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 seasonless wool pants are warm enough, and velvet and corduroy pants are great for more casual days, I thought we’d go on a hunt for the best women’s dress pants for winter. Personally I’ve always loved the softness and drape of wool flannel pants, and although the styles change from year to year, I always feel like that’s a polished look for the office. Wool blend pants are also great, although they can be on the itchy side, particularly if unlined — you may want to check out our last discussion on what to wear beneath unlined pants, and I’ll drop a collage with links to my top suggestion for what to wear beneath unlined pants — thin long johns. (Particularly for silk long johns, but true of lots of the other ones out right now — they do an amazing job of blocking the wind when you’re outside but not adding too much extra warmth or bulk when you’re inside, so they’re great for ALL pants, but particularly as a layer between you and itchy wool pants.)
Updated to note – I totally hear all the commenters annoyed at ankle pants! They were the OVERWHELMING majority of wool pants I found this year, which honestly does not make sense to me either since ankle pants and boots can be tough to pull off. In addition to the longer (mostly pleated) pants we included, the other kind of long wool pants were far too casual for the office, like this $194 pair from Vince.
Ladies, what are you wearing to work on the coldest days — are you on Team Fleece Tights? Team Wool Pants? Or have you found another solution for staying warm on your commute on the coldest days?
Psst – looking for other kinds of warm women’s dress pants for the office? I’m updating some of the graphics and links in our older post on point and there will be 2019 picks for velvet and cords, wool blends, wool flannels, and seasonless wool also.
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Pictured at top: stripe / purple / dotted / camel
If you’re a fan of the Logan Fit, these camel flannel pants are online exclusives and come in regular and petite sizes from 0-20 in three different inseams, short regular and long. They were $110, but are now marked to $66. While you’re at BR, check out these cute cropped plaid wool pants. (And just for fun, check out this fuzzy sweater skirt, down to limited sizes.)
These luxe flannel pants from Talbots come in regular, petite, plus, and plus-size petites — and certain sizes and colors are going fast. There’s a matching blazer if you want to make it a suit. They’re $139-$159, but take 40% off your order today.
Boden has a TON of cute wool pants for the office, and I almost can’t decide whether to feature these cute polka-dot ones, the elegant tie-waist ones, or their cropped tweed ones. Still, these have such a joie de vivre about them, and it’s so unusual to see a pattern like this in a fabric like this, I figured I’d post. Truly fabulous. The pictured pants are available with black spots as well as yellow spots (squee!) in sizes 2-16 for $150. (Oooh – but Nordstrom has them down to $90.)
The deal is so good on these I think they’re selling out fast, at least in the pictured Mulberry color — it’s funny because I feel like pleated pants like this have been Way Far Out of Fashion for the past 20 years or so — but they’re having a moment. J.Crew has them in this pretty pinkish purple, a light blue, and a gray, available in sizes 00-16 for $178 — but today you can take 40% off your order via code THURSDAY. If you like the look but not the price, Nordstrom has these similar Tommy Hilfiger pants down to $54 today, and Everlane has a similar style (not in wool).
I always forget that Nordstrom sells Canadian brand Judtih & Charles, and these wool blend pants (pictured) look so sleek and polished. They’re among the great deals Nordstrom has right now on wool pants (seriously, check out this $172 Theory pair, this $89 Club Monaco pair, or this $165 Whistles pair) — and they were $385, down to $193.
Is anyone wearing white boots as often as catalog models are? But seriously — these cropped trousers look great if you like a slightly wider cut on top with a tapered bottom, some trendy pleats, and some chalky pinstripey goodness. They’re $245 at Reiss, available in sizes 0-10.
Finally, as discussed above — here are some of our favorite long johns for under women’s pants:
Pictured above, $9-$145: one / two / three / four
Like this feature? Check out other recent installments! (Looking for similar iterations from the past? Here’s our 2017 roundup of warm women’s dress pants for the office, 2012 roundup of the best wool flannel pants for women and our 2011 roundup of the best wool trousers for women.
Social media photo credit (businesswoman in pants and winter coat) via Deposit Photos / Astroid.
Anon
12/11/2019 at 2:50 pmCropped/ankle pants always seem out of place to me in freezing cold north-east winters.
Anon
12/11/2019 at 3:14 pmBut they are great with socks and booties down south. We rarely get below 30 F and winter typically sees us between low 50s and mid 60s.
AttiredAttorney
12/11/2019 at 3:20 pmYeah, I’m a little confused about the number of ankle pants in this roundup.
Anon
12/11/2019 at 3:20 pmYES. THANK YOU.
I am struggling SO HARD to find pants that are not cropped that fit my curvy self. The Loft Julie pants have been a staple through some recent weight fluctuations. Does anyone have a solution to this? Anything non-ankle is wide leg and that’s definitely not the look for me.
Anonymous
12/11/2019 at 3:42 pmI always see a reference to “the Julie pants” here. But I understand Julie to be a “fit”, not a specific pant style. So what are the magic pants that all the curvy girls love so much here? Could use the recommendation.
JuliaS
12/13/2019 at 12:47 pmTry LOFT pants – I like to go in the store and try on for size, and then order online. There are so few styles available in the stores.
joan wilder
12/11/2019 at 3:43 pmI bought a pair of these Talbots flannel pants featured above (in the curvy fit) and they are amazing, and I have been happy with a lot of their pants overall. [I am a petite pear, 4P in Talbots, 6P in most other brands for pants]
Anonymous
12/12/2019 at 8:29 amThanks, I have not tried Talbots pants in a while but will give these a try. I also like their belts, they last forever.
anonymous
12/11/2019 at 4:02 pmDoes Express still make the Editor pants? They used to be the perfect boot cut pants fo rme.
Housecounsel
12/11/2019 at 5:07 pmEditor pants were the best pants ever.
Triangle Pose
12/11/2019 at 3:55 pmI’m in NE and wear cropped pants through the winter. Unless there is snow on the ground, I don’t see an issue.
anon
12/11/2019 at 3:16 pmNO ANKLE PANTS FOR THE LOVE OF PETE
JuliaS
12/13/2019 at 12:45 pmAgree!!!
Vicky Austin
12/11/2019 at 3:24 pmSubzero here and the last few days have been a mix of:
NY&C 7th avenue in bootcut flare over pantyhose and leg warmers
Uniqlo “pile-lined” tights under dresses
So, uh, no ankle pants. I’ve been really pleased with the pile lined tights though.
Cat
12/11/2019 at 3:28 pmHuh, I don’t mind ankle pants for winter — I wear boots for commuting so ankle pants are actually BETTER because they tuck into the boots nicely.
Anonymous
12/11/2019 at 3:48 pm+1, and they don’t get salty and crusty like longer pants do.
Anon
12/11/2019 at 3:54 pmYeah, same here. If the weather is that bad, I’m going to wear actual cold weather footwear when I’m outside.
HW
12/11/2019 at 4:08 pmAgreed! It’s 20 degrees here and I’m wearing ankle pants today. I think they look better with boots than my trousers do, plus I don’t have to worry about them getting covered in salt or snow.
Is it Friday yet?
12/11/2019 at 4:46 pm+1 I’m not going to wear full length pants in crappy weather, the bottoms just get gross.
Anon
12/11/2019 at 3:29 pmWords cannot express how happy I am to see wool pants in the $100-$150 range (see: Talbots). I have a pair from about 2009 that are starting to look a little long in the tooth, but I’ve never wanted to spend $200+ to replace them.
kk
12/11/2019 at 3:34 pmAnkle pants that are loose enough at the ankle (more of a cropped flare) are actually super cute over sock-boots. It’s not a trend with any staying power, but at least its a way to get a little more mileage out of your cropped pants.
Shorty MacShortface
12/11/2019 at 3:42 pmHeh, I’m actually quite pleased with the number of ankle pants shown in this. The “cropped” trend has been gold for a long-torso short-inseam (26.5″) petite woman like me who just wants to buy a dratted pair of pants without *having* to get alterations. Clothing manufacturers who think petite pants should have an inseam of 30″ are out of their ever-loving minds.
Senior Attorney
12/11/2019 at 4:53 pmSing it, Sister!!
Fishie
12/11/2019 at 4:01 pmMy Old Navy full-length Harper flares/straight leg are my favorite work pants ever. I hope they bring them back.
Anon
12/11/2019 at 5:06 pmOh no!!!! I love the Harper pants too and didn’t realize they were discontinued. I have them in navy, gray, and maroon and was planning to buy new ones this winter.
I suppose I’ll have to check out some of the options above, but none look like the right leg shape on the models – I want that in-between boot cut and straight leg that the Harper has, not tapered and not flare.
Rachel Betts
12/12/2019 at 8:19 amI’ve always wondered whether you can wear booties with the longer style pants. My feet and ankles are so cold in flats or pumps, so I’d prefer to wear booties – BUT is this a fashion no-no?
JuliaS
12/13/2019 at 12:44 pmI wear booties under longer pants all of the time – I think they look fabulous. I also love the neutral color SmartWool knee socks – thin and warm, and they look good with loafer-style flats plus I wear them over tights under boots.
JuliaS
12/13/2019 at 12:43 pmI’m perpetually looking for work trousers, washable, with a touch of stretch. Loft has one style, but only in black. I LOVED Gap’s Perfect Trousers (but only in charcoal grey – the other colors fit oddly) but they don’t make them anymore. Thank goodness for Poshmark. Having slightly slanted or horizontal pockets for me is a MUST – otherwise the pockets bulge. I’m also not a fan of the latest waist-high pants. To me, they look dated and dowdy.
I don’t understand the fascination with ankle pants – they only look good with heels (no thanks) or flats/no socks (ouch). For New England winters, they are out! Could you consider doing a “hunt” on unlined washable dress trousers with some stretch? And would you consider doing an updated button-down shirt (washable, no-iron) roundup? Your last one was 2017. I love BR’s tailored shirts – but again, so hard to find. I’m willing to try other brands if I know that they’re true-to-size, tailored, and tuckable. Thanks!
JuliaS
12/13/2019 at 12:55 pmMy favorite frigid weather outfit by far is a sweater dress with a tank top underneath to tuck into the top of black footless tights, and then SmartWool knee socks and knee-high boots. I had an extra button added to my long wool winter coat (with a hood) so that it stays closed in the wind better. Then I take a long scarf that is like a thick pashmina only it’s not wool (bought about 15 years ago at Marshalls) and I wrap it around my neck to keep my hood up and bury my face. I usually wear a lined knitted wool hat from North Face too. Add my fur-edged lined leather gloves, and I’m good even below 0 before considering windchill.
I’ve found that lined flannel pants are just way too hot for me in the office. If my feet are warm, I’m pretty comfortable inside. Also too many layers in the bitter cold leaves me super-wrinkled. Much prefer cozy sweater dresses. Sadly a lot of sweater dresses are now tunic length (boo – I’m looking at you Gap-takeover of Athleta).