I think at the time, NC was one of the leading producers of denim and corduroy. Cone Mills, Blue Bell (now Wrangler, I think) and a few others all started in that area around Winston-Salem. (yay for fashion classes)
Why corduroy and not denim? I dunno, it probably just sounded better... its the land of naked marble bOYs- something you dont see a lot in winston-salem, thats the land of cordurOY(s)?
I think you are over-thinking. Corduroy pants are very traditional and conservative, like the Southern society Clara is used to. The Johnsons are well-off; Clara isn't going to be thinking about how farm workers dress. And this is the 50s- no jeans.
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