The Case for Cream Corduroy Pants: 3 Ways to Wear Them This Fall

There’s something about cream pants in the fall that I absolutely love. Paired with rich colors, cozy sweaters, and beautiful textures like suede and leather, they feel sophisticated and perfectly appropriate for the season.

For this week’s Wear It Three Ways, I’m featuring a pair of cream wide-leg corduroy pants from J.Crew. The fine-wale corduroy is especially lovely because it adds subtle texture and richness without the bulk of a traditional corduroy. The patch pockets and gold buttons give them a little personality, too.

I’ve styled them three ways: casually with navy and sneakers, dressed up with a black turtleneck and heeled boots, and with chocolate brown and stripes for a polished everyday look.

They’re a beautiful alternative to jeans or dark trousers and an easy way to bring a little lightness into your fall wardrobe.

Look One: Casual Weekend

For our first look, we’re keeping things casual with a navy waffle-knit Henley from Lands’ End. I love the texture of the waffle knit paired with the fine-wale corduroy. It’s a subtle combination that gives an otherwise simple outfit a little more interest.

The Lands’ End Henley is a great find at around $30. It’s a soft cotton blend with a little stretch, and it comes in regular, petite, and plus sizes. The fit is generous, so I’d recommend sizing down if you’re between sizes. This is very similar in weight and cut to their Waffle Zip Pull Over, which has been one of our best seller for the better part of the year.

I finished the outfit with the Cole Haan GrandPrø Premier Sneakers, which we featured earlier this month and were a big hit with readers. I love the combination of colors and the thoughtful details. They’re a great alternative to a basic white sneaker, especially with these cream pants.

The classic L.L.Bean Boat and Tote with blue trim is a natural choice here. It’s practical, timeless, and works beautifully with the navy top. As you know I have so many of these and I use them, especially this time of year, ever weekend.

For jewelry, I added the Julie Vos Penelope Stud Earrings in Small. These gorgeous little pearl studs are actually the earrings that started my affection for the brand. I know many of you already own them, so consider this your reminder to pull them out and put them back into rotation. AND, for the holidays these make an incredible under $100 gift that come in gorgeous packaging.

Look Two: Dinner Out

For our second look, we’re dressing up the corduroy pants with a black turtleneck, suede ankle boots, and a beautiful leather bag. I love the contrast of black and cream, and the simplicity of this combination makes it an easy option for dinner out.

The Signature Cashmere Boxy Turtleneck from NAADAM is one of my favorites here. NAADAM is a more expensive knitwear brand, but I’ve always been impressed with the quality. This one is 100% cashmere with a relaxed, boxy cut that gives the outfit an elegant but casual feel. I’d give it a little half-tuck in the front to define the waist without losing that relaxed shape. It runs true to size for its intended oversized fit.

Note, many NAADAM styles, including this one range in size from XXS – 3X.

If you prefer something closer to the body, I also like this fitted turtleneck t-shirt from Banana Republic or the Lightweight Baby Alpaca Turtleneck from Quince, which is $70.

Whatever you choose, I’d avoid a ribbed sweater here. The ribbing is too similar to the texture of the corduroy, and together it can feel like too much.

For shoes, I’m bringing back the Margaux Downtown Boots in Black Suede. These are also on our October best-seller list, and I wanted to show you another way to wear them. Of course, any black suede boot with a heel you’re comfortable in will work. Just pay attention to the length of your pants. Ideally, the hem should graze the top of your foot with a slight break, rather than pooling on the floor or sitting too high above the boot.

I kept the accessories simple with the Dean Davidson Margaux Pavé Huggie Hoops. They come in gold and silver and add just enough sparkle without feeling overdone.

Finally, I found an absolute steal of a bag. The Vince Ava Convertible Leather Shoulder Bag was originally $300 and is marked down to $150. I’ve been looking for a simple leather bag in this size for a while, but so many of the ones I like have enormous logos on them. This one has exactly the clean, understated look I’ve been after.

Look Three: Polished Everyday

For our final look, I’m pairing the cream corduroy pants with a brown striped button-down, suede loafers, and a few accessories that bring everything together.

If you’re like me and have a real love for a beautiful button-down, you’ll want to know about The Shirt. The brand specializes in thoughtfully designed women’s shirts, including its signature No Gape technology that prevents those annoying gaps between buttons. This Jet Set Icon Shirt in Brown Stripe is also non-iron, which makes it even more appealing.

I added a knit triangle scarf from Gap, an accessory I think we’re going to see a lot of this season. It gives you a similar look to draping a sweater around your shoulders, but with less bulk and fuss. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on this particular trend, and Gap has a great option.

For shoes, I’m bringing back the Dolce Vita Mattie Loafers in Dark Brown Suede. We featured these yesterday in our Splurge, Spend, Save on brown suede loafers, and they were the clear winner. I have them myself, and they’re really nice. I especially appreciate the slimmer silhouette, which I prefer to some of the chunkier loafers we’ve been seeing. They work beautifully with the wider leg of these pants.

The Vida Statement Earrings from EVEREVE are a fun addition. I love the tortoise finish, especially with all the brown and cream in this outfit. They’re a little different from a traditional gold hoop without feeling overdone.

Finally, I added the Woven Shoulder Bag from Ann Taylor. I was genuinely surprised by how nice the quality is when it arrived at the end of September, and I’ve already reached for it several times. The woven detail adds some depth and interest to the outfit, and it’s a great example of how a simple accessory can make an otherwise classic combination feel a little more special.

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