Corduroy, velvet's ugly tufted cousin, is the fabric of choice for some sartorially brave stars including Mathew Broderick, Dawson Leery of Dawson’s Creek and Fantastic Mr Fox. But for the rest of us, cordury is a fabric that I'm sure we all hoped we would never have to wear past the age of five.
Regardless of such fabric fears, our corduroy-free existence may be coming to an end. Hiding amongst the fur coats, leather pants and velvety goodness that designers have served up during the latest Autumn Winter shows, corduroy has managed to rear its ugly corrugated head and infiltrate designer fashion houses.
Italian house Max Mara was sadly the biggest victim, innocently producing a coat entirely out of thick brown corduroy (quite possible the ugliest form) in the hope that consumers would perceive the cotton fabric as luxurious. Other houses that fell victim to its abrasive allure included Diane Von Furstenberg, Bottega Veneta and Lacoste.
So is it possible to wear corduroy without being mistaken for a uni lecturer or three sizes larger than what you actually are? Well in the case of a corduroy vest worn by McLovin, and a brown corduroy sack dress worn by Lily Allen, hell no. In the case of the recent Autumn Winter Karen Walker collection, perhaps a tailored corduroy blazer can’t hurt. Corduroy suits may be pushing it though. And in the case of the guy with the sign, yes, corduroy skirts really are a sin.