Fort Belvedere has christened this model of trousers the “Stancliffe,” evocative of a stately English manor house secluded amongst verdant trees and rolling hills, redolent with a life of ease, sport, and gentlemanly pursuits.
Blue Like the Sky
Evocative of a bright blue sky, our Azure Blue trousers are a light, almost pastel shade ideal for casual ensembles. Well-suited for transitional seasons, they are an exceptional option for adding breadth to your fun and sporty ensembles: who says corduroy has to be drab?Combining Azure Blue Corduroys with Shoes & Socks
Blue is the most common color in menswear, and these lighter blue trousers will afford many opportunities for exciting and bold ensembles.
Pair it with other Blues
For a more sedate look, consider simple pairings that employ other shades of blue and neutral colors. This approach allows for incredible versatility but thanks to the vibrant hue of the trousers themselves, there is no risk of your look appearing boring. Light blue and very blue provide perfect tone-on-tone harmony, while navy or royal blue add contrast that, thanks to the formality of the colors, remains congenial. A similar understated effect is also achieved through blues paired with warm colors, like orange, red, or yellow.
Pair it with Contrasting Colors
For a more contrasting and unexpected pairing, consider either brighter or dark colors, like pink or khaki or dark gray or burgundy. The contrast will create remarkable pop very much in keeping with the casual nature of these trousers.
Footwear Colors
For footwear, contrast or complement will provide the most visual interest: unique texture, like suede, or unique detailing, like the open lacing system of a derby, will harmonize with the weave of the trousers. Shoes in darker shades of brown or blue, or black, will ground the look and ensure sufficient contrast with the trousers.
Lighter colors can have an elegant tone-on-tone effect provided that there is sufficient visual difference: consider light grays or buffs, for instance. Two-tone shoes, like spectators, could also be a fun option. Vibrant colors, like oxblood or red, can be worn, but be aware that with the lighter fabric they can have a very dramatic effect.
Boots + Corduroys = Winner!
Boots, especially boots with contrast elements like suede, are always an excellent companion to corduroy because of the intersection of transitional-weather seasonality and unexpected texture. These trousers will appear elegant with a wide range of boots, from any shade of brown to black, and even to more unusual shades like light gray, red, green, or sufficiently contrasting blues.
Summer Shoes + Corduroys = Faux Pas
In general, be wary of pairing corduroy with hot-weather footwear. As a rule of thumb, the fabric is simply too heavy for use with any style of shoe with which you might wear no-show socks.
Outfit Ideas for Azure Blue Corduroys by Fort Belvedere
For a casual look that remains elevated and elegant, consider pebbled brown loafers with brown and bright blue socks. Add a green and white checked shirt that plays with all of the patterns in the total ensemble.
To emphasize a brighter color palette, start with a mottled earth-toned sport coat. Various shades of blue in your upper half will emphasize the blue of the trousers, so let’s add a tonal blue and white checked shirt, a mottled Prussian blue knit tie, and a lighter blue pocket square with warm-color medallion detailing to set off the jacket. A boutonniere provides a subtle finishing touch. To capture the tonal range of the ensemble, we’ll conclude with dark and light blue socks worn with pebbled loafers and a chestnut belt.
Finally, a navy blazer with an orange-detailed tie and white shirt creates a formal air that is completed by blue and navy socks and dark brown oxfords: the sedate colors tone down and add versatility to the lighter trousers.
In general, the weight of corduroy requires a certain balance between your upper and lower half which is easily accomplished by layering. The simple addition of a sport coat will go far in making an outfit with corduroy look exceptional: focus in particular on textured fabrics, such as tweed, that will contrast while harmonizing with the cords of the trousers. Be wary, however, of hot-weather textured fabrics like seersucker, which is too seasonally incongruous to wear with corduroy.
You can achieve a similar effect with knitwear, such as a tennis sweater in the warmer months or cardigan in the cooler: add a scarf during colder weather to ensure that your upper half is as insulated as your lower.
Questions?
If you have questions or need style advice in choosing a pair of socks for yourself or someone else, let us know, we are happy to help.
SKUs: 28 - 4054956027143, 30 - 4054956027150, 32 - 4054956027167, 34 - 4054956027174, 36 - 4054956027181, 38 - 4054956027198, 40 - 4054956027204, 42 - 4054956027211