8 Of The Best Work Pants For Women To Wear To The Office And Beyond - Forbes

Dressing for work has felt like a lost art in recent years, but it's time to reevaluate the beauty of a slick work wardrobe. While every office has a different take on the level of formality required, you can build endless looks around certain key pieces—especially a great pair of slacks. The best work pants for women can be dressed up or down easily: Pair a wide-leg style, for example, with a crisp button-down shirt for meetings or loosen it up with a white t-shirt and sporty sneakers for more casual, less corporate days.

You'll want to keep a few pairs at the ready in your closet, and to find ones that last, focus on the fit, quality and comfort. To narrow the options, we asked stylists for their advice on the best work pants for women and found eight pairs that earned good performance reviews. Everlane's The Way High Drape Pant is our best overall pick for its flattering silhouette and elegant draping while Old Navy's High-Waisted Heathered Pixie Straight Ankle Pants give you a similarly polished look with a more basic, slim cut for under $50. Here's what else to put on your checklist:

• Best Overall Work Pants For Women: Everlane The Way High Drape Pant
• Best Affordable Work Pants For Women: Old Navy High Waisted Pixie Flare Pant
• Best Women's Dress Work Pants: Reformation Mason Pant
• Most Comfortable Work Pants For Women: Spanx The Perfect Pant 4 Ankle Pocket
• Best Plus-Size Work Pants For Women: Eloquii Kady Fit Double Weave Pant
• Best Petite Work Pants For Women: Banana Republic Petite + Curvy Skinny Sloan Pant
• Best Black Work Pants For Women: Theory The Treeca Pant in Good Wool
• Best Khaki Work Pants For Women: Ann Taylor The High Waist Slim Pant

Best Work Pants For Women Overall

Classic High-Waisted Style

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Best Affordable Work Pants For Women

High Quality Yet Budget-Friendly

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Best Women's Dress Work Pants

Elegant And Refined

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Most Comfortable Work Pants For Women

Fitted Style With Built-In Stretch

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Best Plus-Size Work Pants For Women

Streamlined Pockets And Multiple Lengths

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Best Petite Work Pants For Women

Designed for Those With Fuller Backsides

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Best Black Work Pants For Women

A Wear-Everyday Staple

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Best Khaki Work Pants For Women

A Comfortable Classic

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What To Look For In The Best Work Pants For Women

• Material: "The right material depends on the style of pant," Franklin says. "For a slim leg silhouette, look for a polyblend or fabric that has stretch." For a pleated wide-leg pant, Franklin recommends options that allow movement, such as a linen blend, silk or satin. Lopez also prefers finding a wool-blend or cotton-based pants for comfort. Or consider triacetate, which is wrinkle-resistant, and elastane or spandex to create stretch in pants.
• Silhouette: "Thanks to suiting and menswear-inspired trends, there are a ton of trouser options out there," Franklin says. Silhouette is largely based on personal preference. Slim legged pants are the most classic fit while wide-legged pants are a slouchier, more relaxed option.
• Care: In order to keep your work pants pristine, Lopez recommends washing in cold water, hanging dry or putting in the dryer on low to medium heat, if absolutely necessary. "You can also dry clean, if the pants are made from a delicate fabric," she says. "Hot water will fade colors, shrink and break down the fabric over time." To avoid creasing in the leg and waistband, Franklin suggests clipping pants at the bottom of the leg on your hanger.