Black Button Down Corduroy Shirt Jacket for Women

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It's hard to say what's more omnipresent right now: corduroy or A Star Is Born memes. The former, for its part, has firmly established itself as the definitive trouser fabric for fall. It's showing up on the backs of our finest leading men and our most talented directors—to say nothing of our greatest living Goldblums. It is, as hyperbolic headlines are fond of saying, Having a Moment™.

The reasons for that moment are pretty straightforward: corduroy is rich and hardy, warm and reliable, a blue-collar fabric that feels sorta fancy. Deployed in the form of a shirt or a jacket—or, better yet, a shirt jacket—it's as useful a mid-layer as they come, delivering a subtle hit of texture and elevating everything around it like an André 3000 guest verse. And the very best versions, much like the best A Star Is Born memes, never, ever get old. These are those.

The Spaghetti Western

Brunello Cucinelli cotton corduroy western shirt

Italian cashmere magnate Brunello Cucinelli has a peculiar knack for remodelling familiar, rough-and-tumble, All-American staples with a pinch of indelible Italian sophistication. Years before cargos staked a comeback stateside, Cucinelli donned the ultimate dude-bro pants with soft-shouldered blazers and made it seem like the most natural and elegant thing in the world. Now, he's turned his attention to the denim western shirt to similarly transformative effect. The denim, first of all—as you've probably gleaned from the theme of this article—is actually velvety corduroy, and the snap buttons are gleaming horn in place of metal. But the true genius here is in the tailoring: Cucinelli used the same trim cut, rakish cutaway collar and barrel cuffs you'll find on his dress shirts, which means the finest off-hours button-down you'll ever own will also work wonders with a coat and tie when duty calls.

The New Angle

A.P.C. "Joe" overshirt

Almost all corduroy runs vertically—straight up and down. Every once in a blue moon, some cheeky designer will turn the lines horizontal. But you'll practically never see the stuff tilted on an angle. Leave it to the masters of understated wit at A.P.C. to send the wales out running a slant route. That one near-imperceptible twist is enough to supercharge this otherwise immaculate and exactingly executed overshirt with some extra juice. Even when you rock it simply—over a crisp white tee and jeans, say—people will notice there's something especially fly about your fit, even if they can't quite put their finger on it.

The Model Citizen

Todd Snyder corduroy shirt jacket

More than any other piece on this list, Todd Snyder's take nails the archetype in your head: that plush, caramelly, oh-so-'70s grail you conjure when someone mentions a corduroy shirt. The wales are wide and hefty with enough sheen to look luxe, but not so much that it starts to resemble something a Vegas pit boss would wear. The fit is slightly oversized and enveloping, prime for layering over oxfords or henleys or hoodies or whatever else you've got in your closet. For our money, though, this guy'll slap its absolute hardest worn with a fitted grey turtleneck and off-white jeans—the sort of straight-money look that brings out the inner Hollywood idol you never knew you were hiding.

The Aging Rockstar

Officine Generale faded black corduroy "Liam" jacket

We've spent most of this story celebrating corduroy in its fresh-out-the-box form: shiny, sumptuous, lush. But that completely ignores the fact that this stuff happens to be tough as all hell—it's got workwear roots, after all—and continues to look amazing as it loses its luster and takes a beating. Want proof? Look no further than this perfectly washed and faded trucker jacket, which looks like it's seen some things—likely on the road, probably while touring with Van Halen way back when, and let it tell you, that Michael Anthony sure can hold his liquor. Anywho, it's rugged and striking in all the ways the other stuff we've picked is rich and slick, and it'll bring some serious lived-in character to whatever you choose to pair it with. Which, quite honestly, could be anything.

Five More Corduroy Shirts We Love

Berluti cotton-corduroy shirt

When the wales are this fine and the cut is this streamlined, it's practically begging to be tucked in and bring some texture to a slim dark suit.

Coach corduroy western shirt

Paired with black jeans and some sleek Chelsea boots, this shirt'll read downtown swag lord way more than country cowboy.

Acne Studios corduroy jacket

Big collar and big cords make for one big '70s-inflected mood.

Zara corduroy jacket

As easy to wear as your denim trucker, only richer and bolder and somehow dressier.

L.L.Bean lakewashed corduroy shirt

Don't let your caps and kicks hog all the heavy dad vibes. This stout and boxy number has that distinctive old man charm in spades.

Black Button Down Corduroy Shirt Jacket for Women

Source: https://www.gq.com/story/the-best-corduroy-shirts-and-jackets

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