We know it’s more fun to daydream about future vacation outfits you’ll be lounging and partying in. But if you’re looking for some retail therapy that can benefit you the other 50 weeks of the year, we’re here to help elevate your work wardrobe. While work pants can get a bad rap, we’re also determined to dispel rumors that they all must be stuffy, uncomfortable trousers you can’t wait to shed once you get home. We’ve curated a list of the best work pants for women, from classic, wide-leg trousers to fashionable boot cuts, flares, and relaxed, cropped silhouettes. Who says your workwear can’t be as fun and stylish as your vacation looks?
Find the best work pants in various cuts, prints, colors, sizes, and price points. Of course, we didn’t forget to include some of our top travel-friendly picks from reader-favorite brands such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Free People. You can confidently wear these super versatile styles from the office to dinner without looking too stuffy. There are even select figure-hugging styles you can pair with faux fur coats and pointed-toe boots for the weekend if you’re trying to nail the mob wife aesthetic. So get ready to grab your favorite work bag and shimmy into your new trousers. Take on the busy day ahead like the boss you are.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
For more can’t-miss shopping stories delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our Most Wanted newsletter.
Alo Yoga High-Waist Pursuit Trouser
Lightweight and airy, Alo Yoga‘s high-waisted pants are comfy with an elastic back, belt loops, and pleats for a look that says “business in the front, (couch) party in the back.”
Shop Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga High-Waist Pursuit Trouser, $, available at
Ann Taylor The Petite Single Pleated Linen Wide-Leg Pant
Summer heat can be brutal, and breathable fabrics work just as well for the office as they do your subway commute. This gorgeous lilac linen wide-leg pant is a perfect example of adding color and comfort to a summer work wardrobe while staying professional.
Shop Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor The Petite Single Pleated Linen Wide Leg Pant, $, available at
LilySilk Comfort Fit Silk Cigarette Pants
LilySilk’s Comfort Fit Silk Cigarette Pants are made of silk charmeuse, a luxe responsible fabric that has a pearl-like luster that is breathable, hypoallergenic, comfortable, and drapes well on the body. These classic cigarette pants are ultra elegant and will serve at any office you wear them to.
Shop LilySilk
LilySilk Comfort Fit Silk Cigarette Pants, $, available at
Madewell The Harlow Wide-Leg Pant
Madewell’s Harlow pants are a best-seller for multiple reasons. The flattering cut comes in a drapey, comfortable material, and they’re available in many colors in standard, petite, tall, and plus sizes.
Shop Madewell
Madewell The Harlow Wide-Leg Pant, $, available at
Aritzia The Effortless Pant
True to its name, the Aritzia Effortless Pant is indeed a way to make your office fit look effortlessly polished. The cool ashen color (or one of the other 15+ colors) is available in four different lengths and a multitude of fabrics and sizes so once you find your size, your options are endless.
Shop Aritzia
Aritzia The Effortless Pant, $, available at
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Pant Pleat Pants
Ultra-high-waisted trousers give legs an elongated look that’ll have you feeling super confident.
Shop Favorite Daughter At Nordstrom
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Pant Pleat Pants, $, available at
Banana Republic Tencel Linen Wide-Leg Pant
We love linen wide-leg pants, and this summer we are living for these Banana Republic ones made with a blend of linen and sustainable tencel lyocell to keep us feeling cool. The beige color is great but the pants are also offered in a darling baby pink to add softness to your office outfit.
Shop Banana Republic
Banana Republic Tencel Linen Wide-Leg Pant, $, available at
Free People In My Feelings Slim Crop Pants
The In My Feelings Slim Crop Pants are another pair of pants fit for a more casual office that can be dressed up or down depending on your office’s dress code. We love the colorful plaid to add some fun to the corporate world. These vintage-inspired pants are mid-rise and have an elastic waistband for chic comfort all day from 9-5 (or longer for happy hour!).
Shop Free People
Free People In My Feelings Slim Crop Pants, $, available at
Halara High Waisted Straight Leg Work Suit Pants
Finding pants that fit a smaller waist can be difficult. Halara’s Straight Leg Work Suit Pants work to address that issue with a pant that has all the qualities of traditional suit pants but a stretchy waistband in the back. You can cover the stretchy part with a chic belt and it’s like the pants were tailored for your body! We love that so many colors and sizes are offered for different body types and styles.
Shop Halara
Halara High Waisted Straight Leg Work Suit Pants, $, available at
Vuori Meta Wideleg Pant
In true Vuori fashion, the Meta Wideleg pants are stylish but still comfortable as heck. Made of the breathable Vuori VersaLife fabric with four-way stretch and an elastic waistband, you’ll never want to take these pants off.
Shop Vuori
Vuori Meta Wideleg Pant, $, available at
Dickies Flex Slim-Fit Bootcut Pants
From heritage workwear brand Dickies is a flattering pant that will put in the work so you don’t have to. The Flex Slim-Fit Bootcut pant looks professional but it’s also durable, and made of breathable and stretchy twill fabric that will keep you comfy and allow you to bend or twist without any worry of gaping or tearing.
Shop Dickies
Dickies FLEX Slim Fit Bootcut Pants, $, available at
Summersalt The Softest French Terry Tie-Waist Pant
With a unique belted tie waist, the French Terry Tie-Waist Pant is a bit more fun and out of the ordinary than standard work bottoms, making them great for dinner and drinks too.
Shop Summersalt
Summersalt The Softest French Terry Tie-Waist Pant, $, available at
Maeve The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants
Not all work pants have to be neutral colors, we love these printed pants from Maeve for a more casual office. This version of the reader-favorite Colette pant is a comfy wide-leg available in six patterns with multiple pockets for maximum storage space.
Shop Anthropologie
Maeve The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants, $, available at
Dickie’s Something About Elburg Trousers
TEMPLATE
These wide-leg slacks from Free People have a nonchalant menswear vibe with subtle eye-catching pleat details and an adjustable cinch band at the back.
Shop Dickie’s
Free People Something About Elburg Trousers, $, available at
Good American Scuba Bootcut Pants
Move aside, this look isn’t here to play. Look chic and exude confidence in a figure-hugging bootcut pant. The trousers are crafted from a double-knit stretch fabric for extra comfort that cinches at the waist.
Shop Good American
Good American Scuba Bootcut Pants, $, available at
Everlane The Dream Pant
Pintuck detailing and an elastic waistband are perfect for more casual work settings. And we’re loving this Everlane option, which is available in several classic colorways.
Shop Everlane
Everlane The Dream Pant, $, available at
J.Crew Sydney Wide-Leg Pant In Bi-Stretch Cotton Blend
Cropped for our petite gals, these polished J.Crew pants hit right at the ankle. The bottoms are designed to withstand hours of sitting or moving around. It’s slim through the hip and thigh and has a wide-leg look.
Shop J.Crew
J.Crew Sydney Wide-Leg Pant In Bi-Stretch Cotton Blend, $, available at
Reformation Mason Pant
Find Reformation’s sleek, lightweight woven trousers in several neutral, work-appropriate colorways and this stylish stripe pattern that you can style with any blouse.
Shop Reformation
Reformation Mason Pant, $, available at
Cotidié Larissa Perfect Length Trousers
Choose between three different inseam lengths with these pants. Then go on and wear the comfortable style to work, a date night, or even on a long-haul flight.
Shop Cotidié
Cotidie Larissa Perfect Length Trousers, $, available at
Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg Pant
With over 4.8K positive reviews, Quince’s pants are so stretchy and comfy that they feel like yoga pants but look so polished that they’re perfect for work. The pants are offered in four different inseam lengths to fit all leg lengths.
Shop Quince
Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Straight Leg Pant, $, available at
Free People Something About Elburg Trousers
These wide-leg slacks from Free People have a nonchalant menswear vibe with subtle eye-catching pleat details and an adjustable cinch band at the back.
Shop Free People
Free People Something About Elburg Trousers, $, available at
Frame The Jetset Crop Mini Boot In Espresso Coated
Meet the ultra-stretchy crop boot jeans that have the glossy appearance of a leather pant — but breathable. At first glance, you wouldn’t know the pull-on bottoms are jeans, as they’re created without hardware or pockets for a sleek, office-ready look.
Shop Frame
Frame The Jetset Crop Mini Boot In Espresso Coated, $, available at
Anthropologie Maeve The Naomi Wide-Leg Flare Pants
Wide-leg and with a bit of flare, Anthropologie’s Naomi Pants allow you to have the best of both worlds. The trousers boast 4.7 stars with a growing number of happy reviews.
Shop Maeve At Anthropologie
Maeve The Naomi Wide-Leg Flare Pants, $, available at
Frame Cargo Pant In Sand
Bring a bit of casual fun to your work ‘fits with a cargo-styled pant. It starts with a high-rise waist that cascades into a drapey wide-leg silhouette. The two oversized pockets in the front and back bring the utilitarian trend to life. Did we also mention that it’s currently 50% off?
Shop Frame
Frame Cargo Pant In Sand, $, available at
Bailey 44 Fabina Wide Leg Pant
Not your typical wide-leg trouser, this style is form-fitting before flaring out at the knee. We also love the pull-on waistband for extra comfort.
Shop Bailey 44
Bailey 44 Fabina Wide Leg Pant, $, available at
Uniqlo Wide-Fit Pleated Pants
Affordable, tried-and-true work pants in a range of color options are the business casual Holy Grail. Bonus points that these can be worn throughout the year for a polished office look.
Shop Uniqlo
Uniqlo Wide-Fit Pleated Pants, $, available at
Lululemon City Sleek 5 Pocket Wide-Leg Pant
Lululemon sells more than your just favorite leggings — if you’re looking for a casual yet polished work pant, the brand has that too.
Shop Lululemon
Lululemon City Sleek 5 Pocket High-Rise Wide-Leg Pant, $, available at
Adidas Pull-On Ankle Pants
Sure, these are technically marketed as golf pants, but we’d happily wear this slip on style with front and back pockets to work.
Shop Adidas
Adidas Pull-On Ankle Pants, $, available at
J.Crew Kate Straight-Leg Pant
J.Crew’s best-selling trouser is a tried-and-true work pant. The classic straight-leg cut is flattering on most people, plus, they’re available in petite and tall sizing for the perfect fit.
Shop J.Crew
J.Crew Kate Straight-Leg Pant, $, available at
Vince Camuto Wide Leg Trousers
Yet another clean and simple wide leg pant that’s bound to be flattering and effortlessly fit into your wardrobe.
Shop Nordstrom
Vince Camuto Wide Leg Trousers, $, available at
Maeve The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants
Get to work feeling comfortable and confident in this style thanks to the “magic fabric,” which sculpts as it stretches. Find it in neutral and bright colors in standard, petite, tall, and plus sizing.
Shop Anthropologie
Maeve The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants, $, available at
Banana Republic Sculpted Straight Pant
Structured work pants are the ultimate in confidence dressing. The sleek waistband and front creases in this pair are classic, but the bold olive color is fresh.
Shop Banana Republic
Banana Republic Sculpted Straight Pant, $, available at
Amazon Aware Ponte Knit Slim Pant
Yes, Amazon of course sells work pants for women, and these affordable cropped trousers are thankfully available in sizes XXS through 7X.
Shop Amazon
Amazon Aware Ponte Knit Slim Pant, $, available at Amazon
Abercrombie & Fitch Tailored Relaxed Straight Pant
These trousers are going fast, with several colorways selling out because of the style’s classic, tailored cut.
Shop Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch Tailored Relaxed Straight Pant, $, available at
Nordstrom High Waist Wide Leg Pants
Leave it to Nordstrom to make slip-on trousers that are a desk-to-dinner essential. It’s business in the front with the pleats and party in the back with the elastic waist.
Shop Nordstrom
Nordstrom High Waist Wide Leg Pants, $, available at
Anthropologie Pleated Poplin Trousers
These versatile cotton Anthropologie pants are available in standard, petite, tall, and plus sizes, so we can all add them to our wardrobes.
Shop Anthropologie
Anthropologie Pleated Poplin Trousers, $, available at
Free People Calla Pleated Trousers
These slouchy pants with exaggerated pleating are not-so-basic and a great business casual option. They’re available in several colorways, but since this style is so popular, many sizes are low in stock. Act fast!
Shop Free People
Free People Calla Pleated Trousers, $, available at
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
19 Tried-&-True Work Bags, From Totes To Backpacks
