The Best Summer Work Pants for Women
Lightweight, summer dress pants and summer work pants for women can be difficult to find — you want to look professional, yet be cool, and of course you don't want to look like a wrinkled mess. (We've also gotten reader questions from active women who do a ton of sports and activities in the summer that result in bruised legs, making them prefer pants to skirts in the summer.) Let's discuss…
Ladies, do you prefer to wear pants year-round — and if so, what fabrics and styles do you prefer in summer? Any classic pants you buy year after year in new colors?
Some of our main fashion articles that might be of interest include our Ultimate Guide to Business Casual, Wardrobe Essentials for Work, and The Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels — all constantly updated! If you're just starting out or on a budget, check out our Affordable Office Clothes roundup — and if you're plus-sized, check out our Plus-Size Picks for Work.
We've also talked about other summer topics, such as how makeup in the summer changes, how to look professional when it's hot out, and how to stay cool on your commute on really hot days. (We've also talked about whether pantyhose in summer is actually a thing or not…)
In terms of dress pants for women, we've rounded up the best work pants for women in general, talked about the perfect pants fit for women, how to wash your pants, and where to find pants with pockets.
{related: guide for summer associates}
General Tips on Summer Work Pants for Women
Some general tips at the outset for stylish summer dress pants for work:
- Watch the pockets — even even regular five-pocket styles can be too casual for most offices (but know your office!), so be especially wary of cargo pockets
- look for details like pintucked creases down the front — the pintucked creases have a way of keeping the look sharp and structured even as the pants loosen up through the day
- check out our tips on how to avoid sheer pants if you're leaning towards wearing white pants for summer
- if you hate ironing, always hang your pants upside down using a pants hanger — the weight of the waistband will drag them down! (This is also a great tip for washable pants for work outfits!)
Our Latest Favorite Summer Work Pants
Some of our favorite summer work pants for women as of 2024 include options from Nic + Zoe, M.M.LaFleur, Ministry of Supply, Uniqlo — and Banana Republic Factory sometimes has pants in their AirStretch line, also!
Lightweight Summer Pant Suits
Hunting for travel-friendly suits for women or lightweight suits? As of 2024, some of our favorites include these brands/lines: 1) M.M.LaFleur, 2) Ministry of Supply, 3) Paul Smith, and 4) Talbots. (Not pictured: Eddie Bauer and Suitably! Brooks Brothers also occasionally has suiting in their BrooksCool line, and Uniqlo occasionally has Airism suiting. ) You may also want to check out our roundup of washable suits for women!
Types of Summer Dress Pants for Women
Summer Dress Pants in Stretch Cotton
For a more conservative business casual office, stretch cotton is probably the first line of defense. These are widely available in ankle pants; you can also find some stretch cotton trouser options.
For a more conservative business casual office, I would look for full-length cotton pants without lining. These are increasingly difficult to find, though!
In 2024, you can find cute summer work pants in stretch cotton at Brooks Brothers, Frank & Eileen, Spanx, Vince, and Ann Taylor.
Summer Dress Pants in Cotton Pique
Textured cotton pique pants can be lighter than regular cotton, but hold their shape a bit better — and they wrinkle a bit less than linen trousers.
Good options for summer work pants in cotton pique include Krazy Larry, Ann Taylor, and Loft.
Summer Dress Pants in Seersucker
Seersucker options can be great (particularly in certain parts of the country, like DC, where they have Seersucker Thursday!) — and they often offer matching blazers for women.
In 2024, check for seersucker options at Brooks Brothers (regular & petite), Nordstrom, Dillards, Hilary Radley, and Anne Klein.
Stylish Summer Work Pants in Drapey Fabrics
Know your office well, but note that there are now a ton of relaxed pants in crepe and other flowy materials — perfect for hot days. The trick is finding ones that have a breathable blend instead of 100% polyester… Blends with TENCEL and bamboo both tend to be good options to look for.
Good options in 2024 for drapey summer work pants include Everlane, Madewell, and Ministry of Supply. AG's Caden pants are also made of a TENCEL blend.
Stylish Summer Dress Pants: Linen
Linen is the obvious choice for hot summer days — but it's so hard to find a great pair for work. Still: here are just some days where you need to be in a suit or something else Very Professional, weather be damned — a summer associate lawn party, an old courthouse, some other sweltering summer event — and linen is the obvious choice here.
Note that a cotton linen blend will wrinkle less; also note that the closer to 100% linen an option is, there may be opacity problems (yay) and shape-retention problems (i.e. serious stretching out).
(Another warning: you may think that palazzo linen pants are a classic for summer… but I don't wear mine anymore since my then-pre-schooler asked why mommy was wearing pajamas. So… maybe keep those for the beach.)
Good options in 2024 for linen dress pants include Banana Republic Factory, Boden, Theory, NYDJ*, and J.Crew Factory.
Summer Work Pants in Seasonless Fabrics or Tropical Wool
These aren't going to be your lightest options, but if you can find them they're going to hold up better, be wearable for more seasons, and probably have matching blazers and other pieces.
As of 2024, some of our favorite seasonless suiting includes Ann Taylor and J.Crew on the affordable side, and Theory (Good Wool), Brooks Brothers, M.M.LaFleur and Argent on the more expensive side. (Talbots used to carry it also, so keep an eye out at resale sites!) See our roundup of the best women's suits of 2024 here!
Can You Wear Athleisure Pants to Work in the Summer?
Readers in the past have noted that they love golf pants, and there are a ton of athleisure pants that are very acceptable for a lot of offices.
Know your office, of course, but in 2024 some of the reader favorites for lightweight athleisure pants include Athleta's Brooklyn pants, Adidas Golf pants, and these Lululemon pants.
Great Summer Work Pants for Business Casual and Conservative Offices
Uniqlo Smart Pants
These are shockingly lightweight, very comfortable (many styles are pull-on only), and usually have pockets. They're regularly $39 at Uniqlo.
Banana Republic Factory AirStretch
Banana Republic Factory often has pants in their AirStretch line. The brand describes them as “light as air and engineered with performance technology, this ultra flexible fabric is consciously crafted from 86% recycled polyester, 14% spandex.” Nice!
The pictured, tapered pants are available in three colors sizes XXS-XXL — they were $75 but are marked down today.
Nic & Zoe Wonderstretch
These are the priciest of the bunch, at $128–$138, but readers love these for a great reason — their pull-on waistband makes them extraordinarily comfortable! They're also machine washable.
(Elizabeth thought these pants were a very similar dupe if you're hunting for more colors or prints!)
Ministry of Supply Velocity Pants
Reviewers love these machine washable and “naturally wrinkle resistant” pants for hot weather. They also offer a comfort waistband with encased elastic in the back for a clean look in front, slanted full-hand front pockets back patch pockets, and pintuck stitching on the front and back leg.
The pictured pants are available in three colors in sizes XXS-XXL for $185; there's also a tapered version in this fabric. You may also want to check out their crepe fabric and “kinetic twill;” both are also great for breathability.
M.M.LaFleur OrigamiTech
M.M.LaFleur has some pants in an “airy” fabric, but their OrigamiTech is one of their bestsellers and is lightweight, easy to fold, machine washable, and wrinkle resistant. There are matching blazers and dresses, as well.
The pictured Colby pants are $235 and available in 8 colors, sizes 00-20.
Readers, how about you — which are your favorite lightweight summer pants for women?
Other Great Summer Work Clothes for Women
Wondering what else to wear to work in the summer? Here are some of our latest favorites. You may also want to check out our roundup of the easiest office up-dos!
Opaque White T-Shirts
Hunting for opaque white T-shirts for work? As of 2024, we'd suggest checking the double-layer lines from Boden, Halogen, Express, Old Navy, and Hobbs, as well as great sources for basic Pima cotton such as L.L.Bean, Uniqlo, Everlane, Banana Republic, and Talbots. (This $268 tee also gets great reviews for opacity, and Elizabeth swears by this tee under $30!)
Lightweight Blazers
Hunting for lightweight blazers for summer in linen and other fabrics? As of 2024, J.Crew's Helena blazer in stretch linen is a bestseller, as is this super affordable Quince blazer and Old Navy (regular, tall, and petite up to 4X). Along related lines (all machine washable!), check out Uniqlo's Airsense jacket (lightweight and stretchy), Madewell's Drapeweave line (lightweight and drapey) and Brooks Brothers' seersucker line (lightweight and cooling). You can find silk/linen blazers at Ann Taylor and Hobbs; Ann Taylor also has a number of cotton pique options.
White Blazers
As of April 2024, some of our favorite stylish white blazers for work include options from J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Ann Taylor, Liverpool, and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop). If you're looking to splurge, try Smythe or L'Agence.
White Pants for Work
Some of our favorite white pants for work as of 2024 include Nic + Zoe, Talbots, Spanx, Favorite Daughter, Everlane, Lafayette 148 New York, and Vince! For budget-friendly options, try Old Navy or Tapata. If your office is OK with 5-pocket styles and/or denim, check out the highly rated Wit & Wisdom and NYDJ pants.
Work Dresses with Pockets
As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.
Lightweight, Seasonless Sweaters
Our latest favorite lightweight sweaters for work include this Nic + Zoe cardigan and M.M.LaFleur jardigans. We've also rounded up 100% cotton sweaters, as well as the classic summer sweater, the twinset.
100% silk sweaters are incredibly hard to find at the moment, but Nordstrom has a very limited collection, including options from LilySilk.
Some of our favorite silk-cashmere sweaters for work include these from LaLigne and Brooks Brothers; if you're looking to splurge, Akris has a bunch right now.
As of 2024, you can find cotton-cashmere sweaters at Quince, L.L.Bean, and Reformation.
Some of our favorite silk-cashmere sweaters for work include these from LaLigne and Brooks Brothers; if you're looking to splurge, Akris has a bunch right now.
In 2024, Buck Mason has a lot of silk-cashmere-wool blend sweaters, including this turtleneck and this crewneck – APC also has some!
Another lightweight but luxe option: cashmere-linen sweaters, such as this option from Vineyard Vines.
Products to Keep You Cool On Your Commute
These are some interesting products to help you cool down or stay cool on your commute… see more clever products like this in our Amazon shop! (If you're suffering from hot flashes or feel like throwing money at the problem, do check out the Embr Wave cooling bracelet…)
Our Latest Favorite Sunscreens
Don't forget sun protection (especially face, hands, and chest)! Sunscreens readers have loved over the years are pictured above: Elta MD, Supergoop!, and Kat's latest favorite sunscreen. Don't forget a sunscreen stick for your purse! If you're hunting for cute rash guards, check out J.Crew, Boden, Coolibar, and Athleta.
More Great Work Pants for Women
The Best Work Pants for Women Overall
As of 2024, we think the best work pants for women include longtime favorites such as Nic + Zoe, Theory, NYDJ, J.Crew, and M.M.LaFleur — as well as trendy brands like Spanx, Favorite Daughter, and Everlane. For budget-friendly styles, check Quince, Old Navy, and Amazon seller Tapata.
Women's Dress Pants by Fit: Plus, Petite, Curvy, Tall, and Plus-Size Petites
The Best Plus-Size Pants for the Office
Hunting for the best plus-size pants for work? As of 2024, favorites include Eloquii, Nic & Zoe, NYDJ, Universal Standard, Liverpool, J.Crew, and Lafayette 148 New York.
The Most Comfortable Dress Pants
There are a bunch of great pull-on pants for the office in 2024. Some of our longstanding favorites include those from Athleta*, Everlane, Eileen Fisher*, Betabrand*, and Uniqlo. If you're looking for something a bit more polished but still ultra comfy, check out Nic & Zoe* or NYDJ*. (Brands with plus sizes are marked with asterisks.)
The Best Work Pants for Curvy Girls
Hunting for work pants if you're curvy? As of 2024, you can find them at Ann Taylor (regular and petite sizes 00-18), Banana Republic Factory (00-20, 00P-14P, 00T-20T), Loft (regular, petite, and tall sizes 00-18), and White House Black Market (00-18, regular, short, and long). Talbots also offers some options in sizes regular, petite, plus, and plus-size petites, as does Lane Bryant. (Banana Republic seems to have temporarily stopped making them, unfortunately.)
The Best Pants in Tall Sizes
Hunting for tall cuts in extended sizes? As of 2024, we suggest you check out Aritzia (00T-16T) (known for being very small!), Banana Republic Factory (00T-20T), Betabrand (XSL-3XL), J.Crew (00T-20T), J.Crew Factory (00T-20T), Express (0L-18L), and White House Black Market (00L-18L). For larger sizes, check out Eloquii (14T-32T) and Ulla Popken (12L-34L).
The Best Petite Work Pants
There are a ton of petite work pants right now. Some reader-favorite stores and brands include Liverpool, Banana Republic Factory (00P-18P), J.Crew Factory (00P-12P), Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Boden, J.Crew (00P-12P), Spanx, Boss, Hobbs, Lafayette 148 New York (0P-16P), and Reiss; Nordstrom is always a great place to check, especially for pants from Nic & Zoe, NYDJ, Liverpool, and Eileen Fisher. Quince also has both 30″ and 32″ lengths.
The Best Plus-Size Petite Work Pants
As of 2024, this is where you can find plus-size petites…
- Alfani (at Macy's)
- ASOS
- Avenue
- Dillards
- Eloquii
- eShakti (up to 6X/36W/custom)
- J.Jill (14P-20P)
- Lafayette 148 New York (up to size 16P)
- Lands' End (lots up to 18P, with select options for plus-petite sizes up to 26)
- Lane Bryant (up to 28)
- NYDJ (up to 18P)
- Spanx
- Sumissura (custom)
- Talbots
- Tapata (Amazon seller with options up to XXLP)
- Ulla Popken (short sizes 12S-38S)
More Seasonal Dress Pants
Machine Washable Dress Pants
Some of our favorite washable pants for work in 2024 include Nic & Zoe, M.M.LaFleur, Uniqlo, Everlane, Eileen Fisher, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Old Navy, and more. Note that our roundups of pull-on pants for the office and summer work pants also include a ton of washable pants!)
White Dress Pants for Work
Some of our favorite white pants for work as of 2024 include Nic + Zoe, Talbots, Spanx, Favorite Daughter, Everlane, Lafayette 148 New York, and Vince! For budget-friendly options, try Old Navy or Tapata. If your office is OK with 5-pocket styles and/or denim, check out the highly rated Wit & Wisdom and NYDJ pants.
Affordable Women's Office Pants
As of 2024, our top picks for really affordable dress pants for women include Lee, Uniqlo, Old Navy, or Quince — also check out Amazon sellers Tapata and Rekucci. If the pant comes in regular, petite, short, tall, long, or maternity sizes, we've marked that with R/P/S/T/L/M below.
Stock photo via Pexels / Elina Volkova.
