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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.
While I was doing my yearly review from last year, I noticed that there's a WIDE selection of pull-on pants for the office (many featured during our morning reports) — so I thought we'd do a separate roundup if you're hunting for super comfortable but polished workwear!
Readers, which are your favorite pull-on pants for work? What is the best balance between comfort and polish for your office and your preferences?
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Reader Favorites for Pull-On Pants for the Office
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.)
Some particular styles we love are below:
Hall of Famers include:
- Regular Sizes (many pictured above): Nic & Zoe, Eileen Fisher, Theory (but low in stock everywhere right now — hmn), Betabrand, Krazy Larry, Boden, Lands' End, Eddie Bauer, Of Mercer, Loft, Everlane,
- Plus-Sizes: Nic & Zoe, Universal Standard (many ponte options), Eileen Fisher, Betabrand (up to 3X), Lands' End, Krazy Larry (very limited inventory in plus), Of Mercer (up to 20W),
- Petite Sizes: Nic & Zoe, Eileen Fisher, Betabrand, Loft, Eddie Bauer
- Tall Sizes: Betabrand, Loft, Eddie Bauer,
- Plus-Size Petites: Betabrand (up to 3XP), Lands' End (very limited inventory) — also sometimes Eileen Fisher
- Under $100, generally: Loft, Lands' End, Betabrand, Eddie Bauer, Everlane — also check Target and Uniqlo
{related: comfortable workwear for late nights}
Classic Dress Pants for Work (Many With Zippers)
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.
Classic Plus-Size Pants for Work (Many With Zippers)
Hunting for the best plus-size pants for work? As of 2024, favorites include Eloquii, Nic & Zoe, NYDJ, Universal Standard, Eileen Fisher, Maree Pour Toi, Liverpool, J.Crew, and Lafayette 148 New York.
Great Pull-On Work Pants for 2024: A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at some of our recent favorites for pull-on pants for work outfits…
Torrid
Elizabeth recently found these great pull-on pants from Torrid — and they look great!
They’re machine washable, wrinkle resistant, and come in a whole bunch of great colors.
The pants are on sale for $42 (marked down from $79) at Torrid and come in sizes equivalent to 10–30.
J.Crew
Elizabeth featured these great sweater pants from J.Crew recently. As she noted: “The online reviews absolutely rave about the comfort of these pants. I’m never going to say no to a comfy work pant, and the cropped flare style is one of my go-tos these days. I’m loving the candy apple red color and would add a blazer and a pair of loafers for an easy, business casual look.”
The pants are $148 at J.Crew and come in sizes XXS-3X, petite sizes XXS-L, and tall sizes XS-XXL.
Loft
LOFT consistently has great pull-on pants for work — but the inventory changes frequently by season and color and so forth. In general they're $69-$79 full price, with lots of options for regular, petite, and tall sizes (although they discontinued their plus sizes, grrr).
Eddie Bauer
Another good option for affordable pull-on pants: Eddie Bauer! These are $80 new, available in regular, petite, and tall sizes. As Elizabeth noted a few months ago,
These ankle pants from Eddie Bauer were recommended by a reader recently as a substitute for the Eileen Fisher crepe pants, and I really like them. They have a thick elastic waistband, a mid-rise, and a lightweight polyester/spandex blend that looks like it would resist wrinkles pretty well.
. . . I would wear these for long flights, paired with a soft T-shirt and a wrap cardigan. I think you could also wear these in a more casual office with a printed blouse and a sweater blazer.
Of Mercer
Of Mercer has some great pull-on pants in a few colors right now — they're $175, available in sizes 0-20W, and made in NYC. To quote the brand's product page: “A slouchy, tapered trouser that slips on with ease, thanks to an elastic waistband.” Nice.
Eileen Fisher
These Eileen Fisher pants are the OG reader favorite pull-on pants — readers used to call them “magic pants” because they felt like pajamas but looked like regular pants. Well well… They come in regular, petite, and plus sizes (and occasionally plus-size petites, as well), all for just under $200.
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