Cozy Autumn Layering: Why Corduroy is the UK's Must-Have Fabric This Season

Corduroy is back and it's everywhere. Walk down any high street from Manchester to Brighton and you'll see it - jackets, trousers, shirts, even bags. What used to scream "geography teacher from the 1970s" is now somehow cool again. Fashion's weird like that.

The thing about corduroy is it actually makes sense for British autumn weather. It's warm without being heavy, it's durable, and honestly it looks better as it ages. Unlike some trendy fabrics that fall apart after three washes, good corduroy just gets softer and more comfortable over time.

You're seeing it done properly too, not just cheap knock-offs. Leeds shops are stocking heavyweight cord in proper autumn colors - burnt orange, forest green, deep burgundy. London boutiques are charging ridiculous prices for vintage pieces, but even the high street versions are decent quality this year.

Here's how to wear it without looking like you're cosplaying your dad's wardrobe from 1976. First off, don't do full corduroy outfits. Cord jacket with denim jeans works. Cord trousers with a wool jumper works. Cord everything just looks like you're trying too hard to be retro.

Wide wale versus fine wale matters more than people think. Wide wale - that's the chunky ridges - is more casual and forgiving. Fine wale looks smarter but shows wear faster. For everyday pieces, go wide. For something you want to dress up a bit, fine wale in darker colors.

The price range is mental though. You can get a decent cord jacket from M&S for sixty quid or spend three hundred at a boutique for basically the same thing with a fancier label. Unless you're really into brands, the mid-range stuff is perfectly fine. Check the stitching and make sure it's proper cotton cord, not some synthetic rubbish.

Women's options are actually better than men's this season. There are cord pinafores, wide-leg trousers, fitted blazers - proper variety. Men get jackets and trousers mostly, which is typical but still annoying. Why should women get all the interesting cuts?

The real test is whether this lasts beyond one season or if we're all going to cringe at our cord phase next year. My bet is it sticks around for a while. It's practical, it looks good, and British weather isn't getting any better. Sometimes trends happen because they actually make sense, not just because some designer said so.