When it comes to a work wardrobe, you can build endless looks around certain key pieces. The best work pants for women can be dressed up or down and look great with everything from a crisp button-down to a classic white T-shirt. We tested a variety of pants and talked to fashion experts to find the most stylish options. Quince’s Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg Pant won as the best work pants for women overall while Everlane’s Straight Leg Pant is the best casual option.
Since everyone’s definition of a work uniform is different, we rounded up additional picks that suit specific needs, fashion tastes and budgets. Here, all the best work pants for women that we highly recommend for your nine-to-five days.
More Top-Rated Tested Styles To Consider
The best work pants for women vary significantly based on the formality of your workplace and your personal style. For more suggestions, we reached out to stylish women and Forbes Vetted contributors for their favorite work pants, all of which they have personally tested and worn on the job.
How We Chose The Best Work Pants For Women
The Forbes Vetted Team has researched and published dozens of fashion stories; co-author Molly Calhoun is a regular contributor who has covered everything from the best loafers for women to the best engagement rings. To gain more insight into what makes a pair of work pants truly stand out, we also enlisted three experts. New York-based fashion stylists Audree Kate López and Traci Franklin and shared their top shopping tips from selecting the right silhouette and material to how to care for your work pants. Atlanta-based fashion stylist Rachel Nicole talked to us about how to strike the right balance between casual and polished at work. We also tapped into our team’s internal expertise—deputy editor Kari Molvar tested the winners in this piece firsthand.
To narrow down the options for the best work pants for women, we read hundreds of product reviews and evaluated options from both established and emerging brands. We ultimately chose the best women’s work pants by determining which pairs were consistently top-rated by customers, featured office-appropriate silhouettes and comfortable fabrics, and could be easily layered with other pieces in one’s wardrobe to create different looks. We also considered if the pants were available in a wide range of sizes, inseams, colors and price points. The final products on this list reflect several weeks’ worth of in-depth research and personal vetting.
What To Look For In The Best Work Pants For Women
- Material: “The right material depends on the style of pant,” says fashion stylist Traci Franklin. “For a slim leg silhouette, look for a polyblend or fabric that has stretch.” For a pleated wide-leg pant, Franklin recommends options that allow movement, such as a linen blend, silk or satin. Fashion stylist Audree Kate López also prefers finding a wool-blend or cotton-based pants for comfort. Or consider triacetate, which is wrinkle-resistant, and elastane or spandex to create stretch in pants.
- Silhouette: “Thanks to suiting and menswear-inspired trends, there are a ton of trouser options out there,” Franklin says. Silhouette is largely based on personal preference. Slim legged pants are the most classic fit while wide-legged pants are a slouchier, more relaxed option.
- Care: In order to keep your work pants pristine, López recommends washing in cold water, hanging dry or putting in the dryer on low to medium heat, if absolutely necessary. “You can also dry clean, if the pants are made from a delicate fabric,” she says. “Hot water will fade colors, shrink and break down the fabric over time.” To avoid creasing in the leg and waistband, Franklin suggests clipping pants at the bottom of the leg on your hanger.
- Fit: The importance of finding the right fit can’t be overstated. You want work pants to fit comfortably around the waist and hips, offering enough room for movement without being overly tight or too loose. The length of the pants should also be considered; ideally, they should hover just above the ground with shoes on. For those who are taller, look for brands that offer tall sizes or extended sizes.
- Versatility: You’ll get a lot of use out of pants that work well for different situations and events. Opt for colors and styles that can be easily paired with a variety of tops and shoes. While neutral colors like black, gray, navy, and beige are versatile and professional, introducing a pop of color or a unique pattern can add a personal touch and show off your style. Additionally, it’s worthwhile to invest in pants can transition from office wear to after-work events since you’ll get plenty of mileage out of them.
- Pockets: Functionality in work pants often comes down to pockets. Look for pockets that are deep enough to hold essentials like a phone or keys. However, it’s important to ensure that the pockets don’t add bulk and that they lay flat against the body. Some modern designs offer innovative solutions like hidden or zippered pockets, which can be especially stylish and practical.
How To Compare The Best Work Pants For Women
When evaluating the best work pants for you, think about what will ultimately be the most stylish, well-fitting and low maintenance option based on your needs. Consider the following:
Material
The material of your work pants will determine how likely they are to wrinkle as well as their breathability. If you frequently have board meetings in office buildings, you will likely want to stick with dressier wool, crepe or structured cotton fabrics. Polyester and rayon blends often have a sophisticated drape as well, giving them and elevated appearance. Linen, while lightweight and nice for summer, wrinkles quickly so bear that in mind. Pants with stretch—like the Spanx The Perfect Pant and Abercrombie & Fitch’s Slim Straight Tailored Pant—offer comfort when sitting at a desk and commuting. The Athleta Stellar Trouser has wrinkle resistant fabric to keep you looking neat at the end of a long work day.
Care
When buying work pants keep in mind that dry cleaning can be expensive. On the flip side, however, pants that are machine washable often need to be hung to dry and can require ironing. Before committing, it’s a good idea to look at the care instructions for the pants you’re purchasing. In general, wool work pants—like Theory’s Treeca Pant—will need to be dry cleaned to retain their shape and stay nice over time.
Pockets
Many people prefer pockets—like those in the Reformation Mason Pant—for convenience. However, some pockets don’t lay flat, and front pockets can pucker at the hips if pants are too tight. If you prefer elastic waistband-style work pants, keep in mind that many are pocket-less.
Fit And Length
Finding the best fit can be tricky because many women have a waist that is smaller than their hips, making it difficult to find pants that flatter their shape. Look for pockets that smooth under the pant fabric easily and darting that will enhance the fit at your hips and waist. Many brands—such as Spanx, J.Crew and Madewell—offer work pants in different inseam lengths, which is invaluable, especially if you want to avoid having to get them tailored.
Style And Detailing
In many cases, you may be looking for classic and understated styles like Quince’s Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg Pant or Theory’s The Good Wool Treeca Pant. But lots of brands make styles that are a departure from the traditional, like the special button detailing on Veronica Beard’s Renzo Slim Leg Pant, the chic pleating on Madewell’s Harlow Wide-Leg Pant and the bright colors of Me+Em’s Wide Leg Pants.
Ask An Expert: How Do I Dress Stylishly But Comfortably For Work?
Rachel Nicole, a personal stylist based in Atlanta who has styled for Prada and Vogue, is constantly on the move. Whether she’s meeting with her team in the office, running around town shopping for clothes, or going to clients’ homes to style them, she is always wearing pants. “They’re comfortable, functional, and easy to dress up or dress down,” she says. “And there are so many great styles out there to choose from these days.” Here, she shares tips for nailing the casual but polished work look that she is known for.
What kind of pants are you wearing to work these days?
“Everyone is moving away from tight, tailored pants. The trend now is wide-leg, relaxed pants that have some stretch, which is great for people like me who are constantly rushing around from place to place. I do a lot of walking during the day while pulling clothes from stores, and I am bending and kneeling when styling clients, so I need pants that offer unrestricted movement but still look professional. The wide-leg style checks those boxes.”
Voluminous wide-leg trousers seem hard to pull off. What’s the secret?
“If you’re shorter or don’t have a very defined waist, choose a flat front style instead of a pleated one. These will be a little straighter through the leg and not as voluminous; they won’t overwhelm petite figures. Or choose ones that aren’t quite a flowy, like the Tibi Tropical Wool Stella Pants. These are my go-to pants. Also, wear a fitted top or tuck in your top (at least in the front) and wear a belt to accentuate your waist. I love the belt brand Aureum. The belts are very unique and add interest to any outfit.”
What kind of shoes do you wear with wide-leg pants?
“I pair them with a sneakers, like an Adidas Samba, or pointed toe flats. For meetings, I usually add a belt and wear them with a block heel or kitten heel in a color that coordinates with the shade of my pants. For example, if I am wearing white pants, I wear a neutral heel. I just avoid wearing wedges with wide-leg pants because they look clunky.”
What pants do you wear when you travel for work?
“The relaxed, wide leg look works for travel, too. I wear them with sneakers and layer a blazer over a T-shirt in case I get cold. I also like to wear an elevated jogger while traveling. They are cut like a jogger, but made of a luxe fabric like silk, satin or crepe with a tapered leg. When I have to go straight from the airport to a meeting, I wear the Cinq a Sept Tabitha Pant because they are made of a traditional work pant fabric: crepe. They look good with heels or booties, but I wear them with sneakers or slip-on loafers when traveling.”
What about for going out at night?
“Sometimes my job requires going out in the evening, in which case I often wear flare-leg pants, which are a compromise between skinny pants and relaxed ones, or dressy wide leg pants, like the satin Cinq a Sept Jenson Pant, which have a built-in belt.”
You seem to switch between flats and heels pretty often during the day. How does that work with the hem of your pants?
“When it comes to pants, tailoring is everything. When I get my pants tailored, I bring both heels and flats and ask the tailor to hem them somewhere in the middle, so they work with heels and flats and I can change shoes during the day if needed.”
Given that you are always on the go and moving around, what fabrics do you like?
“As much as I love linen, I don’t wear it when working because it wrinkles too easily, unless I’m wear a long jacket that will cover the wrinkles in the thigh area that occur when you sit down. I usually wear pants that have a bit of elastic in them so they don’t wrinkle as easily, and I try to stay away from pants that are purely polyester because it’s not breathable.”
What do you do if you spill coffee or get a stain on your pants during the work day?
“It happens! I love white pants, but I usually wear dark colored pants during the day for this reason. So if I do get something on them, it won’t be obvious.”
How do you feel about pockets?
“It’s always nice to have a back pocket to tuck my phone into when I’m styling a client. I always need my phone handy to take pictures. Just be careful when wearing more fitted pants; sometimes the on-seam pockets will gap or pull.”
Do you always choose pants over a skirt or a dress for work?
“Pretty much. They are just more practical, and they can look more relaxed and stylish. Most of my clients are executives who pre-Covid were wearing suits and pencil skirts. Now they just want to look to casual but put together—and feel comfortable. Pants are a little dressier than jeans but have an effortless vibe that you don’t always get with skirts and dresses.” —Interview by Lesley Rotchford
How To Keep Work Pants From Wrinkling
Because you’re likely pressed for time before work, there are a few steps you can take to get out the door quickly, wrinkle-free and looking good. These tricks will not only help you save time, but they’ll also make your clothing last.
Hang Your Pants The Right Way
If you wear wool work pants, it’s likely that you send them to the dry cleaner for cleaning and pressing. In that case, your pants will be crisp and wrinkle-free straight from the clothes hanger. But if you wash them at home, or you just want to keep pants fresh between multiple wears, you’ll benefit from hanging your work pants rather than folding them on a shelf. Look for open-ended pants hangers with a rubber coating that allow you to easily slide pants that are folded at the knee on and off the hanger. Alternatively, velvet hangers produce friction to hold pants well, as do plastic hangers with a grippy, non-slip rubber patch. Some wood hangers, while pretty, allow pants to slip off and then you find them in an unwearable, wrinkled heap on the floor of your closet days later. If you prefer wood, look for those that have a non-slip rubber grip, clamp, or locking bar.
Use A Clothing Steamer
For those times when clothes need a quick refresh out of the closet, a steamer can do wonders to quickly release wrinkles and give your pants a polished appearance. A handheld steamer is small enough to stash in a cabinet, and it heats up quickly to get you out the door crease-free without being late for any meetings. Even better, no ironing board is required. In our review of the best clothing steamers, we found the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Steam & Iron 2-in-1 With Turbo and the Electrolux Portable Handheld Garment and Fabric Steamer to be standouts for their quick heat up and effectiveness at removing wrinkles. To effectively remove creases or wrinkles fast, hang your pants from the waist, then fill your steamer with water and set it to heat at the appropriate fabric setting (it should only take about 30 seconds, depending on which handheld steamer you use). While hovering the steamer a couple of inches away from the fabric, slowly pass your steamer over the wrinkles, repeating if necessary, until they are released.
Keep Anti-Wrinkle Spray On Hand
In a pinch, use a spray-on wrinkle releaser, which has the added benefit of eliminating odors and static. How to use it: Holding the can upright, spray it on your pants, gently tug and smooth the fabric to release wrinkles and creases, and then lay your pants flat or hang them to dry. Be cautious, however, when using these types of sprays with silk and rayon fabrics as those can sometimes show water spots.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted editors have years of experience scouting out the best fashion on the market, and we’ve published dozens of stories on the subject, including firsthand tested reviews of the best leggings, cashmere sweaters, work bags for women and more. For this story, we spent lots of time researching customer reviews, scouring the sites of popular fashion retailers and hunting down the best work clothes for women on the market. What’s more, we refresh this story regularly to ensure that all of our picks are in-stock and up-to-date; it was last updated in March 2024.
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