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Guys, it finally happened. I got old. Or rather, I feel old. It all started about a month ago when a Gen Z coworker of mine referred to the ‘90s as “the olden days.” I scoffed at first, but then I did the fast-math and quickly realized – holy smokes! She’s right! The ‘90s were over 30 years ago! (Yes, I said “Holy smokes!” Not sure if that’s aging me up even more or just proving I’m an absolute stiff.)
This realization shook me to my core, but also got me thinking about all the things that were so great about that era. Tamagotchis! Lunchables! Boy Meets World! And the fashion! The fashion was incredible for both men and women in my humble o-pin: acid-washed jeans, neon windbreakers, crimped hair and grunge-inspired flannels ruled the scene. But there was one clothing item that dominated my personal 1990s closet that’s currently making a major comeback: corduroy.
Comfortable, fashionable and, yes, more than a bit nostalgic, corduroys (or "cords" if you’re nasty) are straight-up retro chic. Not only are cords a great alternative to the rigidity of jeans, they’re an elevated fashion choice. There’s just something sophisticated about sporting that thick ribbed fabric on your body in any form, really—pants, a shirt or, hell, even a full-blown corduroy suit—all of which I’ve highlighted below to make your ‘90s dreams come true. So, drop Weezer’s "The Blue Album" into your Walkman, pop a couple Eggo waffles in the toaster and enjoy the edit below.
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DANDY DEL MAR
Although Dandy Del Mar’s aesthetic is less ‘90s grungy and more ‘70s vibey, the brand's latest releases—The Corsica Corduroy Button Down ($159) and The Corsica Corduroy Pant ($149)—are pure corduroy delight. Cut and sewn from premium 8-Wale Italian Corduroy, the button-down thrives as a durable outer layer, a fitted standalone top, or as the centerpiece of any classic ensemble. The pants are made from the same Italian fabric and feature a tailored trouser fit throughout the legs, culminating in a relaxed elastic waist and drawstring tying it all together. The shirt and pants combo is equal parts loungey and luxurious, while retaining an elegance that works in any setting. If you’re looking to complete the look, top the fit with The Corsica Corduroy Bucket Hat ($89) for a bit of extra funky flair. Anybody who knows me knows I’m pretty damn #brandloyal to Dandy Del Mar and with the release of their new Long Sleeve Cord Set and Bucket Hat combo, your boy's loyalty has grown even stronger.
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BUCK MASON
Buck Mason was founded in 2013 by neighbors Sasha Koehn and Erik Allen, who initially set up shop in a 350 square foot garage off of Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California. The duo became obsessed with quality and started working closely with a local family factory to create small-batch production runs, crafting each piece using old school manufacturing techniques. Now, over 10 years later, Buck Mason is a massive apparel brand with over two dozen brick-and-mortar stores across the US. As for their foray into the world of corduroy, they approach it with a grounded, rustic, stripped down-style. Buck Mason’s Stretch Cord Standard Jeans ($138) comes in four different earthy tones. Pair it with a vintage Pearl Jam tee and you’ll have that ‘90s Ethan Hawke rocker look on lock.
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BONOBOS
Bonobos confidently claims they are “a menswear company like no other.” Essentially, the brand's whole model is based around the very simple idea that no two men are alike, so they set out to give dudes a truly varied range of options depending on your body and style. Besides their popular on-demand style advice feature, speaking candidly, the other great reason to head to Bonobos for all your corduroy needs is the price point. The brand’s Corduroy 5-Pocket Pants are $119 and come in seven colors and three different fits: Tailored, Slim and Athletic. The 5-Pocket Pants sport a clean, sharp look but if you’re looking for something with a slightly elevated sense of fashion, check out the Italian Stretch Corduroy Trousers which are on sale for only $69 and have a suave, sophisticated “oh, I’m just spending the weekend in Paris” energy to them (but for a fraction of the weekend in Paris price tag – which we absolutely adore!).
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PROPER CLOTH
Filmmaker Wes Anderson is known for a lot of things: his undeniable visual style, his symmetrical shot composition and his exploration of family dysfunction via a deliberately limited color palette and uber-hipster aesthetic. Although when I think of Wes Anderson breaking onto the film scene waaaay back in the early ‘90s (you know, "the olden days"), I think of him lookin’ cool as hell in a corduroy suit.
So, you better believe I tracked down a Wes Anderson-esque Corduroy Suit to share with you fine people here at TQE. Enter Proper Cloth’s Corduroy Stretch Waverly Suit ($795) made from rich, velvety corduroy from the famed Duca Visconti mill near Milan. The suit, which comes in five different colors, features a particularly wide 8-Wale construction that both enhances the casual vibe of the unstructured suit and helps the fabric drape on your body beautifully. Pair Proper Cloth’s Waverly Suit with a crisp white oxford and some vintage sneakers and you’ll be shouting “Action!” in no time.
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PERCIVAL
Based in East London, Percival is a British apparel brand inspired by minimalist architecture, monochrome marble, matte black coffee pots, Japanese wood block prints and David Lynch. (Talk about an eclectic swath of inspo, Percival. Color me impressed.) Either way, if you’re going for the whole ‘90s Britpop aesthetic and want to look like one of the cheeky lads in Oasis, look no further than Percival. I found myself drawn to the Pleated Denton Jacket ($270) which features a thicker, bolder corduroy than some of the other brand’s I’ve featured. I also found myself falling madly, deeply with the Zip Overshirt ($255) which sports a much thinner corduroy than the Pleated Denton Jacket. Multitudes, people. This brand contains multitudes! Finally, if you’re just looking for a good ol' fashioned, well-made pair of corduroys, look no further than the Straight Leg Trouser ($180). With a chill, no-frills design, these sleek slacks serve as a great accompaniment to any ensemble.
ADD THOSE CORDS TO CART
Alright, folks. That’s all he wrote. A complete-and-total breakdown of the best brands in men’s corduroy. Whether you’re looking to engage in a little ‘90s cosplay or you just want a good, solid pair of cords to add to the collection, we’ve got you covered here at The Quality Edit. Okay, you should go take those Eggos out of the toaster now. They’re probably burning.
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