A corduroy suit is a beautiful thing.
It’s formal enough for most offices, but has a laidback charm to it.
Best part is, when you invest in a corduroy suit you get three wardrobe essentials: a versatile seasonal suit, a timeless pair of go-to trousers, and a sports jacket you can wear casually.
As the first of a two-part series, here’s three corduroy suits: dressed up.
1. Go-to Grey
There’s no question a grey flannel suit is a menswear staple. Men have been wearing them for decades and they look good on everybody.
A grey cord suit, in my opinion, can pull all the same moves as the uber-popular flannel, but performs a little better on the weekend.
Winter is all about texture.
Try mixing beefy, three-dimensional fabrics to stay warm and give your outfit some depth.
A grey suit works with black or brown shoes.
It’s not necessary to match your buttons to your shoes, but I chose black leather buttons for this suit because I plan to wear it with black more often than brown.
- Oatmeal hand-knit scarf by Yokoo Scarves
- Grey corduroy suit by Michael Andrews Bespoke (Cloth by Ariston C 081/7)
- White cotton pocket square
- Grey/Burgundy windowpane shirt by Michael Andrews Bespoke
- Burgundy wool knit tie Vintage
- Watch by Montblanc Timewalker Automatic (42mm)
- Black woven leather gloves by Hilts and Willard
- Black leather/suede spectator wingtip shoes by Barker Black
45 Comments Add a comment
I live in a relatively fashion-conservative city, where I’m surrounded by charcoal and navy, no matter the season. Last week, I wore a tan corduroy suit, just like #3, and received a number of compliments.
Great stuff guys.
Making the world a more complimentary place, one corduroy suit at a time :)
Thanks for reading David
Look 2 is incredible. Quick question – How would you describe the toe on the shoes in look 3? I have a pair of Ferragamo monk straps with the same toe and someone accused me of wearing a square toed shoe. I’ve been moderately self conscious of them since, but that guy’s probably a Herb, no?
I’m far from an expert, but I believe that sort of toe is called a chisel toe.
I like the touch of your grandfather’s tie. Did you alter the width? I have some older ties I like, but the widths are way over the top (~4 inches), and I’m not sure if that’s an fix for an alterations shop. (Maybe a garment doctor post…)
I like the 3rd sample. But still think I will not be able to look good in a corduroy like the man Dan. Never tried it and probably never will. I guess I need more confidence. lol.
Nice touch with the tie. My wife’s family is from the Midwest, and her maternal grandfather used to run an old five and dime. Like me, he wasn’t very tall, they didn’t have much, but he was always impeccably tailored. I’ve got one of his hand painted silk ties, and I’m figuring out how to wear a ‘hybrid’ tie–too long to be a bow tie, to short to be a full-length. I’m thinking of a rancher style set-up–an homage to all those Filipino/Chinese cattlemen in my history (um, no, but who cares, right?)
Good choice going for some fuller cut suits – I think they look much more masculine
The navy look is banging. Insanely cool. How many suits must you own at this point? Thats actually a post I would like to see, the TSB wardrobe collection!
love your blog dude, thanks for the link on those gloves!
I have a huge collection of ties and most of the are old cheap ties like in look #2. I love the old school skinny ties.
Hey guys – love the matching with the waistcoat! What if the waistcoat and jacket don’t have the same wales? I have a black waistcoat with diagonal wide wales, and a sport coat with thin vertical wales. Possible or absurd?
As always – love the inspiration!!
That look could only work with these:
http://www.betabrand.com/pants/black-cordarounds.html
Horizontal corduroy pants (to go with the aforementioned vertical sport coat and diagonal waistcoat). That might look subtly cool if you dyed them all the same color.
Besides that, however, don’t do it. It’ll throw people off–they’ll look for why the sheens are different on the two pieces rather than paying attention to YOU. It’s like wearing a suit where the color of the pants and jacket occupy the space between match and contrast. Just doesn’t work.
I love the green/khaki colour combination on #3. And the pattern play between shirt, accessories, and tie, and then also the shoes! Suede goes really nicely with corduroy, and the leather/suede combo is always cool.
Great looks all across the board, A+,
Btw Dan, how many suits do you own?!
straight killin it bro
My god, hell of a post. You killed it in all 3 looks! I love all the subtle patterns, stripes, and scarf matching and pairing with shoes that just make you own it. There is always something to learn from you.
Dan, I’m loving the blue CORDUROY suit, where you got it if available?
Wide wale cord can look so nice.. never seen it on a DB three piece though. Leave it to Dan. Well done yet again
That navy DB three-piece is one of the mist singularly fascinating suits I have ever seen. Taking fashion to a whole new level. And perfect for today’s storm.
Really one of my favorite posts you’ve done. The three looks are great- love all the style comparisons of a grey flannel suit, wide wale and velvet, and a khaki cotton suit on each, respectively. Great pattern mix in the third look (shirt+tie)!
Lots of inspiration for me personally, and new-found openness to a great fabric! Wow, can’t wait for part two.
PS- the single breasted vest on the DB suit is such a unexpeted gem.
Thanks TO. Always appreciate the love. What’s up with those before/after pics?
I’ve adopted the bandana as a pocket square thanks to TSB! It’s made me look at the potential of other fabrics and patterns that are not necessarily “pocket squares.”
Thanks for your work on this site, TSB.
Thinking outside the box…gotta love it
If you know anyone who can do a finishing seam on a serger, you have access to very unique and custom pocket squares.
I’ve had a few made from Liberty of London fabrics and they are always favourably commented upon.
I think we need a post on your guys’ closets. Give us a little insight on how you store/organize everything.
We have a “tour” of sorts in our new video series…
Great idea for a post/how-to.
What a beautiful post, can’t wait for Part 2!
Thx Jerome
Dan, the 3-piece Navy DB suit is beautiful! You got me thinking of this as a possible addition, especially with the “tailored peacoat” comment. Simply awesome.
Thanks player. One of my favorite jackets for sure.
Thanks for showing that looks generally deemed unseasonal–white pants in winter, and here, the khaki suit–can work; and work really, really well.
Well, no pleats this time ? :P
However, handsome suits, Dan :)
so no plans moving fwd with ur own line?
I never said that :)
Plenty of plans…
good news. i got a little nervous there for a second
Wow, I was just looking at the old vids yesterday…love those.
But I thought the same thing, “what happened to Dan’s line?” Good to know you still got plans.
ps. how about another video?
Pretty sure he had problems with the distributor, that’s why it never came to light.
We never had a distributor for that collection. It’s complicated.
We’ll be rolling out some awesome new products this year. Been working on store tech development for weeks… Stay tuned.
Unstoppable. Such an inspiring read. Kudos.
Unstoppable!
Kudos to you sir.
Crushing it as usually Dan – I have the same cardigan from Uniqlo in maroon. The Barker Black wingtips in look #1 might be my all time favorite shoes on this site.
3-pc DB cord suit… That is an awesome piece!!
Need. Three Piece. Corduroy suit.
The grey suit is awesome! Can’t wait for part two!