If you work in an office, what trousers do you swear by? To find the perfect work pants that fit just right, we asked 10 women to share their favorites…
The postpartum champs:
“Since having a baby, I’ve been leaning into looser menswear silhouettes, like these trousers. Camel is a fresh alternative to black; and they’re a lightweight twill, which means you don’t get stretch, but they do stay crisp and chic. I wear them with a navy cashmere sweater and, if it’s a more casual day, Converse high-tops.” — Dulci Edge, art director
“With small children in the house, I gravitate toward elastic waists (I need my pants to have some give!). These green pleated pants are comfortable and have an interesting shape. They make me feel current.” — Alison Piepmeyer, marketing exec
The classic black pant:
“For work pants, I always and forever swear by J.Crew. First off, this ’70s-inspired slight flare feels elegant but not too work-y; I pair it with a green-and-white shirt and dark red lip. And to channel Audrey Hepburn, I love slim-fit pants with a black turtleneck and flats.” — Joanna Goddard, CoJ founder
“I love Vince’s Drapey Pant for a low-key work look. First, they’re pull on! Second, the fit is flowy but not ‘whoa, those are some wide-leg pants,’ so they pair well with both fitted tops and roomier sweaters. Lastly, the material is non-fussy and easy to care for. Though the label says dry-clean, I pop them in with the rest of my laundry and they’re fine.” — Alisha Ramos, Girls Night In founder
The wiiiiiiide leg:
“I’ve worn these sailor pants for at least 10 years. They are my go-to for work, meetings, conferences, dinners, everything. You don’t often see canvas material — I love it — and they’ve broken it beautifully over time. Here is a more affordable version.” — Maureen Heffernan, CoJ marketing director
“I wear dresses and skirts and heels, but the thing I get the most compliments on are these black pants. They just drape really, really well. I wear them to the office year-round.” — Emily, lawyer
The feel-like-sweats saviors:
“After the pandemic, I have a ‘just say no’ policy to hard pants. The Everlane Dream Pants feel as cozy as sweats and, to misquote Mary Oliver, ‘let the soft animal of your body’ be whatever shape it’s going to be.” — Sukhie Patel, director of data solutions
“I’m always reaching for my Universal Standard Signature Ponte Pants. They don’t cut in! They stay up! They can go many wears before getting saggy! And the ankle length works with many shoe strategies. Plus, Universal Standard is doing some of the best work out there on size-inclusive clothing and these go up to a 40.” — Virginia Sole-Smith, author
The make-your-own:
“I’ve been sewing my own clothes since January 2020, and I love the paper bag version of these Bisque Trousers by Vivian Shao Chen. It has a tie belt and elastic waist, and can be dressed up and down. I’ve made them in linen, cream-colored denim, twill, and crinkled cotton. Plus, the pockets are super deep!” — Juliana Sohn, photographer
The leather pants we all want to wear to work:
“I have a pair of these Rag & Bone leather pants, which I bought second hand on The RealReal for $80. They are insanely chic and polished and edgy without being too sexy and go with everything from sneakers to heels.” — Gemma Burgess, screenwriter and show runner
What pants are you wearing to work? Spill the deets!
P.S. Readers share what their office outfits and work-from-home spaces.
