My Hunt for a Perfectly Red Pant

The award for the boldest pair on this list goes to Agolde’s Twist. I was enamored with the vivacity of the red, and the shade was as bold as the silhouette — a baggy, exaggerated barrel with subtle twisted-seam detailing on the front of the pant legs. These ran quite large (I’m typically a 26 or 27 in jeans and wore a 25 in these), but they were the perfect length. They’re a true mid-rise with a button fly (a preferred feature for me) and, though stiff, not uncomfortable. But as much as I adored the richness of the red, it was a tad on the neon side for me, which made pairing with other reds ever-so-slightly tricky. Coupled with the at-times exaggerated bow-leggedness of the barrel, I found myself neglecting this pair day to day. I can see myself wearing these plenty more in the warmer months as easily the punchiest pair of pants I own. But under winter layers and a coat, I felt overwhelmed by the silhouette.

[Editor’s note: These jeans are nearly out of stock (they’re available in very limited sizes), but you can sign up for restock notifications on varying product pages.]

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a brand I’d largely associated with“Tween Row” sweatshirtsmade denim — and made it well. With a button fly and a mid-rise, plus a raw hem that wasn’toverlystringy in the way undone hems can be, this pair was by and large the safest on the list. It’s made of a thinner-feeling cotton than Agolde’s pair above, making for a slightly more worn-in feeling and true-to-size fit (a 26 was perfect for me). But the jeans’ red color was both its plus and pitfall. It’s a more muted red than others I tried, which did make it easier to style alongside other deeper and brighter reds in my closet. But that muted hue left me wanting a smidge more in terms of vibrancy. I found myself reaching for this pair frequently enough for days I was in office or to lounge around in while working remotely, too, but it wasn’t exactly the hue I was after.

For the sake of avoiding redundancy, I did my best not to try any of the satin pants from myearlier huntin their respective red offerings. But the LesetYoko pantsin bordeaux that I wanted to try were discontinued, so I had to return to the top-crowned Barbs, which were available in the same shade (albeit in a ever-so-slightly more dramatic bias — not wide-leg — cut). Nearly everything about these pants is as lovely as their black counterparts, from their swishy, loose, and wide true-to-size fit (I wore a small) to their just-right length and extreme comfort. But the color, a gorgeous understated deep red that in some lights leans brown-burgundy and in others, more a red bordeaux, simply wasn’t what I was looking for. It’s also a shade I found difficult to style monochromatically.

These pants had crossed my media feeds and passed beneath my hands in stores several times prior. I’ve long tried to find a pair like them — low-waisted with a what-’90s-trouser-dreams-are-made-of cut — secondhand and have yet to succeed. So when I saw this pair was released in a seasonal red, I figured they were worth a shot. I’m not fond of their largely synthetic makeup, especially at this price point. But I very much appreciate their details, which truly makes the pair: in particular, the subtle herringbone fabric texture; belt-less, seamless waist; and a fit that toes on too low without slipping off my hips or being uncomfortable. Yes, I did feel like Gwyneth Paltrow with these on, midriff peeking out and all. They’re loose but still flattering, their overall sleek silhouette perfect for office-to-holiday-party wear. But their color simply wasn’t it. It’s similar to the Leset shade above but far more muted and purple leaning. I had the hardest time figuring out what reds to wear with this pair, as most of the tones in my closet didn’t jibe right for even a tonal look.

I don’t quite recall why or how Still Here became the veritable cool-girl jeans brand, but the only style it did make in a red wash was top of mind when I first started this hunt. I must admit: These jeans are worth the price tag. While I would have, instinctively,preferred a “normal” belt-looped waistband, the bolero-tie-esque adjustable drawstring eventually won me over, adding a unique and unintentional twang to the pair (and when Ireallydidn’t want it out, I found a way to subtly tuck it in). The fit of the pants is somehow even more low-waisted than Reformation’s but never low or tight in the wrong places, and the wide-legged pant legs were perfectly baggy. But the true red is what won for me. It’s in the same vein as the Parke pair’s muted wash but a hair brighter and more full in the way I wanted a red to be without being hard on the eyes. These pants matched many of my existing red tops and accessories nearly perfectly.

I’m fussy when it comes to anything tailored or wool. That’s half the reason why, in lieu of continuing what had grown to be a fruitless hunt for a good vintage pair of wool trousers, I took up satin and silk pants instead. But I’m happy to report a rare exception with Argent’s pair. They’re well done through and through, particularly in this shade — a near-exact true-red color match to Still Here’s but in wool form. They’re vibrant and mid-toned but not excessive. The pleated fronts and wide legs ooze chic, regardless of how or what I styled these pants with, and the hems drape my feet just enough to reveal the right amount of toe (or shoe) cleavage. While I didn’t love the high waist, I found it added to the pair’s elevated feel, and the lack of belt loops or pockets made them both easy enough to slip on day to day and/or dress up for more formal occasions. An honorary mention goes out to Argent’sStraight Leg Trouser in Tomato, which, while not my favorite pant fit (a slimmer tuxedo-type cut that needed hemming), had a color that could have landed them alongside Agolde’s Twist as the brightest reds.