If you’re looking for a stylish everyday trouser that is both extremely comfortable and makes you look one dress size smaller than you are, you need a pair of corduroy kick flares.
On paper, cord flares don’t sound like the “comfy trouser” choice of the year, or one that beats a good pair of jeans, but trust me, they are.
I’m wearing my pair now. Burgundy cords with a high waist fit, they are made of a body-hugging cotton rib with a touch of stretch and end at the ankle with a swingy little kick flare. Mine are from the British brand Albaray and from a couple of years ago (sadly out of stock), but this week Marks and Spencer released an almost identical pair, and I feel duty bound to share them, so you too can know about these magic trousers.
First, the fabric. The lustrous cotton cord with a touch of stretch is cosy and supportive. The stretch element means they feel comfortable at the waist, fit snugly at the hip and through the legs, but thanks to the sturdy cotton cord fabrication they do not cling or cut in anywhere– at all.
Finally, the cut. The high waist and straight leg cut elongates and slim the body. The flare is a proportion play that creates a further impression of slimness. The net result is extremely flattering in a “I didn’t know one pair of trousers could shave me down a dress size” kind of way. But that’s exactly what these trousers do.
The whole package is an unexpected gift of a trouser, and not only do they come in the rich burgundy shade so popular this autumn they also come in a dark bitter chocolate, black, and in a dark khaki that nods to the popularity of utility styling.
At £32, you can’t go wrong. And if you’re anything like me who loves to wear my clothes as much as possible you will be wearing them all the time.
My pair work with red ballet flats, slipper loafers, and chunky ankle boots. To complete the look, I would add an argyle knit and a blazer.
