The Complete Guide to Corduroy Pants

The Complete Guide to Corduroy Pants

Characterized by a distinct cord-based pattern, corduroy pants offer the perfect combination of style and comfort. As a result, they've become a popular style of men's trousers in recent years. Unless you're familiar with corduroy pants, though, you might be wondering how they differ from other styles of men's trousers. In this post, we're going to reveal everything you need to know about corduroy pants.

What Are Corduroy Pants?

Some people assume that corduroy pants are men's trousers made of corduroy fabric. This isn't completely false, but it's not entirely accurate either. This is because corduroy isn't a fabric. Rather, the term "corduroy" refers to a weaving pattern in featuring multiple parallel lines of raised fabric. Most corduroy pants are made of cotton, though others are made of wool and even polyester. Regardless, all corduroy pants feature the same distinct weaving pattern. You can see examples of corduroy pants by visiting our online store. Here at StudioSuits, we offer a wide selection of premium corduroy pants. You can even find stretch corduroy pants available for sale, which as the name suggests, are more elastic than traditional corduroy pants.

Benefits of Corduroy Pants

Why should you choose corduroy pants? For starters, they are incredibly comfortable. Their soft texture and high-end construction allows for a superior level of comfort. Whether you wear your corduroy pants for a few hours or the entire day, you can rest assured knowing that they'll be comfortable. This alone is reason enough for many men to choose corduroy pants over other trouser styles. In addition to being super comfortable, corduroy pants are stylish. You can find corduroy pants available in traditional colors like tan and black, but you can also find them available in more modern colors like tangerine, blue, green and even red. As a result, you shouldn't have trouble finding a pair of corduroy pants to match your personal style. It's also worth mentioning that corduroy pants are strong and durable. Their cord-based weaving pattern naturally protects them from damage. This doesn't necessarily mean that corduroy pants will last forever. When compared to other styles of men's trousers, though, you'll probably get more use out of a pair of corduroy pants, primarily because they are stronger and more durable.

Corduroy Pants vs Khakis: What's the Difference?

Although they are both popular styles of men's trousers, corduroy pants and khakis aren't the same. Khakis are simply men's trousers that feature a light brown -- almost tan -- color. They are often made of the same cotton fabric as corduroy pants. Only corduroy pants, however, feature the distinct cord-based weaving pattern. Khakis feature a traditional weaving pattern that results in a smooth surface. In comparison, the cord-based weaving pattern of corduroy pants results in a ribbed surface.

 

Comparing the Different Types of Corduroy

If you're thinking about purchasing a pair of corduroy pants, you should familiarize yourself with the different types of corduroy. All corduroy pants feature the aforementioned weaving pattern. There are different types of corduroy, however, each of which has unique qualities. Some of the most common types of corduroy include the following:

 

  • Standard Wale
  • Pincord
  • Pinwale
  • Needlecord
  • Dyed

How to Choose a Pair of Corduroy Pants

Because there are so many different types of corduroy pants, you may feel overwhelmed when shopping for a pair. With the right approach, though, you can walk away with the perfect pair of corduroy pants. First and foremost, choose a color that matches your everyday "go to" outfits. If you choose a pair of corduroy pants in a bold color, you may struggle to integrate them into your outfits. It should go without saying that your corduroy pants should fit properly. If they are too small, they'll feel constricting and uncomfortable. If they are too big, they'll look baggy awkward. By choosing a pair of fitted corduroy pants in the right size, you can avoid these problems.

How to Care for Corduroy Pants

When properly maintained, a pair of high-quality corduroy pants can last for many years. Whether you currently own several pairs of corduroy pants, or if you're looking to purchase your first pair, there are a few things you can do to make them last. Don't wash your corduroy pants in hot water. When washing them, turn your washing machine to the cold water setting. Corduroy pants, like many other garments, don't handle heat very well. And while washing your corduroy pants in hot water just once or twice probably won't cause any noticeable damage, you can make them last longer by washing them in cold water. Another way to make your corduroy pants last is to tumble dry them. What is tumble drying exactly? Tumble drying is a setting on most modern clothes dryers that only uses a tumbling mechanism to dry garments. In other words, won't expose your corduroy pants to heat.

What Are Stretch Corduroy Pants?

Stretch corduroy pants are similar to stretch jeans in that you can stretch them without damaging the fabric. They typically contain a combination of both cotton as well as an elastic fabric like polyester, lycra or spandex. The Stretch Black Corduroy Pants sold here at StudioSuits, for example, are made of 98% cotton and 2% lycra. While 2% isn't much, the presence of this lycra significantly increases their elasticity. Because of their increased elasticity, many people will agree that stretch corduroy pants are softer and more comfortable to wear than traditional corduroy pants. The downside, however, is that they are more susceptible to shrinkage when washed and dried. You can still wash and dry stretch corduroy pants, but you'll need to follow the instructions listed on the care tag to protect them from damage.

In Conclusion

After reading this, you should have a better understanding of corduroy pants. Corduroy pants aren't made of corduroy fabric. Rather, they made of traditional fabrics like cotton, as well as lycra for stretch corduroy pants, and are characterized by a distinct cotton-based weaving pattern.