At the Milan fashion week in February 2017 the ribbed cousin of velvet, the corduroy, officially made a comeback with off shoulders, chokers and high waist bell bottoms thrown into the spotlight. The corduroys once famously donned by Kate moss and revamped by the Hadid sisters successfully marked its return. So watch out for the more sophisticated and sleek fabric this year with modern cuts and plays on the silhouette, say the fashion gurus.
Big, bold and rich colors have always been the trademark of corduroys and with the added prints and embroidery, it has just the right balance of vintage and modern for the millennials. Given it’s versatility, the corduroy has been transformed from the thick retro material into thin stretchy fabric, perfect for wearing to a dinner meeting or a night out. What sets the corduroy apart is the ability to gender swap effortlessly. Although, the return of the corduroy pants is still doubtful in this scorching heat, corduroy shorts, skirts and pinafores are veering towards borderline obsession.
However, close to home, stores like H&M, Forever 21, Lifestyle, Vans and Max have stocked corduroy pants, dungarees, skirts, shoes and even kurtis in their summer collection. Will it turn out to be the next big thing or just another fleeting fashion moment?
Mumbai-based fashion design student Tahseen Anwari feels corduroy has tremendous potential in the coming years, but perhaps not immediately in India.
STYLE QUOTIENT: Corduroy is trending on the fashion radar
The tropical weather of our country may not allow the corduroy to establish itself as a cool daytime staple. But, points out Bangalore stylist Elizabeth John, we’ve seen in the past how skin tight jeans and bomber jackets kept up the style quotient irrespective of the soaring mercury and comfort levels.
“Limelight will be on the corduroy clothing as soon as it’s fall or autumn,” she predicts.
India’s style choices rely heavily on the celebrities and bloggers and when Instagram floods with pictures of the likes of Kylie Jenner, Zoella and Sonam Kapoor wearing corduroy dungarees or trousers, pairing them with bodysuits and dark lip shades against a background of golden leaves, it is sure to blow out the water.
The word ‘corduroy’ comes from the French phrase ‘ corde du roi’ which translates into ‘ The Kings Cord’s . The ‘ seventies favorite’ lost its glamour in the late 80’s and 90’s but has now been resurrected by high end designers such as Miuccia Prada, Giorgio Armani and Caruso in 2017.
It’s as if every high end designer in the world has made it their personal mission this year to bring back the corduroy.
‘International designers are definitely a huge influence on the Indian fashion scene. I’m looking forward to working with corduroy and merging it with Indian ethnic wear as jackets and waistcoats’, says Bandana Narula, a fashion designer and brand customizer from Chennai.
The verdict?
Buy it now and get those Instagram worthy shots before the rush begins.
What to do
· Opt for rich shades such as turquoise, olive, coffee brown and burgundy.
· Keep the corduroy as the main highlight of the outfit and don’t mask it with too many accessories.
· Use it for adding layers to your outfit.
What not to
· Don’t go for a corduroy on corduroy look.
· Corduroy is difficult to style and hence put some thought into the outfit. You don’t want to end up looking like a oompa-loompa!
