Once again, I’m opening up the floor to my buddy Lindsay, a Wellingtonian-Canadian who is experiencing life in lockdown. Lindsay has been pondering what’s she’s planning to wear as we moved into a chillier time of year. Time and time again, Lindsay loves corduroy so she’s offered to kindly share her reflections on practical yet stylish dressing for our colder days. Take it away Lindsay!
Lindsay: “Autumn is my favourite season for dressing, I don’t know if that’s because it’s the only time New Zealand’s weather is similar to my home in Canada, or if I just love the clothes (I think I just love the clothes).”
“To me, it means tights, boots, sweaters, scarves, and beanies. We get to wear the jackets that have been tucked away for months, and the cosiest pieces in our wardrobes really get their time to shine.”
“One of my absolute favourite parts of Autumn fashion is corduroy. It’s a fabric that can be casual or dressy, it’s structured, warm, and I think timeless. The word corduroy was allegedly created from the French phrase “corde du roi” or the fabric of kings, in eighteenth-century England. This history is a bit fuzzy, and likely the name was a marketing strategy, but I love the idea of French queens and kings wearing one of my favourite fabrics.”
“What I really love about the fabric is its durability. It really seems to be the longest-lasting fabric, aside from wool, and that has helped me to keep my wardrobe more sustainable. Even the £5 skirt I bought from Primark in the UK has lasted four years. It really feels like I’m making an investment when I buy corduroy, and it’s a bonus that I just happen to love it. As a long-time fan of the fabric, and have amassed a pretty substantial collection of corduroy pieces in my wardrobe. Here are three of my favourites…”
LINDSAY’S CORDUROY LOOKS
Look 1
Corduroy Sherpa-lined Jacket
“I am a big fan of the early 2000’s TV show Gilmore Girls, and if there’s anything that is timeless about that show, it’s the titular characters’ jacket collections. They must have about a hundred jackets and coats each, ranging from beautiful wool coats to bombers and denim jackets. But out of all those jackets, my absolute favourite is their corduroy sherpa-lined jackets. They’re somehow both outdated and timeless, cool and sort of silly. I had been looking for a jacket with a similar vibe to Lorelai and Rory’s looks and when I discovered this jacket I was very excited. It’s my “slightly warmer winter day” jacket, and I have worn it constantly over the last year of ownership. It’s oversized which leaves plenty of layering space, and makes me feel like a hippie from the 1970’s.”
Look 2
Button-front skirt
“In 2016 I moved to England to pursue my Masters and immediately realised that Canadian style was nothing like English style. I was under-dressed a lot of the time but this skirt saved me. I bought it in my first month in the United Kingdom and it has been a staple ever since. It is, without a doubt, my favourite item of clothing. I always feel great in it and I can wear it with anything. I pair it with sweaters, tights, and jackets in the winter, and T-shirts in the summer, it’s a wear to the office or on a night out kind of piece.”
Look 3
Jumper/Dungaree Dress
“To say I have been looking for a corduroy jumper for ages is an understatement. I think I was born with an innate desire to wear one, and finally, I have one. When I went home to Canada for Christmas I found this one in my best friend’s closet, it wasn’t working for her anymore so she insisted I take it home to New Zealand with me. Honestly, my flatmates are probably tired of seeing me in it, but it’s the first dress I’ve ever had with functional pockets! I’m wearing it here with my “illuminated” bodysuit from American ethical designer Samantha Pleet (another one of my prized items of clothing). I do wear it all the way through summer, with t-shirts, crop tops or tank tops. I love the way corduroy gives garments structure without them having to be too tailored so that they stay casual.“
