How Did I Become a Wearer of Pants?

For at least 15 years, I owned (but barely ever wore) a single pair of suit pants.  I wore dresses and skirts every day, even when it was below freezing.  So when I was doing laundry last week, I noticed a disturbing trend occurring in my hamper — there were no skirts, and only one dress in the washing, everything else was pants.

How the hell did that happen?!

The answer is pregnancy.  Maternity skirts were usually jersey trash that exposed every dimple and roll.  Maternity dresses were often too short or too casual for work.  And since I had to wear compression socks almost every day for six months, once the weather became too warm for knee-high boots, I was forced into pants.

But being pushed back into pants had one unexpected benefit, it forced me to find the “good work pants.”  I field tested dozens of pairs – different styles, fabrics, and brands.  And I have created, what I believe to be, the definitive list of comfortable work pants for women.

The Work Legging // Yes, I used work and legging in the same sentence.  Ten years ago, I would never have considered such a thing, but post-COVID, even some professionals are wearing leggings to the office.  It’s like the Twilight Zone.  But if you’re going to wear a tight-fitting legging to work, it should be a thick, flattering, good quality legging.

Meet the NYDJ Sculpt Her Legging. Also, in plus-sizes.  These leggings have the thickness of a ponte pant, but in a legging cut.  They also wear like iron and are warm in the winter due to their thickness.  The first time I wore them, my brunch date liked them so much she bought them while we were waiting for our Aperol Spritzes.

The Straight Leg Trouser // Like a slim leg pant that isn’t skinny?  Halogen’s Straight Leg Trouser is for you.  Cut with a leg opening that is narrow enough to be slim, but won’t cut off circulation to your ankle, this pant looks professional and modern.  That’s probably why it sells out every time Halogen restocks it (they’re already down to single digit availability in many sizes).

The Ponte Flares // My postpartum body is still healing and changing.  Some days, the idea of wearing a waist band is just more than I can bear.  And on those days, I reach for the NYDJ Sculpt Her Wide Legs. (I don’t know why they market them as wide legs, they’re bootcut flare.)

These incredible comfortable pants are easy to wear and style.  They look like a suit when paired with NYDJ’s ponte blazer.  And they are machine washable on gentle, so they’re a great choice for travel or for those of us with children.  They also come in plus.

The Wide Leg Ponte Pants // You’ll see there are two categories of wide leg pants.  The reason is simple, some days I need looks and some days I need comfort.  These Spanx Wide Leg Pants are the pick for the days that I need comfort.

On me, the pants are ankle length, so I can wear them with flats without hemming.  I also like that they’re pull-on, so no zip or button to make my postpartum pooch more prominent than it needs to be.  These pants look dressy or casual depending on how you style them.  I just flew in them, and was so comfortable, but walked right into a meeting when I got off the plane.

The Wide Leg Trousers // In the work trouser category, there are two pairs of wide leg trousers that I recommend.  The first, is a pair from Ann Taylor that I own in four colors.  The AT Side Zip Trouser comes in a fluid crepe and fits beautifully.  The flat front styling and the drape of the wide leg make these pants look and feel glamorous.  They come in petite as well as regular lengths.  And you can also snap them up in ivory or burgundy.

The second pair of wide legs that I recommend come in a suiting fabric.  The black is selling out quickly.  I also own the dark teal.  What I like about this pants is that it’s easy to match them to other AT jackets to make suits.  They also create a beautiful leg line.

Have a pair of pants to recommend?  Drop them in the comments, especially if you have a plus, petite or tall pair to recommend.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}