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Cordings of piccadilly

post #1 of 114
12/29/03 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 
Gentlemen, I have read about Cordings in Roetzel's "Gentleman" book; author praises them. Alan Flusser in his "Style and the Man" book also mentions them, and says that "Cordings... is the genuine article" (I believe this is compliment). There is Cording's web site with several beautiful pictures (www.cordings.co.uk), but, unfortunately, with very little information regarding company and their merchandise. I have ordered several pairs of Cordings trousers; they look competent. Unfortunately, I am not knowledgeable enough to distinguish between simply competent and marvellous. Or between marvellous and horrible. As I know, many of you have wealth of knowledge of all things related to style and clothing. Could you, please, share your knowledge about Cordings (company and its merchandise) with me and other members interested in this issues? Particularly, I am interested in these: 1.) Are Cordings made their merchandise in England? Are they use subcontractors or produce everything in their own workrooms? 2.) How about quality of their workmanship and fabrics they use? 3.) How their merchandise compares to those of other British RTW companies of similar scale (I mean Hackett, Austin Reed, DAKS, Barbour)? For example, Barbour's needlecord trousers cost 49 pounds; Cordings sells theirs for 89 pounds. Is Cordings trousers significantly better than Barbour ones to justify higher price? 4.) If someone of you have purchased something from Cordings, how do you rate their merchandise? Are you satisfied or disappointed? Thank you, gentlemen, for your time and attention. Please excuse me for my terrible English (I live in Russia, and English is not native language for me). P.S.: I have crossposted this message to "AskAnyAboutClothes" forum. Sorry if you have read this already.
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post #2 of 114
12/29/03 at 11:07am
Andreyb, if you do a search for "Hackett" there is a thread from a couple of months ago that answers some of your questions. I admit to only ever having visited and never purchased, so I can only refer you to others. Best of luck.
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post #3 of 114
12/29/03 at 12:13pm
I am very fond of Cordings. As Alan Flusser said they are the genuine article (Hackett is the imitation). Cordings caters for the country set and it does this unashamedly and boldly. Tweed suits, shooting jackets, corduroy trousers in all colours of the rainbow, tattersall shirts and covert coats are some of their staples. It is a very English style which, in my opinion, doesn't travel too well. You will have to know, if wearing that stuff in Russia, make you stick out like a sore thumb or not. They do not produce (any longer) their merchandise themselves. In the store there are old photographs of in-house cutting room and shoemaking. These times are gone. But all their stuff is unique to the shop (apart from C & J shoes) and you will not find that particular design elsewhere. I also believe everything is produced in the U.K. or Ireland and everything is of the highest quality (within that middle price bracket). Barbour, I believe, produce only their classic jackets themselves, other things are just marketed and not of particular good quality. Cordings will be of better quality, in the same league as Hackett or Daks. Before you buy several pair of corduroy trousers, start with one pair only. They have a very peculiar cut, very high waisted and very narrow down the legs. You either love it or hate it. Nothing in between.
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post #4 of 114
8/17/10 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bengal-stripe View Post
Before you buy several pair of corduroy trousers, start with one pair only. They have a very peculiar cut, very high waisted and very narrow down the legs. You either love it or hate it. Nothing in between.

Anyone knows if this still applies to the cut of Cordings corduroy trousers? I may need a pair for winter and it is essential that they are very narrow down the legs. I really don't want more than 8", preferably 7.5". Have been looking all over eBay for corduroy pants (mostly Ralph Lauren) but hardly any seller specify the cuff width.

Also, how's the cut of the tweed trousers?
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post #5 of 114
8/17/10 at 6:27pm
Part owned by one Mr Eric Clapton as I recall. If it's good enough for slowhand...
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post #6 of 114
8/17/10 at 7:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CashmereLover View Post
Anyone knows if this still applies to the cut of Cordings corduroy trousers? I may need a pair for winter and it is essential that they are very narrow down the legs. I really don't want more than 8", preferably 7.5". Have been looking all over eBay for corduroy pants (mostly Ralph Lauren) but hardly any seller specify the cuff width.

Also, how's the cut of the tweed trousers?

I agree with bengal-stripe. Cordings' corduroy and moleskin trousers certainly are an acquired taste. The waist is really high and they do taper significantly below the knee, but offers a full seat and thigh. They are at their best when game bird hunting, in my opinion of course.
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post #7 of 114
8/17/10 at 7:32pm
Have one of their covert coats. Very happy with it.
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post #8 of 114
8/17/10 at 8:21pm
Cordings merchandise does indeed seem to be "the genuine article", as one of its writeups (Roetzel's?) says. It's always good to know you have the option of picking up a pair of bright pink cords too; the world would be a duller place without that kind of stuff. The quality feels top notch, in a hard-wearing, no-nonsense way However on the occasions I've gone into the shop, I've always left disappointed. The staff aren't as welcoming as they might be (central London I know, but still..) and because of the layout of the place it's not easy to browse; the clothes are packed tightly into racks over a couple of floors. I was in A.Hume in Kelso recently, which is everything the Cordings shop isn't, but should be. Nicely laid out, friendly and efficient service. Worth a visit if you can make it to the Scottish Borders. Once you get your authentic British gear, be sure to post pictures in the What Are You Wearing Now thread. The Russian contributors to it already are some of the very smartest looking guys on this site
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post #9 of 114
8/18/10 at 1:21pm
Sounds promising. I can't really decide what to chose: the corduroy trouser, the needlecord trousers or the moleskin trousers. Doesn't really matter as long as they are slim (at least down the legs, not necessarily by the thighs) and navy colored.

By the way, when looking at the main page of all trousers, the photo indicates that the trousers are quite slim also by the thighs:



Are these the moleskin trousers? Looks like that.
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post #10 of 114
8/18/10 at 1:30pm
They don't fit that slim in real life, that is, unless they have changed the cut of their trousers for this winter.
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post #11 of 114
8/18/10 at 2:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bohdathone View Post
Cordings merchandise does indeed seem to be "the genuine article", as one of its writeups (Roetzel's?) says. It's always good to know you have the option of picking up a pair of bright pink cords too; the world would be a duller place without that kind of stuff. The quality feels top notch, in a hard-wearing, no-nonsense way However on the occasions I've gone into the shop, I've always left disappointed. The staff aren't as welcoming as they might be (central London I know, but still..) and because of the layout of the place it's not easy to browse; the clothes are packed tightly into racks over a couple of floors. I was in A.Hume in Kelso recently, which is everything the Cordings shop isn't, but should be. Nicely laid out, friendly and efficient service. Worth a visit if you can make it to the Scottish Borders. Once you get your authentic British gear, be sure to post pictures in the What Are You Wearing Now thread. The Russian contributors to it already are some of the very smartest looking guys on this site
I am a regular Cordings customer and the both the merchandise and service are excellent. Personal discounts are offered to me as I am a valued customer. The basement is being refitted with new oak panelling after the fire caused a lot of damage earlier in the year. Most of the merchandise (except Schoffel shooting coats and the shirts) is made in Britain or Ireland. The quality of the trousers (especially the cords and moleskins) is the best you can buy in Britain. The tweeds are from top Scottish or Irish mills. I would go elsewhere for shirts, e.g. Farlows or Harvie & Hudson. Apart from the waxed jackets, most of Barbour's clothing is foreign crap. Hackett's sizing has been fucked up by the new owners. Austin Reed's quality is a sick joke.
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post #12 of 114
8/18/10 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bishop of Briggs View Post
I am a regular Cordings customer and the both the merchandise and service are excellent. Personal discounts are offered to me as I am a valued customer. The basement is being refitted with new oak panelling after the fire caused a lot of damage earlier in the year.

Most of the merchandise (except Schoffel shooting coats and the shirts) is made in Britain or Ireland. The quality of the trousers (especially the cords and moleskins) is the best you can buy in Britain. The tweeds are from top Scottish or Irish mills. I would go elsewhere for shirts, e.g. Farlows or Harvie & Hudson.

Apart from the waxed jackets, most of Barbour's clothing is foreign crap. Hackett's sizing has been fucked up by the new owners. Austin Reed's quality is a sick joke.

What is your view on the fit of the cords and moleskins? Are you even able to provide measurements for the leg opening by the end of the leg?
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post #13 of 114
8/18/10 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CashmereLover View Post
What is your view on the fit of the cords and moleskins? Are you even able to provide measurements for the leg opening by the end of the leg?

As another poster stated, the cords and moleskins have a high waist (with button side adjusters) and taper narrowly through the knee to the ankle. They will just reach over the end of the laces of your shoes. I love them! If you want exact measurements, call the shop
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post #14 of 114
8/18/10 at 5:44pm
OK, thanks, sounds promising. However, just the other minute I found some interesting trousers (mostly Incotex) on Yoox. Might go that way instead, we'll see. I love both British and Italian style, it's hard to chose.
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post #15 of 114
8/18/10 at 7:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CashmereLover View Post
OK, thanks, sounds promising. However, just the other minute I found some interesting trousers (mostly Incotex) on Yoox. Might go that way instead, we'll see. I love both British and Italian style, it's hard to chose.

I tried on some chinos that Incotex made for Polo Ralph Lauren - very small sizing, low rise and not a patch on Cording's drills. And double the price of Cording's too! It's a choice between Italian (poofy Prima Donnas in tight trousers at half mast) or Cording's (true Brit style for real men).
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