The 11 Very Best Black Work Pants for Women

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Sizes:XXS–XXL with 24.5- (short), 26.5- (regular), and 29.5- (long) inseams |Materials:Tencel, cotton |Cut:Slimmer straight-leg |Design:Zip-fly with hook-and-eye closure, elastic waistband in the back, side-seam pockets in the front |Price:$

Banana Republic Factory’s Hayden was the longtime holder of this title. But after testing Banana Republic’s All Day for the past four months, it’s clear to me that they deserve thebest-in-classblue ribbon now.

Despite having a very comfortable elastic waistband in the back, there’s an air of formality to the All Days, with a zip fly and hook-and-bar closure (unlike the Hayden’s flat-front). They’re made from aTencel-cotton blend that doesn’t wrinkle easily, even after long hours of sitting, and that washes well (after multiple washes, I haven’t noticed any real signs of wear yet). Most importantly, I just love wearing them. There hasn’t been a week — at least as far as I can remember — that I haven’t worn the All Days since the beginning of November, when my first pair arrived. I could get away with wearingsweatpantson a Google Meet, but I willingly put my All Days on a Monday for a one-on-one with my editor, a Wednesday for the Strategist team’s idea brainstorms, or a Friday while interviewing sources. I’ve worn them to dentist appointments and restaurant dinners, too. As I said in a recent installment of ourStrategist Brainseries, these have paid for themselves several times over given how often I wear them. They’re $100 full-price, but frequently on sale for $80 — and sometimes they even go for as low as $60 on, say,Black Friday.

If I had to get rid of most pants I own, I would hold onto my All Days tightly. They’re one of the best-fitting pants I’ve ever tried: not too tight in the thighs and short enough for mynotlong legs (I didn’t have to get the shortest inseam hemmed). They’re available in sizes XXS to XXL, and different lengths (short, regular, and tall), one of the bigger size ranges on this list.

Sizes:0–20 with 25- (petite), 27- (regular), and 30-inch (tall) inseams |Materials:Recycled polyester, rayon, elastane |Cut:Slimmer straight-leg |Design:Elastic-back waistband |Price:$

Nowadays, I wear my All Days more than my Haydens. But there was a time when I wore Haydens nearly every other day to an actualoffice(not just thedeskacross from my bed). Despite my commute that included a car ride, a trip onNew Jersey Transit, some subway stops, and a few blocks on foot, the pants always made it to the office unwrinkled, thanks to their stretchy polyester-blend fabric that’s surprisingly breathable. The elastic waistband in the back (similar to the All Days’) makes them easy to move in. At one point, I even owned five pairs, one for every day of the workweek. (There’s awide-legandcargoversion of the Hayden as well.) You can absolutely stock up, as they’re almost always on sale for half-off. (This is Banana Republic’s outlet store we’re talking about.) Plus, they’ve been abest seller with Strategist readers, if you needed another reason to try them out for yourself.

Sizes:12–32 with 27-(petite), 29- (regular), and 31-inch (tall) inseams |Materials:Cotton, polyamide, spandex |Cut:Straight-leg |Design details:Hook-and-bar closure with hidden button, flat front pockets |Price:$

I heard a lot of praise for Eloquii while working on our guide toplus-size work pants. Because the brandonlymakes plus-size clothing, it’s gotten its fits really right. The Kadys are the company’s signature pant, a bestseller that’s been popular for years. The pants come in three different inseams: 27 inches (petite), 29 inches (regular), and 31 inches (long). Though the Kady used to come in different cuts designed for different body shapes, now there’s a single option for everyone; however, the pants also now come in a wider size range, starting at 12 and going up to 32. BloggerAshley Cartersays the Kadys are “worth every penny” for their high quality and that hers have held up well through countless wears. Made from a blend of cotton, spandex, and polyamide (a sort of stretchy nylon), they hold their shape well through the workday. The pants also come in colors including cobalt, green, scarlet, and dune, if you want to buy for a full workweek.

Sizes:0–16 and 14W–28W with 27.5- (petite), 30- (regular), and 33-inch (tall) inseams |Materials:Tencel lyocell, cotton, linen |Cut:Wide leg |Design:Sailor-inspired button tabs on the waistband |Price:$$

Madewell’s Harlow pants are slowly winning over a significant portion of the Strategist team (they were the topic of animated discussion at a staff meeting just this week).New Yorkdeputy editorAlexis Swerdloffowns a pair and says “they truly make me feel like I’m wearingpajamasto work.” Strategist writerArielle Avila— who first heard about them in an installment of our “Celebrity Shopping” series with actressVictoria Justice—has a pair, too, and so does Camilla Cho, SVP of e-commerce at Vox Media, who told me that she’s planning on buying a second pair soon.

Avila has owned the Harlows since February and says that while it’s rare to find a pair of pants she can wear for all seasons, these fit the bill. They’re made from a breathable combination ofTencel, cotton, and linen that looks put together but never feels stuffy. The fabric does crease fairly easily, but not to the extent that it needs to be ironed, and Avila says the pants easily stand up to several wears before they need to go in the wash.

Just note that Harlows run long.Swerdloff— who’s five-foot-eight — went with apetitelength instead of the regular, and Avila, who’s five-foot-one, also went for the shortest inseam. The hem hits at the top of her foot. “It may seem too long for some, but I like that look for a trouser because they drape over my shoes in a nice way,” she says. And even on her shorter frame, the wide leg isn’t overwhelming. “They are very flattering and seem to lengthen me,” Avila says.

Sizes:0–16 with 27- (shorter), 30- (short), 32- (regular), 33-inch (tall) inseams |Material:Polyester |Cut:Wide leg |Design details:Front pleats with some drape |Price:$$

I decided on a tie in this category because Aritzia’s the Effortless Pant is also very well reviewed. The trousers are famous for being flattering on different shapes (though they’re available only up to a size 16) and especially versatile. I can often tell when someone wears a pair because of theknife pleatson the front, which add to the cinched-waist look of the pants.(You also might recognize them from their recent moment onsocial media.)

The pants are made from a Japanese crêpe that Aritzia dubbed “crepette”(100 percent polyester), which has the subtlest of textures and a pleasant drape that makes wrinkles less noticeable. I didn’t even have tosteamthem when pulling them out of the packaging for the first time. Strategist senior editorHilary Reid, who owns two pairs of the Effortless pants, says the fabric is “airy enough to not feel stuffy even on hot days.” Reid has worn hers both for work and casually, and she puts it best: They’re an “innocuous pair of black pants” that can go with just about anything. Interior designerGillian Segallikes to pair hers with a matchingblazerfor a power-suit look. Or, outside of work, she styles them withsneakersand a hoodie for “aHailey Biebermoment.”

A big part of the Effortless Pant’s appeal is that they come in a variety of materials and fits. They’re available insatinandlinenand in acroppedfit as well as one with an evenwiderleg and in alow rise(which is more of a mid-rise, says Reid). These often go in and out of stock, but if the one you want is sold out, you can sign up to be emailed when it’s back. If you stick with the original fit, you can choose from a number of inseams —shorter,short,regular, andtall— and a core collection of colors (black, of course, along with brown, gray, and olive green) and an ever-changing list of limited-edition shades. Just note that the pants do run small, according to reviewers on Aritzia’s site, Reid, and me — my usual size barely buttoned up. I suggest going up at least one size.

Sizes:23–34 with plus-sizes 16–26 and 24- (petite), 25- (plus), 26- (standard), and 29-inch (tall) inseams |Materials:Viscose, linen, cotton, elastane |Cut:Flared out wide-leg |Design details:Front and back patch pockets, zipper, cropped hem |Price:$$

Anthropologie’s Colette comes highly recommended by the company’s own employees in ourRetail Secretsseries. “Everybody — I swear — has a pair, whoever works there,” an associate told me then. I tried a pair myself recently. An Anthropologie stylist warned me that Colettes run a bit big, generally, but I found them to be formfitting through my hips, enough that I didn’t need to size down. They have asuper-flattering high-rise and butt-skimming behind (and overall a more thigh-hugging fit than Aritzia’s Effortless pant). They’re the most size-inclusive pants on this list — available in standard sizes 23 to 34, along with plus sizes 16 through 26 — and they’re the only pants here that are available in adaptive versions, with features like a front fly and loop pulls for side zippers, for those who have disabilities. You can get the pants in different “editions” like inlinenanddenim, as well. Helen Patrikis, founder of public-relations firmHP-PR, has them in aponte, packing them on business trips.

Sizes:2–14 with a 30-inch inseam |Materials:Polyester, wool, and elastane |Cut:Looserwide leg |Design details:Front pleats, pressed creases, back darts, concealed adjustable-button tab |Price:$$

Strategist writerLauren Robecame a fan of these COS pants after hearing about them from Curbed’sAdriane Quinlan. According to Ro, these have the look of The Row’s trousers for a fraction of the cost. Although they have the traditional tailored features you might expect in a pair of black work pants — like front pleating and back darts — there’s more of a looseness to the wide leg, which gives them that higher-end look.

“The bagginess means they are exceptionally comfortable,” explains Strategist associate editorJenna Milliner-Waddell. She likes that the generous cut brushes past her curvier hips without her losing her shape. An adjustable tab on the waistband — with buttons to get the best fit — means you can loosen the pants to wear them lower on your hip or tighten them so they sit higher on your waist. “It’s a great feature for the proportionally blessed,” says Milliner-Waddell. She notes that these do occasionally need a trip to the dry cleaner, while Ro mentions they’re very wrinkleproof even as she sits cross-legged regularly. There’s acotton-twill versionand alinen blendof the pants, too.

[Editor’s note: Most sizes are out of stock, but you can sign up to be emailed when your size is back in stock.]

Sizes:00–18 with a 25.5-inch inseam|Materials:Wool, elastane |Cut:Slim-cut, suit-style leg |Design details:Hook-and-zip closure, front slant pockets |Price:$$$

Theory’s Treecas “are the business-casual equivalent to the perfect pair ofboyfriend jeans,” says Catherine Smart, co-founder ofNot Just Co. These have the slightest of crops, hitting right above her ankle on her five-foot-four frame, with a narrow cut that doesn’t “date me as an aging millennial,” she jokes. Smart credits the tailored trousers with helping her navigate corporate workwear — before starting her own business, she worked as a personal chef. The pants are modeled after formal pantsuits while featuring a slimmer-cut leg. Made from wool, they are structured enough so as not to sag in the back, with a “glorious give” from some elastane, Smart explains. Plus, the deep pockets hide her sweaty palms when she’s been schmoozing.

Sizes:XXS–XXXXL with a 27.5-inch inseam |Materials:Cotton and modal |Cut:Tapered, relaxed leg |Design details:Pintuck detailing, elastic waistband |Price:$

I liked the tailoring on Everlane’s Dream Pant immediately. But even with the elastic waistband, I never expected them to bethatcomfortable. Now I know whatSloan Symingtonwas talking about when she said they look like slacks (thanks to pintucking on the front), while delivering on what the brand’s promise of a “sweatpantfeel.” The Dream Pant is a little thicker than our top-pick Hayden, made from a double-knit cotton and modal blend, and it’s weightier in the way that really well-madesweatpantsare. For that reason, I probably wouldn’t recommend them if you’re commuting outdoors in the middle of the summer, but they’ll keep you from freezing whenever theAC’son full blast.They don’t wrinkle, either — even after hours of sitting, the legs on my pair weren’t creased. I would recommend keeping a lint roller on hand, however, since asweatercan leave them looking a little fuzzy. You can now get the Dream Pant introuserform — with a wider, straight-leg silhouette — and as aflare, for something more fitted.

Sizes:00–40 with a 27-inch inseam |Materials:Rayon, nylon, elastane |Cut:Legging-style leg |Design details:Option of zippered or non-zippered cuffs, and pintucked detailing |Price:$

Ponte pants are similar in feel toleggings, with a more substantial knit that’s still comfortable and stretchy. Universal Standard’s version, the Moros, are made from a forgiving blend of rayon, nylon, and elastane that is wrinkle-, crease-, and pill-resistant. This makes for an easy-to-wear, easy-to-care-for style. That’s what I like about the pants: I just feelgoodin them. I can sit in them cross-legged while listening into a meeting but still look put together. You can get them with or without a zipper at the ankle, but they only come in one length; I’m five-foot-two and found that zippered version is too long, so I prefer the non-zippered option,which I can cuff to show a little ankle. (There’s also a pair with ankle zipsandpintucking on the front and back.)

EditorMaya Kosoffis also a fan of the Moros; though she was formerly “pants-allergic,” the pants won her over with their slim, tapered cut and smooth elastic waistband. And writerReneice Charlescalls them a foundational piece in her wardrobe. You’ll need to pay close attention to Universal Standard’s atypicalsize chart— an M in the brand’s sizing is equivalent to a size 18 or 20 — but I otherwise found these true-to-size (I’m usually a size eight or ten, and in the Moros I take an XS).

Sizes:XS–XL with 26- and 29-inch inseams |Materials:Recycled polyester, spandex |Cut:Track-pant-style leg |Design details:Zippered front pockets, hidden drawstring |Price:$

Though the Zephyrs fromOutdoor Voiceswere mentioned by multiple sources, their athleisure-like appearance — reminiscent of old-school track pants — might not work in some corporate circles. (If you need a more traditional look, you might be better off with the Everlane Dream Pant, above.) Still, if you can get away with wearing the Zephyrs to the office, you should. They’re wonderfully light and breathable, with a paper-thin feel. Strategist managing editorKelsie Schradereven wears them when she bikes to work — and isn’t “drenched in sweat” when she arrives at her desk. Though the Zephyrs are a little more wrinkle-prone than some of the other work pants I’ve tried, the wrinkles aren’t so bad as to be distracting.Her Placefounder Joyce Lee wears the pants for work, working out, and travel. Strategist kitchen-and-dining writerEmma Wartzmanlikes to sport them, too, describing them as “comfy but put-together.”

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