The Hunt: The Best Wide-Leg Pants to Wear to Work

Wide-leg pants have become a workwear staple — but with so many options out there right now, which ones are actually the best wide-leg pants to wear to work?

We’ve talked before about some of the trickier aspects of wearing wide-leg trousers, including what shoes to wear with them, what tops to pair with them, and how long your pants should be. Today, though, we’re focusing on the pants themselves: the styles that are polished enough for the office, comfortable enough for a long workday, and available in a range of prices, sizes, and inseams.

Readers, which are your favorite wide-leg pants to wear to work? What are your best tips on hemming them, and which shoes and tops do you pair them with?

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.

N.B. This post was originally written in 2022 and substantially updated in August 2026 by Kat Griffin.

What to Look For In Great Wide-Leg Trousers

I like them styled with sneakers or other flat shoes — getting a heel right with them can be a bit tricky, although I'd love to hear your tips! (Another possible issue to be on the lookout for: can you wear shoes without the pant leg getting caught and tucked in the strap, laces, or vamp of the shoe — kind of like in this picture below? (It's originally from En Saison @ Anthropologie.) Boots can be ideal for this reason.)

The main thing about full-length pants, though, is that you really do have to know which shoes you plan to wear them with when you get them hemmed — and then stick to that general height of shoe every time you wear the pants. (Here are our thoughts on the best shoes to wear with wide leg pants…)

I'm seeing wide-leg pants styled with a lot of crop tops — for the office I'd switch it to a work-acceptable bodysuit or other close-fitted top.

(Update: we just rounded up ideas for what tops to wear with wide leg pants.)

Just another note on fabrics: I feel like either a drapey fabric, or a heavy fabric like tweed or flannel is better for these kinds of pants because cotton or linen will wrinkle — in fact, if you're planning on wearing the wide-leg pants to work I'd avoid those fabrics.

{related: do check out our regularly updated list of wardrobe essentials for work!}

The Best Wide-Leg Pants to Wear to Work

The Cult Favorite: Aritzia / Effortless

Aritzia has some of the best wide-leg pants — both their wildly popular Effortless pant as well as their other popular Limitless pant are cut with loose, wide legs, and come in a variety of fabrics. Most of their pants are around $148, and are available in sizes 00-16, as well as petite and tall sizes.

Psst: check out our latest thoughts on the best trouser lengths for women!

Best Affordable Pick: Abercrombie & Fitch

Readers have given shoutouts to Abercrombie & Fitch Sloan pants as affordable, reliable wide leg pants — and they have a curvy option!

The pants are $95 at Abercrombie in sizes 23-38 in short, regular, and long sizes, but they’re frequently on sale. Three other budget-friendly options include Amazon's Tapata pants, Old Navy Taylor trousers, and Banana Republic Factory.

Fun Colors, Prints, and Fabrics: Anthropologie / Maeve

Several readers have sung the praises of these wide-leg flare pants from Maeve. (One even went so far as to describe them as the second coming of The Skirt, which is high praise if you’re an OG Corporette reader.)

I love the slightly stretchy “magic” fabric, which fits and flatters a wide range of body types. They also come in a great range of sizes, from standard to plus, petite to tall.

Note that most options have patch pockets on the front of the pant, which definitely gives them a more casual vibe… so know your office!

The pants are $130 at Anthropologie and come in sizes 23-34 (standard, petite, and tall), as well as 14W-26W.

Best for Polished Comfort: Spanx / Perfect Pants

As Elizabeth noted,

Spanx has come out with a shockingly fantastic pant collection in the last few years, but they’ve typically only been available in solids or subdued stripes. This plaid colorway is something of a departure, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I’ve found that they run pretty true to size, although a bit snug in the waist (by design).

The pants come in seasonal colorways as well as basics, and are available in regular, petite, plus, and plus-sized petite sizes at Spanx.com. The Perfect Pants tend to be solid colors, but if you're ok with a more casual vibe their AirEssentials pants (also at Nordstrom) are wonderful for business casual or travel days, and they even have a new suiting collection that includes wide-leg pants.

Another ponte option readers like: Talbots.

Best Fashion-Forward Pick: Favorite Daughter

These $218 Favorite Daughter pants look great, and are also available in a bunch of colors (and fabrics) at Nordstrom and FavoriteDaughter.com (ooh, and they have petites and talls). They're available in sizes 0-18.

Another fashion forward pick: Reformation.

Best for Travel/Commuting: Athleta Pinnacle

If you're in a casual office or have a casual day coming up, athleisure may be appropriate — readers have been loving the Athleta Pinnacle pants for a while now as great wide legs. (Old Navy's Taylor is similar.)

Another popular pick: Lululemon's Daydrift.

The Splurge: Veronica Beard Tonelli

Veronica Beard is a reader favorite, and our splurge pick. They have a lot of wide-legged pants (including corduroys!) but right now I think my pick would be these classic wide-leg pants. They're $528 and available in sizes 00-16. Another great VB pant: the Marbeau.

Another great pick for quality: M.M.LaFleur.

Readers, what are the best wide-leg pants to wear to work in 2026? What are your best tips on hemming them, and which shoes and tops do you pair them with?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

Social media images via Deposit Photos / JANIFEST (woman leans against blue velvet chair, she wears wide-leg pants to wear to work in white).

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