10 Best Black Work Pants for Women 2024 | The Strategist

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The Strategist’s carefully chosen and rigorously vetted flagship shopping guides. Learn about our methodology here, and find all our Best in Class guides here.

The easiest answer to the question of “What should I wear to work?” is a pair of black pants. Even though I’ve been working from home for a few years now, black pants were my uniform when I was in the office five days a week, and I still like to put them on for a semblance of professionalism. There’s no shortage of black pants out there — I spent hours in the fitting rooms of Loft and J.Crew while building my own workwear wardrobe back in the day, in search of the best pairs. So to make this guide to the best work pants for women, I relied on my own years of experience (I own multiples of the best overall pick) and asked women who practically live in black pants for their recommendations. The recommendations below include trousers for the “proportionally blessed” and the smart-looking pair a Strategist staffer wears when she commutes on her bike. And for more workwear basics, you can read our guides to the best button-downs and blazers.

Update on November 6, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.

One shortfall that’s strikingly apparent when you start shopping for work pants: Not many are made in plus sizes. Whenever possible, I’ve featured pants that come in a wide range of sizes — and that includes pairs that come in a variety of inseams, to accommodate different heights.

The fabric makes all the difference in how a pair of pants looks and wears. Polyester is more popular than cotton because it doesn’t wrinkle as much, plus it’s machine washable so it won’t up your dry-cleaning bill. Linen lets your legs breathe. Crêpe (which can be made of everything from silk to a synthetic like polyester) also won’t crease easily, and has a more textured feel. Modal is known for its silk-like softness and stretch.

No matter the material, pay attention to whether a pant has some stretch, which is a big factor in comfort. You’ll usually see it in the form of either elastane or spandex (these are essentially the same fabrics under different names, with Lycra being the trademark version). Almost all the pants below have some percentage of stretch. A lot of stretch can make a pant look like it’s made from a technical fabric (as in exercise gear), says style coach Kim Hancher, which could break unofficial business-casual rules. But the Hayden from Banana Republic — our best overall pick — features 3 percent elastane, and means business.

The work-pants space isn’t known for its inventiveness — “tailored” is the name of the game. Some options can feel a little too buttoned up, however, so I looked for a range of cuts, from wide leg to a slimmer straight leg, so you can get the vibe you’re going for …

… And called out any interesting details, like menswear-inspired pleating, a faux fly in the front, or cuffed hems to show some ankle.

A five-day work wardrobe can come with a high price tag. Sure, you can invest in Eileen Fisher, but Everlane can do pretty well, too. I designed this list to be as affordable as possible, with each pick designated as either $ ($100 and under), $$ (between $100 and $150), or $$$ ($150 and up).

Sizes: 0–20 with 25- (petite), 27- (regular), and 30-inch (tall) inseams | Materials: Recycled polyester, rayon, elastane | Cut: Slimmer straight-leg | Design: Elastic-back waistband | Price: $

There was a time where I was wearing a pair of these pants every other day, including on a commute involving a car ride, a trip on New Jersey Transit followed by taking the subway, and a short walk. But they always made it to the office unwrinkled. They’re also as comfortable as sweatpants because of their stretchy polyester-blend fabric and secret elastic waistband in the back. But the flat front and faux fly elevate their look. Even though I work from home now, I still wear mine anytime I want to feel a little more polished. They are relatively size inclusive, available in sizes 0 to 20 as well as three inseam lengths. I own five pairs in a mix of inseams — the 27-inch “regular” inseam is full length on my five-foot-two frame, and the 25-inch “petite” inseam hits right above my ankle. They have a slimmer straight leg that works just as well with a T-shirt as it does with a blazer. (Banana Republic recently introduced the style in a wide leg and as a cargo — and there’s a matching blazer and vest if you’re looking to make a suit.) And the Haydens are pretty affordable, even at full price — but if you need another reason to try them for yourself, they’re also a best seller with Strategist readers and are almost always on sale.

Sizes: 12–32 with 27-(petite), 29- (regular), and 31-inch (tall) inseams | Materials: Cotton, polyamide, spandex | Cut: Straight-leg | Design details: Hook-and-bar closure with hidden button, flat front pockets | Price: $

I heard a lot of praise for Eloquii while working on our guide to plus-size work pants. Because the brand only makes plus-size clothing, it’s gotten its fits really right. The Kadys are the company’s signature pant, a bestseller that’s been popular for years. The pants come in three different inseams: 27 inches (petite), 29 inches (regular), and 31 inches (long). Though the Kady used to come in different cuts designed for different body shapes, now there’s a single option for everyone; however, the pants also now come in a wider size range, starting at 12 and going up to 32. Blogger Ashley Carter says the Kadys are “worth every penny” for their high quality and that hers have held up well through countless wears. Made from a blend of cotton, spandex, and polyamide (a sort of stretchy nylon), they hold their shape well through the workday. The pants also come in colors including cobalt, green, scarlet, and dune, if you want to buy for a full workweek.

Sizes: 0–16 and 14W–28W with 27.5- (petite), 30- (regular), and 33-inch (tall) inseams | Materials: Tencel lyocell, cotton, linen | Cut: Wide leg | Design: Sailor-inspired button tabs on the waistband | Price: $$

Madewell’s Harlow pants are slowly winning over a significant portion of the Strategist team (they were the topic of animated discussion at a staff meeting just this week). New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff owns a pair and says “they truly make me feel like I’m wearing pajamas to work.” Strategist writer Arielle Avila — who first heard about them in an installment of our “Celebrity Shopping” series with actress Victoria Justice — has a pair, too, and so does Camilla Cho, SVP of e-commerce at Vox Media, who told me that she’s planning on buying a second pair soon.

Avila has owned the Harlows since February and says that while it’s rare to find a pair of pants she can wear for all seasons, these fit the bill. They’re made from a breathable combination of Tencel, cotton, and linen that looks put together but never feels stuffy. The fabric does crease fairly easily, but not to the extent that it needs to be ironed, and Avila says the pants easily stand up to several wears before they need to go in the wash.

Just note that Harlows run long. Swerdloff — who’s five-foot-eight — went with a petite length instead of the regular, and Avila, who’s five-foot-one, also went for the shortest inseam. The hem hits at the top of her foot. “It may seem too long for some, but I like that look for a trouser because they drape over my shoes in a nice way,” she says. And even on her shorter frame, the wide leg isn’t overwhelming. “They are very flattering and seem to lengthen me,” Avila says.

Sizes: 0–16 with 27- (shorter), 30- (short), 32- (regular), 33-inch (tall) inseams | Material: Polyester | Cut: Wide leg | Design details: Front pleats with some drape | Price: $$

I decided on a tie in this category because Aritzia’s the Effortless Pant is also very well reviewed. The trousers are famous for being flattering on different shapes (though they’re available only up to a size 16) and especially versatile. I can often tell when someone wears a pair because of the knife pleats on the front, which add to the cinched-waist look of the pants. (You also might recognize them from their recent moment on social media.)

The pants are made from a Japanese crêpe that Aritzia dubbed “crepette” (100 percent polyester), which has the subtlest of textures and a pleasant drape that makes wrinkles less noticeable. I didn’t even have to steam them when pulling them out of the packaging for the first time. Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid, who owns two pairs of the Effortless pants, says the fabric is “airy enough to not feel stuffy even on hot days.” Reid has worn hers both for work and casually, and she puts it best: They’re an “innocuous pair of black pants” that can go with just about anything. Interior designer Gillian Segal likes to pair hers with a matching blazer for a power-suit look. Or, outside of work, she styles them with sneakers and a hoodie for “a Hailey Bieber moment.”

A big part of the Effortless Pant’s appeal is that they come in a variety of materials and fits. They’re available in satin and linen and in a cropped fit as well as one with an even wider leg and in a low rise (which is more of a mid-rise, says Reid). These often go in and out of stock, but if the one you want is sold out, you can sign up to be emailed when it’s back. If you stick with the original fit, you can choose from a number of inseams — shorter, short, regular, and tall — and a core collection of colors (black, of course, along with brown, gray, and olive green) and an ever-changing list of limited-edition shades. Just note that the pants do run small, according to reviewers on Aritzia’s site, Reid, and me — my usual size barely buttoned up. I suggest going up at least one size.

Sizes: 23–34 with plus-sizes 16–26 and 24- (petite), 25- (plus), 26- (standard), and 29-inch (tall) inseams | Materials: Viscose, linen, cotton, elastane | Cut: Flared out wide-leg | Design details: Front and back patch pockets, zipper, cropped hem | Price: $$

The Colette pants from Anthropologie’s in-house label Maeve are the most size-inclusive pants on this list — available in standard sizes 23 to 34, along with plus sizes 16 through 26, as well as three inseams. You can get the pants in corduroy, velvet, and a variety of patterns as well. They have earned a real following, with close to 1,500 reviews from customers and raves from employees, who recommended them to me when I wrote about Anthro for the Strategist’s Retail Secrets series. “Everybody — I swear — has a pair, whoever works there,” one associate told me. Another associate compared their wide-leg cut to the Effortless from Aritzia, though the Colettes are more flared and cropped. Helen Patrikis, founder of public-relations firm HP-PR, likes the patch pockets in both the front and back, which punch up the silhouette. She has them in a ponte version and describes them as “wardrobe warriors” for holding their shape, not wrinkling, and packing well. One pro tip heard from an Anthro stylist is that the Colette’s run a bit big — even as the brand describes them as formfitting — so you may want to size down.

Sizes: 2–14 with a 30-inch inseam | Materials: Polyester, wool, and elastane | Cut: Looser wide leg | Design details: Front pleats, pressed creases, back darts, concealed adjustable-button tab | Price: $$

Strategist writer Lauren Ro became a fan of these COS pants after hearing about them from Curbed’s Adriane Quinlan. According to Ro, these have the look of The Row’s trousers for a fraction of the cost. Although they have the traditional tailored features you might expect in a pair of black work pants — like front pleating and back darts — there’s more of a looseness to the wide leg, which gives them that higher-end look.

“The bagginess means they are exceptionally comfortable,” explains Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell. She likes that the generous cut brushes past her curvier hips without her losing her shape. An adjustable tab on the waistband — with buttons to get the best fit — means you can loosen the pants to wear them lower on your hip or tighten them so they sit higher on your waist. “It’s a great feature for the proportionally blessed,” says Milliner-Waddell. She notes that these do occasionally need a trip to the dry cleaner, while Ro mentions they’re very wrinkleproof even as she sits cross-legged regularly. There’s a cotton-twill version and a linen blend of the pants, too.

Sizes: 00–18 with a 25.5-inch inseam | Materials: Wool, elastane | Cut: Slim-cut, suit-style leg | Design details: Hook-and-zip closure, front slant pockets | Price: $$$

Theory’s Treecas “are the business-casual equivalent to the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans,” says Catherine Smart, co-founder of Not Just Co. These have the slightest of crops, hitting right above her ankle on her five-foot-four frame, with a narrow cut that doesn’t “date me as an aging millennial,” she jokes. Smart credits the tailored trousers with helping her navigate corporate workwear — before starting her own business, she worked as a personal chef. The pants are modeled after formal pantsuits while featuring a slimmer-cut leg. Made from wool, they are structured enough so as not to sag in the back, with a “glorious give” from some elastane, Smart explains. Plus, the deep pockets hide her sweaty palms when she’s been schmoozing.

Sizes: XXS–XXXXL with a 27.5-inch inseam | Materials: Cotton and modal | Cut: Tapered, relaxed leg | Design details: Pintuck detailing, elastic waistband | Price: $

I liked the tailoring on Everlane’s Dream Pant immediately. But even with the elastic waistband, I never expected them to be that comfortable. Now I know what Sloan Symington was talking about when she said they look like slacks (thanks to pintucking on the front), while delivering on what the brand’s promise of a “sweatpant feel.” The Dream Pant is a little thicker than our top-pick Hayden, made from a double-knit cotton and modal blend, and it’s weightier in the way that really well-made sweatpants are. For that reason, I probably wouldn’t recommend them if you’re commuting outdoors in the middle of the summer, but they’ll keep you from freezing whenever the AC’s on full blast. They don’t wrinkle, either — even after hours of sitting, the legs on my pair weren’t creased. I would recommend keeping a lint roller on hand, however, since a sweater can leave them looking a little fuzzy. You can now get the Dream Pant in trouser form — with a wider, straight-leg silhouette — and as a flare, for something more fitted.

Sizes: 00–40 with a 27-inch inseam | Materials: Rayon, nylon, elastane | Cut: Legging-style leg | Design details: Option of zippered or non-zippered cuffs, and pintucked detailing | Price: $

Ponte pants are similar in feel to leggings, with a more substantial knit that’s still comfortable and stretchy. Universal Standard’s version, the Moros, are made from a forgiving blend of rayon, nylon, and elastane that is wrinkle-, crease-, and pill-resistant. This makes for an easy-to-wear, easy-to-care-for style. That’s what I like about the pants: I just feel good in them. I can sit in them cross-legged while listening into a meeting but still look put together. You can get them with or without a zipper at the ankle, but they only come in one length; I’m five-foot-two and found that zippered version is too long, so I prefer the non-zippered option, which I can cuff to show a little ankle. (There’s also a pair with ankle zips and pintucking on the front and back.)

Editor Maya Kosoff is also a fan of the Moros; though she was formerly “pants-allergic,” the pants won her over with their slim, tapered cut and smooth elastic waistband. And writer Reneice Charles calls them a foundational piece in her wardrobe. You’ll need to pay close attention to Universal Standard’s atypical size chart — an M in the brand’s sizing is equivalent to a size 18 or 20 — but I otherwise found these true-to-size (I’m usually a size eight or ten, and in the Moros I take an XS).

we love these ponte pants from Universal Standard for work, errands, and brunch with friends. how would you style them? #workwear #daytonight #businesscasual #wardrobestaples

Sizes: XS–XL with 26- and 29-inch inseams | Materials: Recycled polyester, spandex | Cut: Track-pant-style leg | Design details: Zippered front pockets, hidden drawstring | Price: $

Though the Zephyrs from Outdoor Voices were mentioned by multiple sources, their athleisure-like appearance — reminiscent of old-school track pants — might not work in some corporate circles. (If you need a more traditional look, you might be better off with the Everlane Dream Pant, above.) Still, if you can get away with wearing the Zephyrs to the office, you should. They’re wonderfully light and breathable, with a paper-thin feel. Strategist managing editor Kelsie Schrader even wears them when she bikes to work — and isn’t “drenched in sweat” when she arrives at her desk. Though the Zephyrs are a little more wrinkle-prone than some of the other work pants I’ve tried, the wrinkles aren’t so bad as to be distracting. Her Place founder Joyce Lee wears the pants for work, working out, and travel. Strategist kitchen-and-dining writer Emma Wartzman likes to sport them, too, describing them as “comfy but put-together.”

• Nadine Abramcyk, co-founder of Tenoverten• Ashley Carter, lifestyle blogger• Reneice Charles, writer and life coach• Liza Curtiss, Le Whit co-founder• Kim Hancher, style coach• Megan Ixim, brand consultant and entrepreneur• Tessa Jennifer, founder of Auralie• Maya Kosoff, freelance writer and editor• Joyce Lee, founder of Her Place• Tammy Lee, Parsons School of Design fashion marketing student• Lara Mahler, founder of wedding-planning company The Privilege is Mine• Allie McKenna, personal stylist• Jenna Milliner-Waddell, Strategist associate editor• Alex Morris, Rolling Stone senior writer• Helen Patrikis, founder of public-relations firm HP-PR• Kelsie Schrader, Strategist managing editor• Stacy Seebode, private chef• Gillian Segal, interior designer• Catherine Smart, co-founder of Not Just Co.• Nicole Snow, founder of Darn Good Yarn• Sloan Symington, marketing and strategy director at Stratia Skincare• Ashby Vose, content creator• Emma Wartzman, Strategist kitchen and dining writer

Additional reporting by Lauren Ro

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