The 8 Best Women’s Pants for the Office (and Beyond) of 2026
Top pick
These wide-leg, polyester-crepe pants have a 30.75-inch inseam. They look chic yet feel like loungewear — but they’re unquestionably expensive, and they go up to a size XL only.
These pull-on pants are made from the same comfy polyester crepe, with slimmer (but not remotely skinny) straight legs.
Top pick
This pair has curved, barrel-shape legs and a shorter, slightly cropped 28.5-inch inseam.
Could we really make $300 polyester pants with an elastic waist a Wirecutter pick? Ultimately, the answer was yes. La Ligne’s trio of Colby Pants, available in wide-leg, slim straight-leg, and barrel-leg versions, hit a hard-to-nail sweet spot: They’re all stylish, polished, and incredibly comfy to boot. Though we initially balked at the price, we found ourselves reaching for these trousers time and again. We were impressed by how they went with just about any top — from dressy blouses and nice sweaters to casual tees and sweatshirts. As one tester said, “Now that I have them, I’d probably pay anything for these pants.”
Christina Colizza/NYT Wirecutter
“Real pants” vibes with the feel of sweatpants. The Colby pants pull off a neat magic trick: They read professional and put-together, but the elastic waist, generous cut, and flowy fabric make these trousers as comfortable as loungewear. (In fact, these pants were all I wore on a 700-mile road trip — both ways.)
They’re made from a drapey crepe polyester material, with a slightly textured, nearly matte finish, and it’s lightweight, breathable, and low-maintenance. These pants don’t wrinkle easily or require dry-cleaning. (La Ligne also makes the wide-leg Colby pants in a satin polyester material, which we have not tested.)
The pants come in different silhouettes. La Ligne offers these pants in wide, slim, and barrel-leg versions; they all have a high rise (around 13 inches) and an elastic waist. Our panelists tried the three variations (each tester picked their preferred style), and across the board, they found them to be comfortable and versatile.
The barrel-leg style has a gentle barrel shape and a cropped 28.5-inch inseam; the other two are straight-leg styles, with a longer, 30.75-inch inseam. (Worth noting: The so-called slim-leg Colby style actually still has quite wide legs, just less so than the true wide-leg Colby pair.)
They go with everything. The Colby pants play unusually well with others: You can pair them with tank tops in the heat and chunky sweaters when it’s cold. “Can you get addicted to a pair of pants?” one tester mused. “Because I’m starting to worry about how much I rely on these.” They can be dressed up or down (think sneakers by day, kitten heels by night). And they can be paired with T-shirts, button-ups, and blouses — tucked or untucked — thanks to the slim, well-constructed elastic waistband.
Ruthie Darling/NYT Wirecutter
Flaws but not dealbreakers
They’re pricey. Yes, the Colby pants are expensive, but due to how comfortable and versatile they are, and because of their spot-on, super-wearable cuts, we think they’re worth the splurge. Said one panelist, “I wore these pants more than any others during testing.”
We wish they were more size-inclusive. Though the elastic waistband does provide some wiggle room, XL is the largest available size (equivalent to 14). And different lengths would be nice too. With the wide-leg pair I tested, the 30.75-inch inseam was a bit long for my 5-foot-3 frame: It was workable, until a rainy day came along.
One tester had quality issues. While I was on a road trip, my Colby slim-leg pair developed noticeable pilling along one side, as well as a small rip in the seat. A rep for La Ligne said that they’ve “seen pilling occur when the fabric is exposed to consistent abrasion”; in my case, it might’ve been caused by the seatbelt rubbing against the same spot during the two-day drive. They suggested using a de-pilling device; I took a few passes over the area with a sweater comb, and it did remove most of the pills, but the fabric was left looking a little distressed. As for the tear, the rep told me that this type of issue is “extremely rare,” and confirmed that La Ligne would provide a replacement pair (to any customer) provided the damage had occurred within six months of purchase.
Key specs
- Sizes: XXS to XL (00 to 14)
- Inseam: 30.75 inches (wide-leg and slim-leg styles), 28.5 inches (barrel-leg style)
- Rise: 13 inches (taken on a size M)
- Material: 90% polyester, 10% elastane
- Colors: vary by style
