I Found a Bunch of Non-Trouser-ish, Actually Comfortable Black Work Pants

I wore these pants to the office on a Friday, then went straight to my five-year high-school reunion, which had no official dress code. The fact that these held up in a fluorescent corporate office and a pink-and-blue-colored midtown event space with a DJ and a buffet of pita and various dips is the ultimate sign of a do-anything pant. The fabric is a Tencel linen twill, which gives them a light summery texture (though I foresee myself wearing them year-round). In addition to these, I tried Enza Costa’s Supima Cotton Soft Everywhere pant (which I write about further down). Both had pretty long inseams (33 inches), which makes them appealing for a wide range of heights and shoe preferences. I’m five-foot-six, and with heeled boots, the pants still kissed the floor as I walked, which I thought was quite elegant.

These Leset pants are as light as air. Wearing them feels like the clothing equivalent of getting under crisp sheets after a shower: cool and soft and comforting. The drape is excellent; all of the creases occur in the right places (something I’ve noticed the brand excels at across its pieces). I wore these to meet my friend Olivia, who happened to be wearing the exact same pants, for brunch. As we sipped our fizzy mint lemonades on the outdoor patio, we agreed that these were the only pair of pants that could have held up in the 82 degree weather — whether that day was spent outside or at a desk. In the sweltering New York summer, the Yoko will be a serious player in the rotation.

I have a longer torso and shorter legs, so even at my respectable five-foot-six, most pants are too long on me. Brooke Callahan’s tie pants come in two lengths, so I opted for the 30-inch inseam. These are the most cropped pants I tested, and I like how they allow my sock-shoe combo to shine. The tie on the side gives these otherwise functional pants a bit of a tropical-vacation energy. I want to wear these on top of a swimsuit to the beach! Until then, they are very cute as officewear and for a Saturday morning stroll to the farmers’ market.

These wide-leg pants are fun and flowy, and though I’m usually averse to any kind of name or logo on my clothing, the “Lululemon” on the waistband remains hidden under all of the tops I’ve worn these with. They are super-thin and easy to move in, which is a plus, but read more as track pants than trouser dupes — making them feel out of place for the office. I wish they weren’t high-waisted, but that’s more of a personal-comfort preference.

I have two pairs of Vuori pants that I have worn religiously for the past three years. I’ve been so loyal to them that I haven’t tried any of Vuori’s new products, until now. The Villa pants are very thin and so lightweight that I can barely register them on my body. I wish the silhouette were a bit more flattering … from some angles, I thought they looked like scrubs. However, I did spend a day rock climbingandworking from home in these pants, and I was delighted by their performance on both fronts. I also feel confident that I could wear them to the office without anyone blinking an eye.

If the Leset Yoko pants were redesigned in an athletic fabric, these would be a pretty close match. They are ultralight (great for hot days), and the waistband is thin and subtle. The 30-inch inseam is perfect for me: long enough to drape well but doesn’t get caught under my heels when I walk. The only knock I have is the Alo logo on the left leg — it’s the one giveaway that my fabulous pants are, in fact, athleisure.

These are straight-leg, mid-rise pants that feel very streamlined. I opted for navy and the Lite fabric that is thinner and silkier than Bleusalt’s signature. They are soft, but I found myself reaching for the Enza Costa pants when I wanted to relax and send emails from my couch. Bleusalt’s makeup is 96 percent micro modal and 4 percent spandex, and the 100 percent cotton felt much more breathable. I would wear these to the office, but their sweatpantlike feel makes them more appropriate for work-from-home days.

These are like a grown-up’s most luxurious sweatpants. The 100 percent cotton is a dream against my skin. Because of how relaxed these fit, I’m not certain if they’re formal enough to wear to work, but they are definitely the pair that I’m desperate to change into as soon as my keys twist into the lock on the front door.

If I could only pick one pair of pants from this experiment to wear forever, I would go with the Leset Arielle pants. They’re made of a double-woven Japanese crêpe that is both solid and sophisticated. They are thinner than a traditional trouser, which allows for fluid movement. They have undetectable pockets (despite the obvious name, I only discovered the existence of pockets on my third wear and found that items magically disappear inside them), which is ideal if I want to grab lunch with just my phone and my wallet on my person. The open legs have a beautiful drape but aren’t too wide to the point of unruliness. These are the platonic ideal of a pair of pull-on pants — effortless, flattering, and cool.