In America it's the brown pants in the drawer. In Italy the same fabric looks completely different, and it starts with the name.
The king never wore it
Corde du roi is a lovely story, but it isn't recorded in French. The English word likely comes from cord plus duroy, a coarse cloth.
Ribbed velvet
In Italy, corduroy is velluto a coste. Call something velvet and you treat it differently.
Fine rib, light color
Cream, stone, white. A silk or printed blouse instead of flannel. Texture says October; the color says it's still bright out.
Start with white
White corduroy works with sandals in October and a knit in December. Keep everything around it soft.
From Maria's edit
A textured fabric, treated gently, goes almost everywhere.