When the weather gets chilly and cold, there is nothing that lends itself as well to tweed jackets, Shetland sweaters and generally pottering about as well as a pair of tan corduroy trousers. Khakis still get a lot of wear throughout this season, but corduroy trousers in the same sort of traditional trouser cut as khakis, have a special place in the wardrobe from Autumn through early Spring. Of course, corduroy trousers come in many colours, many of which never really work well for regular khakis. Colors such as, forest green, grey, red, navy, rust and even yellow make for wonderful corduroys. However, the color tan and its various shades, from taupe, to camel, to light brown, is really the daily workhorse of the corduroy trouser family. In this post, we'll look at the past offerings of some venerable clothiers, as well as what is offered today. From morning walks with the dog, to the office, to yard work, to dashing about town, tan cords are a cold weather wardrobe staple that are hard to beat.
Whether it's with a tweed jacket and tie,
or an afternoon walk in the woods with the dog,
or dashing about town in a Shetland sweater and loafers, there is nothing quite as comfortable as Tan Cords. Tan cords help a fellow get things done.
Corduroy trousers are the kind of garment that one gains a certain attachment to. So it is only with great reluctance that they ever get thrown away. Over the years many clothiers and outfitters have offered corduroy trousers in that various shades of tan. Brooks Brothers, J. Press, Lands' End, L.L. Bean and many other clothiers have offered and continue to offer corduroy trousers. The images below are from an assortment of catalogs over the years that give a pretty good idea of not only what was offered, but also demonstrate the lasting appeal of such trousers.
Tan corduroy trousers have been around for a long time, and in 1964 L.L. Bean carried them in the above "featherweight" version in the colors "Antelope (taupe) and Loden Green." Now, "Antelope" has to be about the most creative name for tan that I think I've ever seen. If only L.L. Bean still offered these!
In their Fall & Winter 1978 Brochure, J. Press carried corduroy trousers in a wide variety of colors. "Camel" and "Deerskin" were probably colors that could be considered shades of tan. Most of the other trousers on this page are still classics, too.
In the Fall & Winter catalog for 1980, Brooks Brothers carried corduroy trousers in tan paired with Shetland sweaters. Of course, corduroy trousers paired with Shetland wool sweaters are one of life's eternal classics. Nothing is more basic and utilitarian than this pairing. Tan cords also have the added benefit of going well with a wide palette of colors, as above.
In the same Fall & Winter catalog for 1980, Brooks Brothers also carried a wild tan and brown based patchwork corduroy trouser that would still invite comment today. Just don't wear them with a patchwork Shetland wool sweater.
In their Fall & Winter 1981 Brochure, J. Press carried a deep lineup of corduroy trousers, including "Deerskin Tan" and "Chamois." This page is a one-stop shop for traditional trousers. Hard to go wrong here.
In the fall of 1983 L.L. Bean, of course, carried their "Country Slacks" in a wide range of colors that included a "Taupe" and "Light Brown." Those Shetland sweaters on the same page look mighty nice, too.
The same 1983 catalog also included their eponymous corduroy trousers in "Taupe,""Navy," and "Sage Green."
The 1990 L.L. Bean Fall catalog was still offering "Country Corduroy Trousers" in a very wide range of colors that included "Taupe" and "Light Brown." I always liked that flap on the back pocket.
The 1990 L.L. Bean Fall catalog also offered their "Corduroy Chinos" based upon the same model as their hard wearing "Chino Pants." These were wonderful trousers that, sadly, are no longer offered.
The 1993 Fall Brooks Brothers catalog also offered corduroy trousers in a great selection of colors, among them "Acorn" and "Chestnut." Brooks Brothers' Marks & Spencer years sometimes garner a bit of criticism, but this catalog has page after page of classic items that were still made in their USA workrooms.
The 1996 J. Press Fall & Winter catalog also continued to carry the tradition of a great selection of odd trousers on the same page. Shown here, there are tartan, whipcord, covert, calvary twill and corduroy trousers. A fellow really doesn't need anymore than that.
J. Press also offered a fine selection of flannel and corduroy trousers on this page from their Fall & Winter 2000 catalog. The belts are pretty nice, too.
This glance into the past has shown not only a bit of diversity for the simple color of tan, it has also shown the consistent way in which a variety of clothiers offered corduroy trousers. Now that we've made our nod to the past, let's take a look at several contemporary offerings made by clothiers today.
Brooks Brothers Hudson Fit cords. These may be my favourite corduroy trousers for daily wear. I have several pairs that have worn well. They also wash well at home. The key is to turn them inside out when washing and drying them. I usually take them out of the dryer when they are still a touch damp, turn them right side out again, and air dry them on a drying rack. This keeps the nap in good shape and also keeps them relatively wrinkle free.
Bill's Khakis 8-wale cords. M2 fit. I've never tried Bill's corduroy trousers, but these look like they would be very good.
J. Press 8-wale cords in tan. I like the fit of J. Press trousers and these are probably made by the same company as their dress trousers (I am guessing Berle).
Lands' End Tailored cords in light beige. I had a couple paris of Lands' End cords years ago. I'm not sure what these are like, but reading the reviews is helpful. They are not made in the States, but the price is very reasonable.
L.L. Bean Dress Corduroys in Khaki. L.L. Bean's quality in recent years really varies. The reviews here point to that. I had two pairs of LLB cords that I ordered a few years ago that were disappointing. Nothing like the old days. Your mileage may vary here.
L.L. Bean Country Corduroys in Heritage Khaki. These look like very good trousers. I would want to be able to try them on first before ordering.
O'Connell's. Horizontal 11-wale cords in Caramel. I like the fit of O'Connell's dress trousers, which appear to be made by the same vendor as J. Press's dress trousers. The above cords look like they also might be from the same maker as well. The horizontal cut of these cords is kind of trippy. I like it.
O'Connell's. 8-wale cords in Fawn. These cords look like a stone cold classic.
O'Connell's 6-wale cords in Camel. If I was going to try one new pair of cords this season, it would probably be these 6-wale cords from O'Connell's. They look like everything a pair of tan cords should be.
Cordings. Tan cords. Made in Yorkshire, England. Cordings makes cords in a very wide range of colors. These look like they would be great with a glen check tweed jacket and a pair of heavy double-soled brogues.
Though Brooks Brothers Hudson fit cords are among my favorites, J. Press and O'Connell's also offer trousers of excellent quality. One of my favorite corduroy trousers of recent years were by Ralph Lauren in the Prospect fit. Unfortunately, Ralph Lauren discontinued these trousers, and replaced them with the Preston fit corduroy trouser, which while not bad, are a bit too low rise for my liking. This year I haven't seen anything from RL that approaches those wonderful but sadly discontinued Prospect fit trousers. However, as we have seen, other clothiers also offer corduroy trousers in various shades of tan that are the perfect alternative to khakis in colder weather.
No matter what the task, Tan Cords are great trousers that will make the coming colder months a bit warmer. The world needs more tan corduroy. In addition to keeping the cold at bay, I'm convinced that wearing Tan Cords makes one feel a bit more warm-hearted and a bit more earnest. The Tan Cord season is open, and membership to the Tan Cord Club has never been easier. Just wear Tan Cords, and the rest will take care of itself.
Membership in the Tan Cord Club is, of course, open to all who enjoy switching from khakis to cords during the colder months