Women’s workwear style has undergone a total transformation in recent years and the professional landscape looks very different to how it did in 2019.
Pre-pandemic, we could see a gentle shift in dress codes towards the more casual. But 2020 turned the volume up on that relatively quiet revolution, and now we find ourselves needing - and wanting - something new from our workwear closets.
Our edit of the perfect work pants speaks directly to that evolution. We’ve made creating the perfect pants our business and as a team of female designers designing for the modern world, we know what works - and what works even better. This curation covers all your bases, from sharply tailored wide-leg pants to empower you in the boardroom to athleisure-inspired track pants for your home office.
Motivating Color
Whatever you choose to wear, it should make you feel empowered and confident, especially when it comes to dressing for work. Whether you’re walking into a boardroom or an open-plan office, you want to stride in feeling your magnificent self. And to help facilitate this, there is nothing more encouraging than unapologetically bright color.
This season’s bold suiting transforms traditionally tailored shapes into modern powerhouses with block color. Picture pulling on our pink and orange wide-leg Pinstripe Tailoring Man Pant in the morning and feeling anything less than invincible. Or our Color Pop Slim Crop Pant in saturated orange, styled with its matching Boyfriend Blazer.
All of this season’s bright work pants have matching jacket options for our take on the modern power suit. But if that feels too overwhelming or OTT for your office environment, simply stick to the pant and pare it back with familiar pieces in neutral colors, like a white tee or fine stripe shirt.
The Home/Office Hybrids
If your working week sees time spent both working at home and in the office, then sporty styles are a clever investment as they can go from one to the other seamlessly.
Pull-on pants with elasticated waists offer a grown-up nod to lockdown loungewear, comfortable enough for sitting in at your home desk and easily paired with sneakers if you need to pop out. Yet smart fabrics help maintain a professional mindset and mean these pants can be dressed up for the office, too. Swap your tee for a crisp shirt and you’re good to go.
If you want your investment to go further still, opt for a pair of athleisure pants that have a matching blazer, like our Pinstripe Track Pant. Perfect for wearing when you’re WFH, pair with the Pinstripe Boyfriend Blazer and you’re ready for a return to the office.
Modern Investments
If you’re investing in your forever work wardrobe, you can’t go wrong with classic tailored fabrics in neutral hues. The perfect base to be teamed with a chunky knit in winter, a silk blouse in spring and a cotton vest in summer, a pant that transcends trends and seasons will be the hardest working piece in your collection.
The key to finding timeless pants that steer towards contemporary rather than corporate is to look for classic colors in more dramatic shapes. Easy to style with staples, these will also have the effect of making even the most basic t-shirt more interesting. Our Super High-Waisted Wide-Leg Pant is the perfect example: available in tan, navy and a subtle stripe, it creates a supremely flattering silhouette thanks to the adjustable waist tab and the exaggerated wide leg will make a look feel more considered.
If you prefer a more tapered cut, the Cotton Twill High-Waist Barrel-Leg Crop Pant is an ideal alternative. With adjustable tabs on the waist, you can achieve a fit tailored to you and military-inspired details make it feel more punchy.
Classic Prints
No women’s workwear edit is complete without our Slim Crop Pant, a signature best-seller that is beloved for its universally flattering fit. The cropped length will show off ankles or, for those who are shorter, will simply act as a full-length pant. Designed with cuffs that can be turned up to shorten the leg length even further if needed, it’s a particularly popular option for petite dressers.
A cut that is as clean and simple as this leaves more room to experiment with print, so explore styles tailored from more interesting fabrics, like the Italian Cotton Gingham Slim Crop Pant. Acting more like a texture than a traditional print, work pants like this will add depth to an outfit and can be dressed up with a matching blazer and heels or dressed down with a tee and sneakers.
Leather
Any women’s workwear edit that doesn’t include a leather pant is missing a trick because it’s the perfect texture to build a luxe look around. A leather pant will make it look like you’ve put a great deal of effort into your outfit when you haven’t, and will instantly elevate everything from a basic tee to a smart blouse so you don’t have to worry so much about what you pair it with. Plus, it’s guaranteed to look smart but with a modern edge, making it appropriate for a whole spectrum of working environments.
Our butter-soft Vegan Leather Cargo Pant is a consciously crafted style in dark khaki - a more subtle alternative to black leather, it will work just as well tonally with warm heritage checks and other classic staples.
Casual Friday
If you spend more time working from home or in an office with a relaxed dress code, having a good pair of casual pants in your workwear arsenal is imperative. And by casual, we mean easy fabrics and practical cuts, not veering straight off into sweatpant territory. The pandemic days of working in loungewear day in, day out are behind us now and we’re ready for something that’s a step up in terms of style and finish.
Take our Cotton Barrel-Leg Chino. Crafted from crease-free, machine-washable fabric, this barrel-leg shape is slightly wider at the hips so that you don’t feel restricted, while an adjustable waist allows you to pick your most comfortable fit.
Alternatively, our 2-in-1 Transformer Pant is cleverly designed with tabs at the cuff that can be used to transform the shape from a straight leg to a tapered leg, giving you two different looks in one investment. In peach-touch cotton with stretch, its flexibility extends to the way it feels and moves with you.