Work means different things for different people, particularly at the moment, but if you are someone who is still required to dress up and look smart when they go to the workplace, then you are going to want a trusty selection of work trousers. As they're an item of clothing that you end up spending a huge amount of time in, they must strike a careful balance between being comfortable enough but also smart enough.
To find the sweet spot where these two meet, we've looked at options that have everything you might need, whether that's a specific colour like grey or navy, or perhaps pockets, a high waist, or a stretchy fit are a must. We've scoured Amazon, ASOS and more to find the best choices so you can concentrate on killing it at work.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 Miss Selfridge | 2 ASOS DESIGN | 3 ![]() ASOS DESIGN | 4 ![]() Tu | 5 ![]() Whistles | 6 ![]() Chums | 7 ![]() River Island | 8 ![]() ASOS DESIGN | 9 ![]() Phase Eight | 10 ![]() Monki |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Scuba Paperbag Trouser | Tailored Smart Cigarette Trouser | Tailored Smart Mix & Match Cigarette Suit Trousers | Black Bootcut Trousers With Stretch | Super Stretch Trousers | Ladies Women's Comfort Plus Trouser | Tailored Pleated Tapered Trouser | Exagerated Mom Trouser | Cadie Wide Leg Suit Trousers | Recycled Polyester Co-ord Tapered Trousers |
Features | A Pair of Work Trousers That Will Suit Everyone | Liven Up Your Work Wardrobe With Patterned Checks | Chic Simplicity Comes With These High-Waisted Trousers | An Affordable Option That's Perfect for a Formal Workplace | Super-Versatile Tight-Fitting Khaki Trousers | A Stylish Trouser That's Mega Comfortable | Breathable and Laid-Back Yet Smart | A Flattering Waist Combined With a Comfy, Looser Fit | Subtle and Summery Wide-Legged Trousers | A Pinstripe Design With a Classic Cut |
Price | £25.99 | £22.00 | £18.00 | £15.00 | £99.00 | £21.31 | £40.00 | £38.00 | £120.00 | £25.00 |
Fit | Paperbag, tapered | Cigarette | Cigarette | Bootcut | Skinny | Straight leg | Tailored | Wide leg | Wide leg | Tapered |
Length | Ankle grazer | Ankle grazer | Ankle grazer | Full | Ankle grazer | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
Stretch Material | 5% elastane | 2% elastane | No | 6% elastane | 4% elastane | 5% elastane | No | No | No | 2% elastane |
Size Range | 6 - 12 | 4 - 16 | 4 - 12 | 8-18 | 6-18 | 10 - 22 | 6 - 14 | 4 - 14 | 10 - 14 | 4 - 24 |
Colour | Black | Black and white check | Black | Black | Khaki, navy, stone | Chocolate (6 others available) | Tan | Grey | Pink or cream | Navy stripe |
Fastening | Elasticated waist and belt | Button and zip | Button and zip | Clip, button and zip | Elasticated waistband | Elasticated waistband | Button and zip | Hook and zip | Button and zip | Button and zip |
Pockets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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With women's workwear, there is an exciting amount of flexibility, seen from the huge choice of shapes and fits. However, lots of smarter trousers come in a slimmer fit as this avoids any fears of looking sloppy. They are also easy to dress up or down depending on the formality required. If you are seeking a tighter fit, look out for 'cigarette' and 'skinny' styles.
At the other end of the style spectrum, you'll find trousers with a looser fit. Less clingy and more spacious, these are a good choice if you want more room to move. Wider styles are sometimes simply called 'wide leg trousers', but descriptions like 'tapered' and 'paperbag' also suggest a looser fit. There is some variation, though, and people like different styles to fit differently.
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You probably spend a lot of time in your work clothes, so it's important that they look and feel great. There are many different materials for work trousers, and choosing the right one for you will depend on what you want from your office wear.
If you're keen on comfort and want a life relief from the stuffy office air, a breathable fabric can be a great option. Cotton and Viscose fabrics are wonderful at providing that extra level of breathability while still looking the part!
If the look is what's most important to you, we recommend shopping for trousers that are made from Polyester. This material is great for avoiding unsightly creases, as it's naturally wrinkle-resistant, so you don't have to stress about rushing through the ironing before your morning commute.
Whilst it is widely accepted that trousers are defined as an item of clothing that covers both legs, that doesn't mean that there can't be some variation as to how far down your leg these trousers come. Cropped and full-length trousers can both be equally stylish in their own unique way.
Full-length trousers are a safe option that you know are always going to do the job. During the winter months, they will keep you and your ankles warmer, but looser fits combined with a longer length can also be a winner when it gets a bit hotter.
Cropped designs are extremely popular right now, and with good reason, as they can add an exciting edge to any outfit. Plus, shorter trousers come in very handy over the warm summer months. However, trousers can be cropped to different lengths. If they are only slightly cropped, usually the preferred length for work, it is called an 'ankle grazer'. If it is any higher than that, it is normally just referred to as cropped.
Fight the cold with our Best Winter Coats for Women!
Spending all day in smart trousers can be tough, particularly if they don't have much give. Without any stretch, it is less likely that your trousers will fit or adapt to the various positions that you might assume throughout a long day.
For these reasons, stretchiness is a big plus. To detect how stretchy a pair of trousers might be, it is best to look at the percentage of elastane they contain. Any amount of elastane means stretchy trousers, none at all means the trousers will stay in a fixed shape.
Get the best out of your wardrobe with our Best Shapewear for Women!
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£25.99
Fit | Paperbag, tapered |
---|---|
Length | Ankle grazer |
Stretch Material | 5% elastane |
Size Range | 6 - 12 |
Colour | Black |
Fastening | Elasticated waist and belt |
Pockets | Yes |
£22.00
Fit | Cigarette |
---|---|
Length | Ankle grazer |
Stretch Material | 2% elastane |
Size Range | 4 - 16 |
Colour/Pattern | Black and white check |
Fastening | Button and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
£18.00
Fit | Cigarette |
---|---|
Length | Ankle grazer |
Stretch Material | No |
Size Range | 4 - 12 |
Colour | Black |
Fastening | Button and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
£15.00
Fit | Bootcut |
---|---|
Length | Full |
Stretch Material | 6% elastane |
Size Range | 8-18 |
Colour | Black |
Fastening | Clip, button and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
£99.00
Fit | Skinny |
---|---|
Length | Ankle grazer |
Stretch Material | 4% elastane |
Size Range | 6-18 |
Colour | Khaki, navy, stone |
Fastening | Elasticated waistband |
Pockets | No |
£21.31
Fit | Straight leg |
---|---|
Length | Full |
Stretch Material | 5% elastane |
Size Range | 10 - 22 |
Colour | Chocolate (6 others available) |
Fastening | Elasticated waistband |
Pockets | No |
£40.00
Fit | Tailored |
---|---|
Length | Full |
Stretch Material | No |
Size Range | 6 - 14 |
Colour | Tan |
Fastening | Button and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
£38.00
Fit | Wide leg |
---|---|
Length | Full |
Stretch Material | No |
Size Range | 4 - 14 |
Colour | Grey |
Fastening | Hook and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
£120.00
Fit | Wide leg |
---|---|
Length | Full |
Stretch Material | No |
Size Range | 10 - 14 |
Colour | Pink or cream |
Fastening | Button and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
£25.00
Fit | Tapered |
---|---|
Length | Full |
Stretch Material | 2% elastane |
Size Range | 4 - 24 |
Colour | Navy stripe |
Fastening | Button and zip |
Pockets | Yes |
Written and researched by Emma Cramp
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