | Material: 100% Cotton Corduroy | Fit: Loose | Colors: 3
Why We Love Them: If you find yourself in need of a proper chino this fall, look no further than Todd Snyder. The 8-wale corduroy lends itself to a serious heft, and a casualness that will allow them to be worn in a range of situations, whether you want to don them during the day to feel slightly more put together or dress them up for a night out.
Who It’s For: The man on the move.
Size Range: 28-38 Waist, 30-34 Length | Material: 100% Cotton Corduroy | Fit: Relaxed | Colors: 3
More Corduroy Pants We Love
Buck Mason Chunky Cord Full Saddle Chino
Leave it to Buck Mason to turn a pair of vintage-inspired work chinos — their Full Saddle design riffs on classic styling from the 1950s — into a buttery pair of perfect fall pants. The 11 oz. 8-wale cotton corduroy might be the softest on this list, and can be worn as part of a suit or with your favorite flannel.
Knickerbocker Canal Pleated Corduroy Cotton Pant
Knickerbocker’s Canal Cords are more formal than your average trousers, making them a great option for classier events that still allow (or demand) some autumnal expression.
Taylor Stitch The Carnegie Corduroy Pant
With all the great styles out there, corduroy’s robust features can get a bit lost. Not so with these Carnegie work pants from Taylor Stitch — they’re rugged as all get out.
Drake’s Straight-Leg Cotton-Corduroy Trousers
Silky smooth and looking fresh out of a photo book, these velvety Drake’s cords are the epitome of tasteful tailoring.
Corduroy FAQ
Wait, what is corduroy?
Tracing its modern origins — corduroy-esque material cropped up as early as ancient Egypt — to industrial England, corduroy is a fabric made up of woven cotton, (though polyesters and wool blends also exist) and is specially denoted by its piled ridges, otherwise known as “wales”.
What’s a wale?
Corduroy wale is a term used to denote the texture and look of the corduroy: utilizing a gauge based on the number of wales in a single inch of fabric, a numerical gauge (typically, 8-16) offers insight into how thick the cord ribs are.
Is wide wale better?
No wale is better than another — instead, they offer different properties. low-gauge wale means that classic thick cord texture, while a high-gauge indicates a finer, more velvet-like structure.
How to Wear Corduroy Pants This Fall
The joys of corduroy pants present themselves when it comes to seasonal styling. Perfectly appropriate for the office, outdoors, bar and beyond, the multifarious nature of cords allows them to mix and match with nearly any pursuit. As in seasons past, we recommend opting for a straighter, wider-legged corduroy trouser this fall, much in line with the general (and literal) expansion of men’s pants in recent years —the thick fabric and historical styling context lends itself to this oversized look.
Why You Should Trust Us
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