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10 Best Corduroy Pants for Men
It used to be the case that corduroy wasn’t, well, all that cool. The purview of college professors, the material has always had a preppy, polished vibe, but never one that could rival the “it” factor of other types of cotton (See: The blue jean or the denim jacket). But these days, the best corduroy pants have the cut of your favorite chinos, with stylish dressing never far out of reach.
- Material matters: The ridges that make up corduroy pants are known as “wales,” and they come in styles like wide-wale (more retro) or thin-wale (more modern).
- As cool as can be: Think of corduroy pants as you might think of chinos. They’re versatile and can be worn as dress trousers, or more like a casually cool pair of “in-between” pants.
- A modern turnaround: Don’t associate corduroy pants any more with getting dressed up to go to school or Sunday church. Today’s top styles feature modern stretch and clean designs for a flattering look.
The top brands in menswear are making the style better than ever these days, using rich and visually appealing colors, along with helpful details like a hint of stretch.
The best corduroy pants can certainly be dressed up (with a blazer and an Oxford shirt) or worn in “high-low” fashion (with a shawl cardigan and chambray shirt). And in my experience, the fun only grows from there. Step into one of these essential pairs of corduroy below.
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Kato Pen Stretch Slim Pants
If you want a retailer that gets obsessive about fabric in pursuit of designing some of the best corduroy pants (or the best pants, period), Kato is your best bet.
These boast a hint of stretch and a super-soft garment-dyed finish that’s unbelievably comfortable.
Haggar Classic Corduroy Pants
If you’d like to opt for a pair of truly classic corduroy pants that you can dress up easily (perhaps with wingtip boots and a charcoal blazer in the winter), then Haggar delivers.
These feature a timeless straight-leg fit and a crisp, dressy, office-ready look.
Bonobos Corduroy 5-Pocket Pants
Recall what we said earlier about the best corduroy pants talking on the characteristics of chinos? With Bonobos, that certainly holds true, as the brand makes some of the best men’s chinos, all the while using those same details in its corduroy pants.
The five-pocket design takes on the look of a jean while using premium cord fabric.
Buck Mason Craftsman Ford Corded Jean
Corduroy pants, when done the right way by a heritage-inspired brand like Buck Mason, can be worn as easily and stylish as classic men’s jeans.
Quite literally, that means the all-American brand used its classic Ford jean silhouette, then updated it with a 14-wale cotton corduroy fabric for subtle style notes.
L.L. Bean Stretch Corduroy Pants
Corduroy truly is a heritage fabric prized for its warmth and durability, and it’s always had a sort of preppy appeal at the same time – and that’s why it makes perfect sense for L.L. Bean to make a straightforward, high-quality pair with a touch of modern stretch.
Patrick James 34 Heritage Courage Corduroy Jeans
Can a pair of pants be both corduroy trousers and jeans at once? With 34 Heritage, that versatility is certainly the case, and the result is an expertly faded, soft stretch pair of corduroy pants that feature a slightly more casual, denim-esque cut. Try ‘em on for size with a breezy T-shirt.
Dickies Regular Fit Corduroy Pants
Best known for its sturdy, ultra-tough canvas pants, Dickies shifts gears and looks more toward post-work pursuits with this utterly classic pair of corduroy pants. The regular fit offers room to move, and should pair nicely with sturdy leather boots – of the lace-up or dress variety. Details like thicker-than-average belt loops and a brass zipper solidify their dependable design.
Iron and Resin Saguaro Corduroy Pants
Don’t sleep on the utility of some of the best corduroy pants for men. Iron and Resin specializes in moto-inspired, road-ready gear, and puts its own twist on the durable corduroy pant, starting with the use of a ‘Z’ twill pattern, not to mention a clean, tapered fit. They almost look more like black moto jeans than traditional corduroys, and that’s not a bad thing.
Brooks Brothers Corduroy Pants
Leave it to Brooks Brothers to dream up an iconic, truly classic set of corduroy pants – they’re among a slew of staples in the brand’s lineup after all these years.
Crisp details like a button-tab front closure and a range of fit options – including Slim and Regular – cement the legendary American retailer as a force to be reckoned with if you want a set of the best corduroy pants.
Lands’ End Traditional Fit Stretch Washed Corduroy Pants
Complete with riveted pockets and a classic fit, this pair of Northeast-inspired corduroy pants takes its cues from traditional five-pocket denim.
The stretch cotton fabric is washed in advance for comfort right out of the box, while the straight fit is versatile enough to wear with boots, loafers or leather Oxford dress shoes.
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