The Best Men’s Corduroy Shirts for a Textured Look

Pants often get the lion’s share of the attention, but a quality corduroy shirt is an essential part of every man’s wardrobe. And while we could riff on the merits of this super material for days on end, instead, we’ll let it do the talking. Below, we’ll go over the history of corduroy, the common types, and some of our favorite shirts you can get right now. So relax, kick back, and read on to see what we’ve picked for the best corduroy shirts.

what is corduroy?

Corduroy, as we know it today, has a rich sartorial history that first began with an ancient Egyptian weave called ‘fustian.’ However, once the global cotton trade expanded into Europe throughout the 12th and 14th centuries, it began to encompass any and all types of textiles featuring a raised texture and a cotton-based construction. As such, by the 18th Century, there were many varieties of fustian on the market, with more opulent examples deemed suitable for royalty and lesser alternatives competing with wool amongst the masses. It was around this time that the fabric was finally dubbed ‘corduroy’ — a name taken from the French phrase corde du roi (or “cloth of kings”).

corduroy history

By the 19th century, corduroy had become widely popular amongst farmers for its long-lasting durability and rigid wear properties — to the point that it soon fell out of favor with the high-rolling elite. Such success would continue well into the 1920s and 30s, with the material being primarily used for children’s clothing as well as work and sportswear. Since that time, corduroy has ridden no shortage of fleeting fashion trends, but for every instance that it’s gone out of style, it’s quickly bounced back with a renewed vigor. To put it another way — the very fact that cord can come back from such unfashionable exile is proof enough that it’s here and here to stay.

Common types of corduroy

Corduroy fabric comes in a variety of options based on the size and spacing of the wales (the raised ridges/cords on the fabric). Not only will the wale size affect the look of the fabric, but also the softness (with finer wales being softer).

Standard: This is the most common type of corduroy, and it features evenly-spaced vertical wales. If you’re unsure of what to go for, this is the safest pick.

Pinwale: Pinwale corduroy features finer ridges to get a smoother texture, and it’s often used for dressier picks.

Wide: Wide wale corduroy has widely spaced wales giving you a more textured appearance, and it’s more popular in casual wear like jackets.

Babycord: Babycord has a super soft feel, thanks to the very fine ridges, and is also used for more formal apparel like pinwale.

What to look for

Wale Size: Generally speaking, smaller wales are best for formal shirts, and wide wales are best for casual shirts. Every pick featured in our guide is made with high-quality cotton, so your decisions about the material should be about the wales. Some labels may use numbers to identify wales, and a lower number means they’re wider.

Fit: Corduroy shirts are definitely a more relaxed piece of apparel, so you don’t want anything that’s too tight. Most labels understand this, so a tailored fit doesn’t always mean the shirt will be tight.

Material: Traditional corduroy is made from high-quality cotton, but modern variants may choose to add a bit of stretch with elastane.

Thickness: You’ll want to reserve the heavy shirts for the winter, and wear lightweight shirts during the shoulder months.

Everlane The Relaxed Corduroy Shirt

Best Starter Shirt: As is the case with each of Everlane’s offerings, this Corduroy Shirt makes for a package priced well below what it should be. That’s because, in addition to the majority organic cotton construction, they’ve also given a bit of added elastane, meaning that although it’s a bit more refined in appearance it’s equally — if not more — comfortable than the above picks. Whether you’re looking for a more fashionable flannel alternative or just trying to dress down your Oxford rotation, don’t sleep on this one.

Carhartt Madison Cord Shirt

Best Durable Shirt: Since 1989, Carhartt’s Work In Progress (WIP) division has sought to transform the brand’s utilitarian workwear into a line of stylish street-ready staples. When it comes to the Madison Button-Down, this means that, in addition to a hardy wide-wale cotton corduroy, you’ll also find a smart curved hem and a warm ‘Brandy’ garment wash. What results is a shirt that’s as smart as it is substantial, equally at home in the office or after-hours grabbing a round with the guys.

Taylor Stitch The Jack

Best All-Arounder: By the turn of the 19th century, corduroy had gone from an exotic luxury item for the rich to a practical, protective textile for the masses, and one particularly popular use was as an overshirt for ranchers. Taylor Stitch’s The Jack embodies the garment’s utilitarian roots to a tee, using an organic cotton micro-cord that’s as handsome as it is hard-wearing. It’s finished off with dark horn buttons, a tailored fit, and a pre-wash to increase comfort.

MR PORTER Portuguese Flannel

Best Short-Sleeve Shirt: This short-sleeve option from the menswear experts over at MR PORTER is made with 100% cotton corduroy, and features a relaxed camp collar that’s perfect for taking it easy. It’s got a medium weight with a regular fit, and all of the fabric is sourced from Guimarães in Northern Portugal, a region renowned for its textiles.

Alex Mill Fine Wale Corduroy Popover Shirt

Best Lightweight Shirt: Alex Mill has been making high-quality heritage-inspired apparel since 2012. In practice, you’ll find the NYC-based brand has more than delivered because it’s made from a lightweight wale cord and features a design inspired by Sweish army garments. Add to that features like a buttoned front chest pocket and relaxed style, and you have a shirt that’s easy, breezy, and durable.

Dandy Del Mar The Corsica Corduroy Button Down Shirt

Best Italian-Made Shirt: Dandy Del Mar is a brand that exclusively trades in understated Mediterranean style and comfort, and you’ll find that the Corsuca Corduroy Button-Down shirt is no exception. Cut with a tailored, relaxed fit, it comes crafted from an 8-wale Corduroy woven in Italy. And when you consider that it also sports a versatile style, a front chest pocket, and a clean, branding-free exterior – the result is a shirt that doesn’t need flash or filigree to distinguish itself.

Todd Snyder Fine Corduroy Button-Down Shirt

Best Babycord Shirt: Just because corduroy often skews more towards functional outerwear than it does fashionable layer pieces doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on top-shelf materials. On the contrary, as evidenced by Todd Snyder’s Fine Corduroy Button-Down Shirt, it’s entirely possible to get some premium, 18-wale corduroy made of 100% Portuguese Cotton in an otherwise blue-collar button-down. Finished off with a chest pocket and a tailored fit (between full and slim), this is one option that’s well worth a look.

Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Corduroy Camp Shirt

Best Camp Collar Shirt: Corduroy may have a history well-steeped with the working man, but that’s not to say that it can’t be dressed up for formal occasions. On the contrary — as you’ll find with this option from Ralph Lauren, it’s more than capable of adding a bit of refinement to your fit. It offers a roomy cut with a camp collar, buttoned barrel cuffs, and (of course) an embroidered pony. And because it’s made with a wide-wale cord, you’re getting a more textured appearance.

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