[never behind]

I admit, after being stuck at home for 5 months and not dressing up for the office, I am getting clothes shopping fever. I can't wait for the weather to cool. After the feedback from my other cords thread, and looking around, I'm just going to stick with our friends at O'Connell's. I've also been reading some older threads on cords.

One question - pleats or no pleats? Most of my reading would suggest no pleats given the casual nature and potentially cotton not holding the pleat well.

As far as a color, my jackets would be navy doeskin, brown herringbone tweed with faint orange overcheck, dark green herringbone tweed and a grey herringbone tweed. Sweaters are mostly shades of grey, green, dark reds and a navy.

Thinking of an 8 wale and leaning towards the fawn.

Olive

Dark Chocolate

Cream

They do have a (lighter) brown in 6 wale.

 

[Flanderian]

My favorite color for cords to be worn during cooler months is rust. And as it happens, would harmonize with any of your jackets. (Though the weight/texture difference between the cords and the doeskin may be a little problematic.)

Of those above, the top one (fawn?) would likely prove most versatile with your jacket wardrobe.

 

[Charles Dana]

Fawn might be the most versatile, as Flanderian pointed out.

Whether to go with pleats or a flat front is entirely a matter of personal preference.

 

[eagle2250]

When it comes to cords, I have relied on Khaki, Olive and chocolate hues. The Olive trousers saw more wear time than the others. Mine are all flat front.

 

[215339]

I feel like I wouldn't want pleats on cords just in terms of aesthetics. They wouldn't hold the pleat very well.

For me, half the appeal of pleats is a sharp crease flowing into a seamless pleat for dressier trousers.

I'd go with fawn + plain front.

 

[Flanderian]

When it comes to cords, I have relied on Khaki, Olive and chocolate hues. The Olive trousers saw more wear time than the others. Mine are all flat front.

Olive is my second favorite choice.

I also like gold, navy and black. Unlike most black cloth, black corduroy can look simultaneously rich and subdued when worn with grey or other harmonious pairings.

 

[Fading Fast]

I never thought I'd want a pair of cream cords until I got one on deep sale and then ended up wearing them all the time. Mine (like the one's you posted) are a good "winter white" cream which goes with just about every other color.

If these are your first pair, olive would probably be my choice as that, to me, is a "classic" cord color, but I'd probably miss my cream ones more if they were gone.

Pleats or no is a preference call, but since cords tend to be more casual and have a lot of material to them, I usually go without pleats if I have the option.

Oh, and the cream cords with a dove grey sweater is a really nice winter look.

 

[never behind]

My favorite color for cords to be worn during cooler months is rust. And as it happens, would harmonize with any of your jackets. (Though the weight/texture difference between the cords and the doeskin may be a little problematic.)

Of those above, the top one (fawn?) would likely prove most versatile with your jacket wardrobe.

When I typed "doeskin" I did question if that would work. Probably mostly wear with sweaters

I never thought I'd want a pair of cream cords until I got one on deep sale and then ended up wearing them all the time. Mine (like the one's you posted) are a good "winter white" cream which goes with just about every other color.

I was surprised by how much I liked the cream. That might make it in the top 3. Honestly, I doubt I'll stop at one.

I'll probably go fawn then olive.

 

[Charles Dana]

Honestly, I doubt I'll stop at one.

That's the unofficial slogan of this forum.

 

[Andy]

You'll all heard this from me a million times!! "If I've told you once, I'll told you a million times - don't exaggerate!". :icon_headagainstwall:

Pleats are not a fashion or aesthetics element; they are functional so you can sit down! All pants should have pleats!

I just got some burgundy/rust chords. Not sure if I'll wear them, but they look fun.

 

[fishertw]

I've got olive, tan, rust, navy, charcoal, burgundy and brown. The tan is my "go to" ones. All are pleated for as Andy says in a previous post "All pants should have pleats!" And at my age, I do need to sit down pretty often.
Cheers to all pleat wearers.

 

[EclecticSr.]

Look at Cordings, the best I find. Come in a variety of colors and two different wales. Side adjuster or belt loops. Some think they're a bit pricey but the quality is there.

 

[Dhaller]

So much just depends on your coloring.

As usual, I agree with Flanderian's unerring sense of style (rust), but of the colors listed, *I* would go with the 6-wale light brown. But then, I like a more "rustic" cord.

That said, I can see a case for cream's versatility.

I had a pair of very dark navy wide-wale cords a number of years ago which were *beautiful*, and so luxurious, with a hand like the softest velvet... and which worked with *nothing*. Just strangely unwearable. It was just the wrong color for wide-wale cords.

DH

 

[215339]

You'll all heard this from me a million times!! "If I've told you once, I'll told you a million times - don't exaggerate!". :icon_headagainstwall:

Pleats are not a fashion or aesthetics element; they are functional so you can sit down! All pants should have pleats!

I just got some burgundy/rust chords. Not sure if I'll wear them, but they look fun.

They definitely add a far different aesthetic and it's not for everyone.

I'd gladly trade some room to have cleaner lines on casual trousers.

I've fairly chunky thighs and bum, and as long as flat fronts are cut correctly, they're still comfortable for me to sit down in and sprawl my legs.

 

[Matt S]

Fawn is my number one choice. It goes well with so much. I like the other browns as well. Olive doesn't do much for me, and I find it is more difficult to pair with a lot of other colours.

I'm in the no-pleat camp for cords. I've had cords with both pleats and no pleats (I used to get everything with pleats for the benefits that Andy mentions), but pleats on cords generally don't drape so well. I have some cords with shallow single forward pleats that work well, but that's the only pleated variant I'd get for cords. Double, fuller pleats just look puffy on cords.

 

[Tim Correll]

You'll all heard this from me a million times!! "If I've told you once, I'll told you a million times - don't exaggerate!". :icon_headagainstwall:

Pleats are not a fashion or aesthetics element; they are functional so you can sit down! All pants should have pleats!

I just got some burgundy/rust chords. Not sure if I'll wear them, but they look fun.

I can't have dressy pants and shorts and formal pants without pleats (Cargo pants and shorts are a different story, however). When possible, I like single forward pleats myself, though single reverse is also good.

I would never do three or more pleats though. That's excessive.

Double pleats are acceptable, but forward is better than reverse.

 

[Tim Correll]

Fawn is my number one choice. It goes well with so much. I like the other browns as well. Olive doesn't do much for me, and I find it is more difficult to pair with a lot of other colours.

I'm in the no-pleat camp for cords. I've had cords with both pleats and no pleats (I used to get everything with pleats for the benefits that Andy mentions), but pleats on cords generally don't drape so well. I have some cords with shallow single forward pleats that work well, but that's the only pleated variant I'd get for cords. Double, fuller pleats just look puffy on cords.

Based on what you said, I would only do shallow single forward or reverse pleats for corduroy pants (corduroy shorts and formal shorts are oxymoronic but for different reasons). Corduroy is a cold weather fabric (shorts are a warm weather garment) while shorts are too casual for formal wear.

 

[Matt S]

Based on what you said, I would only do shallow single forward or reverse pleats for corduroy pants (corduroy shorts and formal shorts are oxymoronic but for different reasons). Corduroy is a cold weather fabric (shorts are a warm weather garment) while shorts are too casual for formal wear.

I don't think you need to worry about anyone here wearing corduroy shorts.

 

[never behind]

I stumbled across a pair of Orvis Brisbane Moss cords on eBay. For $14, I figured it was a good start to the collection!

 

[ran23]

That is about the same colour as some Italian cords I got.