The Hunt: The Best Dress Pants for Women

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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Here’s a Hunt we haven’t done in far too long: the best dress pants for women. When we last talked about the best pants for work it was 2019, and ankle pants were firmly in the lead — will trousers or straight leg styles overtake them? I’m curious to hear from you guys.

We’re also using this post to do a mini-roundup for the best women’s work pants for summer, since it’s been a while since we updated our lightweight pants post, and we’ve got a whole category for pull-on pants if you’re looking for comfort (we’ve also done one with athleisure that might pass for workwear). As always, also check the list for a ton of choices for affordable, petites, talls, plus sizes, splurges, and more.

Readers, what do you think are the best dress pants for women in 2021? What are you wearing to work now — and what will you be eager to buy more of come autumn?

{related: I need to do a newer graphic but I stand by all the pants hemming suggestions in our older post}

• Hall of Famers (many pictured above): Eileen Fisher, Nic + Zoe, Theory, Boss, Lafayette 148 New York, NYDJ, M.M.LaFleur, Betabrand
• Affordable pant brands for work (under $100): Nic + Zoe, NYDJ, Uniqlo, J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Liverpool, Express, Old Navy, Vince Camuto, Everlane, Hue, ASOS
• Splurge dress pant brands: Theory, Boss, Lafayette 148 New York, Armani, Reiss, Vince, Max Mara, Akris,
• Best women’s work pants for summer: Uniqlo, Nic + Zoe, Hue, Lands’ End Sport Knit Pants, Theory Good Linen,
• Pull-on styles: Eileen Fisher, M.M.LaFleur, Theory, Everlane, Nic + Zoe, Krazy Larry, Vince, Uniqlo Airism, Hue, Madewell,
• Tighter/compression styles: Spanx, Everlane, Gravitas, Express
• Trouser styles of dress pants for women: Universal Standard, J.Crew Remi Pant, Uniqlo, Express, Boss, Boden
• Athleisure that could double as workwear: American Giant, ADAY
• Smaller/indie brands with dress pants for women: Betabrand, Ministry of Supply Modern Citizen, Nora Gardner, Argent, Paire (fka Aella), Ecru
• Maternity sizes: Seraphine, Gap, Ingrid & Isabel, Old Navy, Pea in the Pod, Angel Maternity (see our entire roundup of stylish maternity pants for work!)
• Petite sizes: J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Eileen Fisher, Nic + Zoe, NYDJ, Banana Republic, Loft, Old Navy Pixie Pant, ASOS
• Plus sizes: Universal Standard, Eileen Fisher, NYDJ, Nic + Zoe, Eloquii, M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew Factory, Liverpool, Talbots, Lafayette 148 New York, Maree Pour Toi, Brass, Old Navy Pixie Pant, Hue
• Tall sizes: J.Crew, ASOS, Franne Gold, Long Tall Sally

Hunting for colorful pants for work? They’re very popular everywhere for 2023 — but note that in general brands like Rekucci, Krazy Larry, Banana Republic, BR Factory Express, J.Crew, and Boden have a ton of options; here’s a mini-roundup of what’s out there right now:

Some further comments…

If you’re looking for lightweight, stretchy, pull-on, comfortable, machine washable pants, the Nic + Zoe Wonderstretch are some of the best ones you can get. They’re Hall of Famers for a reason! (Their Tech Stretch line is even more lightweight — I definitely recommend for hot weather!)

My one complaint, at least with the pairs that I own, is that they don’t have pockets, but such is life. They come in multiple colors, petites, plus sizes, and often go on sale — you can find a bunch right now at Nordstrom from $57–$148. (You can also find them at Target, Zappos, Bloomingdale’s, and Amazon — and be sure to check Nic + Zoe’s site if you’re having a hard time finding your size or preferred color.)

If you’re looking for other similar lightweight pants, do check out Uniqlo (around $39, but less sizes and colors).

If pull-on pants (no zipper) are what you’re looking for, in addition to the Wonderstretch and Uniqlo pairs, do consider the Eileen Fisher pants, which readers have called so comfortable that they’re like magic pajama pants. These are a stretchy knit, pull-on style. I would call them seasonless in that they’re lightweight but not SUPER thin. Right now you can find them at Nordstrom marked down to $117–$168, but note that they’re also part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale next week, when some styles will go as low as $99.

It can be tricky to find pull-on pants that look polished, which is why the Eileen Fisher and Nic + Zoe pants are such big hits. If you’re looking for more colors, check out Krazy Larry (so many prints! here’s Elizabeth’s review), as well as M.M.LaFleur and Theory (!).

(Maybe I’m bonkers, but to me, “pull-on pants” means no zipper or closure. BUT: a number of retailers seem to be calling zippered pants “pull-on pants.” I mean, is there another way to put on pants that I’m not familiar with?)

If you’re just looking for regular pants with a zipper (and maybe even pockets!), there are a ton of nice styles. We’ve pictured the Old Navy Pixie Pant above, which is beloved by many for its affordability and wide size range (regular sizes XS–XXL, tall XS–XXL, petite XS–XXL, and plus 1X–4X), but one of my personal favorites is the NYDJ knit pair of pants, which is in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale next week for $78, down from $119.

J.Crew‘s styles continue to be reader favorites here, including the Cameron (and I love the wider style of the Remi Pant). Betabrand is also a perennial reader favorite for their “yoga dress pants.”

Check these brands for more affordable options that are reader favorites: J.Crew Factory, Liverpool, Express, Vince Camuto, and Everlane.

If you’re hunting for pants for a splurge, do check out Lafayette 148 New York — over the years readers have sworn by their excellent pants. We’ve pictured the Gramercy pant above (around $448 full price), but note that they have other styles, available in regular and plus sizes.

Other great splurges include Boss and Theory pants (although do note that Theory pants historically have run small); if you want to get very fancy check out brands like Max Mara, Akris, and Armani; other splurgey-type brands to check include Reiss and Alice + Olivia.

Over to you, readers — what do you think are the best dress pants for women?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!