Since I’ve traded my college hoodies and low-rise jeans for work attire, I have been searching for the perfect pair of black pants that I can wear to my corporate office (where no one is wearing a suit, but there are no T-shirts or ripped jeans either). I was less interested in a typical trouser and more so in a new guard of pants that combine the best parts of athleisure — elastic or drawstring waists, flowier silhouettes, and ease of movement — with the dressiness that comes with a black pant.
My ideal pair has clean lines, a beautiful drape, and no visible elastic. In general, I prefer a low-to-mid rise and wide leg in all of my pants, and so I was looking for the same here. I rarely visit the dry cleaner, so I wanted something machine (or hand) washable. Comfort is the final factor. I care about looking put-together, but sometimes I don’t want to feel the texture or the weight of my clothes on my body. I want clothes that let me run or stretch or do the splits as I please. In my dream scenario, I could wear these pants to the office, walk a mile to dinner, and go dancing with my friends.
So, I set out on the surprisingly difficult task of hunting for elegant work pants that are as easy to live and move in as my favorite pair of sweats, without veering into pajama-esque territory. Everything was fair game — athleisure, denim, loungewear — as long as it could masquerade as, or replace, a classic trouser.
