Corduroy has a reputation problem it does not deserve. People hear the word and picture a geography teacher. Then they see a brown cord trucker with a cream sherpa collar on somebody at a gas station in October and think: that guy looks good, and I can't work out why.
The reason is texture. Most of what men wear is flat: denim, jersey, poplin. Corduroy has ridges that catch light, and sherpa has pile. Put either next to a plain T-shirt and jeans and the outfit suddenly has depth, with no effort from you. That is the whole trick, and it is why this jacket is the easiest good-looking thing you can own.
The one fit rule
A trucker jacket ends at your belt. That short, square cut is what defines it, and it is what makes your legs look longer. If the hem is covering your back pockets, it is too big. With a sherpa lining you may be tempted to size up for layering room; resist unless you plan to wear it over a heavy hoodie. Over a T-shirt, flannel or thermal, your normal size is right. The M0323 runs S to 3XL.
Four ways to wear it
1. The default
Brown jacket, white or gray T-shirt, dark jeans, boots. This has worked for sixty years. The brown cord against dark blue denim is a color pairing that cannot miss, because warm and cool tones at similar depth flatter each other.
2. The all-dark version
Black jacket, black jeans, charcoal crew neck. The cream sherpa collar becomes the only light thing in the outfit, which frames your face. This is the version for a night out, and a slimmer stretch jean suits it.
3. The work version
Khaki jacket over a hoodie, hood out over the collar, with carpenter pants in brown or olive. Tonal earth colors, top to bottom. It looks deliberate and you can still load a truck in it.
4. The one that gets you out of wearing a blazer
Brown or black jacket, a collared shirt or a fine turtleneck, twill pants in dark gray or navy that hold a crease. For a casual office, a dinner, a parent-teacher night, this reads as dressed without reading as stiff.
What not to pair it with
More corduroy. One ridged fabric per outfit. Cord jacket with cord pants is a suit, and unless that is the goal, give the jacket something smooth to contrast with.
Keeping it good
Corduroy's ridges are cut pile, and pile wears flat where it rubs: elbows, cuffs, under a seatbelt. You slow that down by washing it rarely and gently. Turn the jacket inside out, snap it closed, wash cold on a gentle cycle, and hang it to dry. High dryer heat mats sherpa into felt, and nothing brings it back. Between washes, a soft clothes brush along the direction of the ridges lifts dust and keeps the nap standing. Cotton corduroy softens with every wear, so the jacket you have in year three is better than the one you bought.
Three colors, and how to choose
Brown is the classic and the most versatile with blue denim. Black is sharper and better at night. Khaki is the lightest and most casual, best if your wardrobe runs to olive, brown and cream. If you are buying one, buy brown.
M0323 Classic Sherpa Lined Corduroy Trucker Jacket
M9109 Regular Buffalo Plaid Polar Fleece Jacket, Sherpa Lined
M7008 Canvas Heavy Duty Hooded Jacket
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