In this article
The easiest answer to the question of “What should I wear to work?” is a pair of black pants. Even though I’ve been working from home for a few years now, black pants were my uniform when I was in the office five days a week, and I still like to put them on for a semblance of professionalism. There’s no shortage of black pants out there — I spent hours in the fitting rooms of brands such as Loft and J.Crew while building my own workwear wardrobe back in the day, in search of the best pairs. So to make this guide to the best work pants for women, I relied on my own years of experience as a working woman (I own multiples of the best overall pick) and asked women who practically live in black pants for their recommendations. Read on for trousers for the “proportionally blessed” and the smart-looking pair a Strategist staffer wears when she commutes on her bike.
What we’re looking for
Size
One shortfall that’s strikingly apparent when you start shopping for work pants: Not many are made in plus sizes. Whenever possible, I’ve featured pants that come in a wide range of sizes — and that includes pairs that come in a variety of inseams, to accommodate different heights.
Material
The fabric makes all the difference in how a pair of pants looks and wears. Polyester is more popular than cotton because it doesn’t wrinkle as much, plus it’s machine washable so it won’t up your dry-cleaning bill. Linen lets your legs breathe. Crêpe (which can be made of everything from silk to a synthetic like polyester) also won’t crease easily, and has a more textured feel. Modal is known for its silk-like softness and stretch.
No matter the material, pay attention to whether a pant has some stretch, which is a big factor in comfort. You’ll usually see it in the form of either elastane or spandex (these are essentially the same fabrics under different names, with Lycra being the trademark version). Almost all the pants below have some percentage of stretch. A lot of stretch can make a pant look like it’s made from a technical fabric (as in exercise gear), says style coach Kim Hancher, which could break unofficial business-casual rules. But the Hayden from Banana Republic — our best overall pick — features 3 percent elastane, and means business.
Cut
The work-pants space isn’t known for its inventiveness — “tailored” is the name of the game. Some options can feel a little too buttoned up, however, so I looked for a range of cuts, from wide leg to a slimmer straight leg, so you can get the vibe you’re going for …
Design details
… And called out any interesting details, like menswear-inspired pleating, a faux fly in the front, or cuffed hems to show some ankle.
Price
A five-day work wardrobe can come with a high price tag. Sure, you can invest in Eileen Fisher, but Everlane can do pretty well, too. I designed this list to be as affordable as possible, with each pick designated as either $ ($100 and under), $$ (between $100 and $150), or $$$ ($150 and up).
Best overall black work pants
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: $
There was a time where I was wearing a pair of these pants every other day, including on a commute involving a car ride, a trip on New Jersey Transit followed by taking the subway, and a short walk. But they always made it to the office unwrinkled. They’re also as comfortable as sweatpants because of their stretchy polyester-blend fabric and secret elastic waistband in the back. But the flat front and faux fly elevate their look. Even though I work from home now, I still wear mine anytime I want to feel a little more polished. They are relatively size inclusive, available in sizes 0 to 20 as well as three inseam lengths. I own five pairs in a mix of inseams — the 27-inch “regular” inseam is full length on my five-foot-two frame, and the 25-inch “petite” inseam hits right above my ankle. They have a slimmer straight leg that works just as well with a T-shirt as it does with a blazer. And the Haydens are pretty affordable, even at full price — but if you need another reason to try them for yourself, they’re also a best seller with Strategist readers and are almost always on sale.
Best black work pants for plus sizes
Sizes: 14–28 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: $
Eloquii was the most mentioned brand in our guide to plus-size work pants, with content creator Ashby Vose and lifestyle blogger Ashley Carter naming the style as their go-to for workwear. Carter says the Kadys are “worth every penny” for their high-quality fabric (a blend of cotton, spandex, and polyamide, which is a sort of stretchy nylon), adding that it holds its shape well, a characteristic that can be hard to find in plus sizes. The Kady is Eloquii’s “signature work pant” and one of its best sellers. The pair comes in sizes 12 to 32 and three different inseams, as well as eight colors (though not every color is available in the full size range).
Best wide-leg black work pants
Sizes: 0–16 with 27- (short), 29- (regular), and 31-inch (tall) inseams | Material: Polyester | Cut: Wide-leg | Design details: Front pleats with some drape | Price: $$
The Effortless Pant from Aritzia has become somewhat of a social-media darling, in part because it lives up to its name: The high-waisted, wide-legged, and full-length trousers are easy to wear, well, anywhere. They’re made from a Japanese crêpe the brand calls “crepette,” which has more of a drape than, say, the more structured Kady Pant. But they’re not so formless as to look messy under the harsh lighting (and judgy eyes) at the office. Interior designer Gillian Segal likes to wear them with Aritzia’s matching oversize blazers for a power-suit look. Or, outside of work, she styles them with either a bodysuit and heels or sneakers and a hoodie for “a Hailey Bieber moment.” The pants come in three inseams — short, regular, and tall — and you can also get them cropped, in satin, and with a more exaggerated wide leg. (Alternatively, if you’re looking for an even more comfortable fit, personal stylist Allie McKenna recommends Aritzia’s Alanya pants, which are made from the same crepette but have an elastic waistband in the back.)
Best flare work pant
Sizes: 23–34 with plus-sizes 16–26 and 24- (petite), 25- (plus), 26- (standard), and 29-inch (tall) inseams | Materials: Viscose, linen, cotton, elastane | Cut: Flared out wide-leg | Design details: Front and back patch pockets, zipper, cropped hem | Price: $$
The Colette pants from Anthropologie’s in-house label Maeve are the most size-inclusive pants on this list — available in standard sizes 23 to 34, along with plus sizes 16 through 26, as well as three inseams. You can get the pants in corduroy, velvet, and a variety of patterns as well. They have earned a real following, with close to 1,500 reviews from customers and raves from employees, who recommended them to me when I wrote about Anthro for the Strategist’s Retail Secrets series. “Everybody — I swear — has a pair, whoever works there,” one associate told me. Another associate compared their wide-leg cut to the Effortless from Aritzia, though the Colettes are more flared and cropped. Helen Patrikis, founder of public-relations firm HP-PR, likes the patch pockets in both the front and back, which punch up the silhouette. She has them in a ponte version and describes them as “wardrobe warriors” for holding their shape, not wrinkling, and packing well. One pro tip heard from an Anthro stylist is that the Colette’s run a bit big — even as the brand describes them as formfitting — so you may want to size down.
Best loose-fit work pants
Sizes: 2–14 with a 30-inch inseam | Materials: Wool (with a cotton lining) | Cut: Wide-leg | Design details: Front pleats, back darts, concealed adjustable-button tab | Price: $$
Though these pants have traditional tailored features like front pleats and back darts, there’s more slouchiness to the wide leg. “The bagginess means they are exceptionally comfortable,” explains Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell. She appreciates their generous cut, which balloons enough to skim over her curvier hips. The pants also have a unique, adjustable waistband, with buttons near each hip and multiple buttonholes to get the best fit. “You can decide whether you want to wear the pants low-rise or on the waist,” she says. “But it’s also a great feature for the proportionally blessed.” Milliner-Waddell has been sporting the pair in the New York office and notes that in between trips to the dry cleaner, a quick pass with an iron will take out any wrinkling. And since this story was last updated, Cos released the pants in a petite inseam, designed for people who are five-foot-four and under. Though the petite version is currently sold out, you can sign up to be notified when your size comes back in stock.
Best black suit pants
Sizes: 00–18 with a 25.5-inch inseam | Materials: Wool, elastane | Cut: Slim-cut, suit-style leg | Design details: Hook-and-zip closure, front slant pockets | Price: $$$
Theory’s Treecas “are the business-casual equivalent to the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans,” says Catherine Smart, co-founder of Not 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.
Best pull-on black work pants
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 be that comfortable. Now I know what Sloan Symington was 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 “sweatpant feel.” 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-made sweatpants are. 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 the AC’s on 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 a sweater can leave them looking a little fuzzy.
Best black ponte pants
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: $
Traditionally, ponte pants are slimmer through the leg and reminiscent of a knit legging. The Moros from Universal Standard — makers of many Strategist-approved basics — have a closer fit, flat waistband, and the choice between zippers at the hem and pintucking through the leg. Freelance editor Maya Kosoff was “pants-allergic” until she tried their hip-hugging cut with tapered ankles. And writer Reneice Charles calls the Moros a foundational piece in her wardrobe. Practically speaking, they are pill- and crease-resistant.
Best work pants that feel like sweatpants
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 from Outdoor Voices were the most mentioned work pants I heard about, 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 editor Kelsie Schrader even 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 Place founder Joyce Lee wears the pants for work, working out, and travel. Strategist kitchen-and-dining writer Emma Wartzman likes to sport them, too, describing them as “comfy but put-together.”
Some more women’s black work pants we like
Our experts
• Nadine Abramcyk, co-founder of Tenoverten
• Ashley Carter, lifestyle blogger
• Reneice Charles, writer and life coach
• Liza Curtiss, Le Whit co-founder
• Kim Hancher, style coach
• Tessa Jennifer, founder of Auralie
• Maya Kosoff, freelance writer and editor
• Joyce Lee, founder of Her Place
• Tammy Lee, Parsons School of Design fashion marketing student
• Lara Mahler, founder of wedding-planning company The Privilege is Mine
• Allie McKenna, personal stylist
• Jenna Milliner-Waddell, Strategist associate editor
• Alex Morris, Rolling Stone senior writer
• Helen Patrikis, founder of public-relations firm HP-PR
• Kelsie Schrader, Strategist managing editor
• Stacy Seebode, private chef
• Gillian Segal, interior designer
• Catherine Smart, co-founder of Not Just Co.
• Nicole Snow, founder of Darn Good Yarn
• Sloan Symington, marketing and strategy director at Stratia Skincare
• Ashby Vose, content creator
• Emma Wartzman, Strategist kitchen and dining writer
Additional reporting by Lauren Ro
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