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.

Hunting for the best loafers to wear with work outfits?

We've talked about flats for work a lot, including investment ballet flats, the best foldable flats, sophisticated strappy flats, nude flats, and interview flats — but we haven't talked about loafers in way too long!

What are your favorite loafers to wear with work outfits? Do you see yourself being an all flats, all the time kind of woman going forward, or do you still wear heels occasionally?

{related: check out our Guide to Comfortable Heels!}

The Best Loafers for Work Outfits

The Best Loafer Overall: Sam Edelman

Sam Edelman shoes are often reader favorites — they have crazy cushioning inside, they're affordable, and they're generally on trend. These loafers are no different — they're $150-$170 new but you can often find them for under $100, come in a bunch of colors and patterns.

(Other Sam Edelman classics readers have loved over the years: this pump and this ballet flat.)

The Best Comfort Loafer: Vionic

Another reader favorite, especially for comfort shoes? Vionic. At $135, these shoes are affordable but stylish. The insole is cushioned, with arch support — but is also removable if you have your own favorite insole. You can find them at Zappos and Nordstrom.

More options for comfort: Dr. Scholl's, Rothy's, Birdies (and, honestly, the Sam Edelmans!).

The Best Classic Loafer: Sperry

If you're looking for a super classic option, Sperry has been mentioned a number of times by the readers. They're affordable (right around $100), really highly rated for comfort, and they even have a traditional penny keeper strap.

Another classic option: G.H. Bass loafers.

The Best Feminine Loafer: Tory Burch

We've featured these sleek Tory Burch loafers a lot in the past year or two — they come in a bunch of colors and are a great mix of elegant and preppy. You can currently find them in more than 15 colors at Nordstrom, with a bunch of colors on sale.

They're $298-$348 new, but you may find them under $200 if you're lucky.

The Best Lug Sole Loafer: Madewell

If you're looking for a '90s-inspired lug soled loafer, Madewell has one of the best options — it's luggy without being platformy, if that makes sense. The shoes are made with “LITE” leather — Low Impact to the Environment leather that uses less energy and water than the standard tanning process.

You can get the shoes at Zappos or Madewell.

The Best Splurge Loafer: Ferragamo

Ferragamo shoes are always reader favorites for comfort — one of those IYKYK brands, especially at this price point. They come in lug soles, drivers, and the pictured classic loafers, which are $895.

Another good option for a splurge: Gucci's horsebit loafers. (AGL loafers are another worthy splurge, but for about half the price.)

The Best Foldable, Washable Loafer: Rothy's

Rothy's has a number of different types of loafers — drivers, moccasins, lounge loafers, and the almond-toed loafers we've pictured here.

Most of them come in 10+ colors, sizes 5-13, and are washable, lightweight, and foldable.

Similar options include Birdies, Skechers, and Vivaia.

Other Comfortable Flats for Work We Love

Classic Flats for Work

Some of our favorite comfortable flats for work as of 2024 include M.M.LaFleur, AGL, and French Sole. On the more affordable side, check out Rothy's, Sam Edelman, and Rockport. We've also rounded up the best loafers for work, and our favorite sneakers for work outfits!

Stylish Strappy Flats

Stylish strappy flats can be hard to find! As of 2024, these are some of our favorites — also, in general, check J.Crew and Valentino (on the pricier side, obviously). Nordstrom also has a surprisingly large selection!

Investment Flats to Splurge On

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

The Best Washable Flats

There are a ton of machine washable flats these days, and we just rounded up some great options at CorporetteMoms! Whether you need or want these because you're a parent, a pet owner, or a medical worker — or just someone who tends to hate shoes that aren't pristine — there are a ton of affordable and polished styles of washable flats to choose from.

Some of our favorites are these:

The Best Foldable Flats

These can be amazing if you're a) traveling for work and want something super lightweight that won't drag down your bag, or b) you're adjusting to heels or new shoes and just aren't sure how long you're going to last in them. (I've sometimes brought these along on date nights with my husband if I'm really out of practice with heels!)

Readers, do tell: What do you think are the best comfortable flats for work? 

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Best Loafers for Work Outfits appeared first on Corporette.com.

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.

One of the big trends of the past two years or so has been the rise of work-appropriate bodysuits, so we thought we'd round up the best bodysuits for work outfits!

For my $.02, if you're a fan of bodysuits, there are a ton of great ways to wear them to work. They can be a really easy, sleek, polished look, especially when paired with wide trousers, flared skirts, and more.

{related: how to keep shirts neatly tucked}

When Can You Wear Bodysuits with Work Outfits?

A few caveats about wearing bodysuits with work outfits (i.e., stuff no one else will tell you to consider):

• Crazy cleavage is never appropriate for work — some of the more plungey looks may require a camisole or demi-camisole.
• Beware of your underwear — If your lacy bra is showing through, you may want to choose a T-shirt bra instead. Similarly, if avoiding VPL is important to you, definitely test out bodysuits before you wear them with work outfits.
• Yes, please wear your regular thongs/panties/undies with them — if you go commando I suspect most garments will not last as long.

For everyone saying, are you KIDDING, there is no way I'm wearing a bodysuit to work, I’ve shared my theory before: Denim styles affect workwear styles because you end up buying new tops for new denim shapes, and in turn you end up wanting to wear those newer tops to work.

As looser, more voluminous bottoms come more and more into fashion, tighter tops like bodysuits are EVERYWHERE. (So are cropped tops, but here's why you probably shouldn't wear a crop top to work.)

Readers, what are your thoughts on bodysuits? What do you think are the best bodysuits for work outfits?

Our Latest Favorite Classic Bodysuits for Work Outfits

If you want a sleek, polished look, don't miss out on the classic bodysuits for work outfits. Some of our 2024 favorites include Everlane, MangoPop, Paige, Commando, SKIMS, Madewell, and Wolford. You can also try these unusual suspenders to keep shirts tucked neatly!

Sad trombone for the brand Tuxe, which apparently went out of business.

The Best Bodysuits for Work in 2024

Some of our favorite bodysuits for work outfits include these options…

The Everlane bodysuit pictured above is a nice, basic crew neck for $35 — compare that to fancier versions from Wolford for $110-$220.

More spots to look for basic bodysuit T-shirts, and long-sleeved tops for layering with office looks: SKIMS, Madewell, Naked Wardrobe, Gap, Free People, Commando, Express, White House Black Market, and Yummie.

Hunting for simple bodysuits in plus sizes? Check Girlfriend Collective (up to 6X), Good American (5X), SKIMS, and Madewell, and Venus

The Best Square-Necked Bodysuit: Soma

I'm excited to see so many square-neck dressy work t-shirts right now — in my opinion a square neck is hard to find and looks especially sleek as a layering option under suits and more.

I like this square-necked bodysuit from Soma, but Amazon seller MangoPop also has one that looks great, as does Everlane.

The Best Blousy Bodysuit for Work: Favorite Daughter

Favorite Daughter has a number of silky tops that look like blouses but are actually bodysuits — and they're really highly rated. I particularly like the larger cuffs. The pictured “Take Me Seriously” bodysuit is $198.

Looking for budget-friendly options to try the trend? Try Express, Alfani, Eloquii, Donna Karan, Amazon, and Gap.

The Best Crisp, Collared Blouse Bodysuit for Work: Commando

WHOA. Collared blouse bodysuits are back, ladies.

These were all the rage a thousand years ago (Victoria's Secret made them!) and then they disappeared for a while.

Some great options in 2024 include Commando and Spanx, but Zappos has a good amount. The exact one we've pictured is $228, at Nordstrom.

(This bodysuit at Amazon has the look of a popover blouse, if you're on the hunt, and Venus has a ton of really affordable options — and they come in plus sizes! Wolford, Paige, Good American, and Free People has also made them in the past, as have Alfani and Eloquii.)

Another option if you only want a collar peeking out beneath a sweater: go for a fake collar, aka a dickie.

Hunting for great fake collars for layered work outfits? As of Jan. 2024, Amazon has a zillion options for fake shirt collars as well as faux turtlenecks; also check out Etsy sellers Putney Home Design, bloominglace as well as others. On the fancy side of things, it's hard to beat Lele Sadoughi's faux collars. (Amazon also has a number of twofer sweaters, with that layered look built in!)

(Of course, if you're looking for a dickey to layer with a blazer, Veronica Beard makes the blazers and the dickeys — Quince also has zippered inserts for blazers.

The Best Turtleneck Bodysuit for Work Outfits: Madewell

Is there anything more classic than a sleek turtleneck? These are a nice variation on the more basic T-shirt styles that look great at work, particularly with some of the wider trousers that are coming back in.

You can find them at Madewell (the pictured one is a bestseller, XXS-3X) as well as from Everlane, Commando, Spanx, and Yummie and Wolford. (This Wolford one in particular is a bestseller.)

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Hunt: The Best Bodysuits for Work Outfits appeared first on Corporette.com.

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.

Here's a timely question, readers: Which are the best sneakers for work outfits? When are “sneakers for work” appropriate in your offices? Do you think there's a generational divide here?

Here at Corporette, we've always taken the position that sneakers are fine — for your commute. I certainly wore my Chucks with suits on a lot of commutes, and kind of thought it was a cute look… again, for my commute. But retailers have been showing sneakers with outfits for years (some of the product photos we've featured are pictured below), so I thought it was prime time for a discussion.

Readers even recently had a threadjack pondering this issue (with several saying sneakers were never appropriate for work outfits). I've included some of the choices from Team Sneakers for Work below.

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

Table of Contents:

• The Best Sneakers to Wear with Work Outfits in 2024
• The Best Overall Sneakers for Work Outfits: Cole Haan (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Affordable Sneakers for Work: Cariuma (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Classic Sneakers for Work: Superga (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Athletic Sneakers for Work: J.Crew (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Comfort Sneakers for the Office: Vionic (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Sneakers for Lousy Weather On Your Commute: AllBirds (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Pricey Sneaker for Work ($$$): Tory Burch (read our thoughts / buy)
• The Best Fancy Sneaker for Work ($$$$): Loewe (read our thoughts / buy)
• What to Look For in Sneakers to Wear with Work Outfits
• How to Keep Your Sneakers Looking Clean
• Sneakers For Your Commute
• Weekend Sneakers

The Best Sneakers to Wear to Work in 2024

Without further ado, here are our favorite sneakers to wear to work in 2024!

Best Overall Sneakers for Work Outfits

Cole Haan Grand Pro Topspin

I think this sneaker meets all of the qualifications we're looking for in an office-appropriate sneaker — in particular, the contrasting details such as the beige leather strip around the sole and the lighter beige details on the tongue and back of the shoe are great standouts.

The other HUGE pro here is that Cole Haan is an established, safe brand that is known for making office-appropriate shoes for both men and women — which means that your non-fashion-y boss will almost certainly have seen the shoes if they've been in a store recently.

Another great option here: Cole Haan's oxford sneakers, available in a wide range of colors for both women and men, are $170 at spots like Zappos.

Best Affordable Sneakers for Work

Cariuma OC Low

$79 at Cariuma

Cariumas are consciously made in ethical factories, using natural premium materials, with carbon neutral shipping — and more. The look to old-school sneakers isn't by accident — they've branded themselves as “old-school looks; new school ethics.” Accordingly, the rubber used is collected through an ethical tapping, the vegan insole is made from cork, and the cotton is all organic.

The shoes are $79, available in sizes 5-13 in canvas, suede, leather, and a TON of colors.

Looking for something even MORE affordable? Check out the old-school classics such as Converse, Superga, Keds, or more.

The Best Classic Sneakers for Work

Superga Cotu

$69 at Zappos

$69 at Nordstrom

Like a lot of the “classic” sneakers, the Superga has been around for a loooong time. According to the Nordstrom product page:

“founder Walter Martiny designed the first Superga sneaker in Torino, Italy, in 1911. But it wasn't until 1925 that he expanded his collection to include vulcanized-rubber soles, and in doing so created the now-iconic 2750 tennis shoe. The brand's classic minimalist styles and new hits—beloved by Italians for weekends and getaways — now count fans all around the world.”

For some reason, I always associate Superga with Extremely Fashionable People (perhaps because I've always been a Converse girl myself). Any of the classics can work, though, especially if they're part of your personality and you're comfortable with them.

The Best Athletic Sneakers for Work

J.Crew Colorblock Trainers

$89-$118 at J.Crew

Know your office very well before you try to wear an athletic-looking sneaker to work as part of your outfit. A lot of older people in the workforce will strongly associate this with movies like Working Girl, where the heroine commuted from Staten Island into the city wearing white sneakers with black hose.

THAT SAID, I'm seeing J.Crew colorblock trainers everywhere (particularly this beige-on-beige one pictured), so they deserve a mention.

There are a TON of different options in terms of colorways — for the office I'd keep it relatively neutral. (These particular shoes are 50% off full price at the moment, so if you're interested, now is the time!)

The Best Comfort Sneakers for the Office

Vionic Zinah

$119 at Amazon

There are, of course, a ton of options for the most comfortable sneaker. VIONIC has built-in arch support, as well as a podiatrist-designed footbed.

Here's how the company describes their comfort system:

“The innovative biomechanics of THREE-ZONE COMFORT deliver enhanced stability with a deep heel cup, superior forefoot cushioning, and ultimate arch support midsole. These essential contact points hug your foot's natural curves in all of our casual, dress, active, and slipper styles.”

If you have foot issues, this is definitely one of the top brands to check out. They're available in whole sizes 5-11 for $120.

Other great comfort options: Vionic makes insoles, so you can add those to any shoe of your choosing. AllBirds (below) also get rave reviews for comfort, and readers have also sung the praises of Kizik shoes.

The Best Sneakers for Lousy Weather On Your Commute

AllBirds Mizzle Shoes

$125-$165 at AllBirds

Readers have noted that they really love their Allbirds to wear with work outfits, singing the praises of the extreme comfort of the brand. Their water-repellent shoes are renowned for being great in bad weather, so they're getting our pick for the best sneakers for lousy weather on your commute.

As the company notes, they've combined “cozy ZQ Merino wool and a bio-based water repellent shield [so that] our rain-ready sneaker keeps your feet predictably dry in unpredictable weather.” Nice.

They're available in whole sizes 5-11, in both classic and limited edition colors, for $125-$165 (depending on the style of shoe).

Rothy's has similar styles that are washable.

The Best Pricey Sneaker for Work ($$$)

Tory Burch Ladybug

$288 at Zappos

$288 at Tory Burch

There are a lot of pricey middle options! Tory Burch has some of my favorites, though — not only are they at the more affordable end of this range (roughly $250-$500), but they're simple yet elevated.

The Ladybug sneaker comes in a bunch of different colorways, but they're all predominantly white sneakers.

Reviewers call the sneakers “quite comfortable” and note that they “look super cute with dresses!”

They're available in half-sizes 5-11 for $288.

Another nice option from Tory Burch: the slightly more athletic-looking Hank sneakers. Other option in this middle price range from other brands include P448, Common Project, Rag & Bone, and Acne Studios.

The Best Fancy Sneaker for Work ($$$$)

Loewe Flow Runner Sneakers

$790 at Bergdorf Goodman

$690-$790 at Saks

There are a lot of options for Very Fancy sneakers if you're looking to spend a lot of money — Golden Goose, Gucci, Chloé, Maison Margiela, and more. For my $.02, my vote goes to the Loewe Flow sneakers.

Yes, they're much more athletic-looking than a lot of the other sneakers we've featured… but the distinctive cursive L, the multicolored sole, the colorblocking, the leather and rubber details — all of this adds up to a *chef's kiss* beautiful sneaker.

What to Look For in Sneakers to Wear with Work Outfits

Here are the things I think you should look for in work sneakers:

• They don't look like they were run over in the street.
• They're not super chunky/athletic.
• Look for a design that is just a BIT more than your basic white sneaker — interesting stitching, a contrasting detail

If you need outfit inspiration advice, we highly recommend watching the movie I Care A Lot (currently streaming on Netflix) — lots of colorful suits worn with sneakers.

As always, the most important part of knowing which sneaker to wear to work is knowing your office. Our advice here is the same as it always is: Look to the mid-levels above you for fashion inspiration, not the CEO, partners, or other C-suite people — they've earned the right to wear whatever they want.

For example, in a March 2023 conversation, some readers noted that Golden Gooses were great for their office, but others noted that a “distressed” shoe, no matter how expensive, just wasn't appropriate for their offices.

Another important thing to note: When you wear sneakers to work may be highly dependent on what kind of day you're having, who you're meeting with, and more. You may want to keep a pair of neutral flats or heels in your office just in case — here are some of our latest roundups of comfortable work heels, as well as the most comfortable flats for work.

(Another note: If your bosses are “non-fashion people” and tend to be a bit curmudgeonly, tread really carefully before wearing sneakers to work.)

How to Keep Your Sneakers Looking Clean

Whatever sneakers you're wearing, we love this reader trick: Magic Erasers work great on cleaning dingier white soles and sometimes white leather also.

A lot of brands are also making washable sneakers (notably, Rothy's and Allbirds) — and you can get a specialized bag for your washing machine so they don't knock around.

{related: check out our roundups of foldable flats and washable flats!}

Sneakers For Your Commute

For my $.02, a lot of the newer (expensive!) sneakers look like the kind of thing I kept in my gym locker in middle school — they were so fugly they could stay at school because I'd never want to wear them elsewhere. But obviously, tastes and styles change, and after a bit of adjustment (and seeing it enough places), those of us on the older side adapt. This is partly why I've always suggested being really wary of a new trend or aesthetic that wasn't popular five years ago — but at the rate that fashion moves these days, that may be difficult (and, I suppose, another vote for classic style for work outfits because you're more likely to get more wear out of them).

Commuting Shoes: Sneaker Flats That Will Blend in With Trousers

The main claim to fame for these kinds of sneaker flats is that if you're working in a really conservative office and want to wear comfortable shoes for your commute, but not have a coworker look too closely and think, “Hey, there she is in her sneakers again,” these will blend in. (We've even had conversations in the past about whether commuting shoes should be swapped in the lobby or even outside your office building!)

I will freely admit that these are not chosen because they're “cute” — many are pretty hideous, in my opinion. But they blend with work clothes and are comfortable, and lightweight enough to carry in your bag if you want to.

Reader favorites that have been called out over the years:

Note that if your trousers are hemmed to wear with heels, these shoes might not be the best because your hems might drag on the ground — you could either look for platform sneakers, or go for commuting shoes like comfort brands with chunky heels such as FLY London, Dansko, Eileen Fisher, and Børn.

Sneaker Sneakers for Weekends: The Classics

We've actually had a conversation about what your weekend sneakers say about you — some of the “classic” sneakers we discussed are below…

Pictured below (by color), Row 1: black / gray / gray / white; Row 2: white / white / green / black

What do you think, readers: Are you on Team Sneakers for Work, or on Team Please Wear Shoes? Where would you draw the line for which sneakers are acceptable for work and which aren't? (For example, certain colors like white or black, only “well taken care of sneakers,” sneakers with a specific sole color (e.g., the way that historically, heels with a cork sole aren't appropriate for work?)

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

Stock photos via Pexels / Godisable Jacob.

The post Which Are the Best Sneakers for Work Outfits? appeared first on Corporette.com.

For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

Look at me, not picking the crazy bright color for once. (This suit also comes in a hot pink, and there's a blazer in a very bright blue/purple.)

But it's an interesting/fun suit even in the black — it's unusual to see a corduroy suit for women, and the proportions (double-breasted and wide-leg) are very modern.

The blazer is $225, and the pants are $125; it's available in sizes 2-14.

Hunting for something similar in plus sizes? There are a TON of corduroy suits out right now (I honestly can't remember ever seeing this many!) — but only a few still in stock in plus sizes. Here's a peach one from Eloquii and a light blue one from ASOS Curve. Eloquii also has a double-breasted blazer in red with flared trousers.

I'll round up some of the other corduroy suits out there in the widget below the disclosure…

Psst: Aaaah! Found the matching blue pants (for the COS corduroy suit) but can't figure out how to link to the set.

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

The post Suit of the Week: COS appeared first on Corporette.com.

Reader A has a question about what pants she should buy right now — so let's discuss. What pants trends are you seeing? Where do you think pants trends are heading for the next few years? Which of the trendy dress pants for women are you buying right now? Here's her question:

Help! Work pant styles seem to be changing (wide leg! trouser style! they're back!) and I'm about to invest in a few new pairs due to weight changes but can't decide whether to replace them with the slim cuts that were stylish in the last few years or something else. Where are the trends going? Would love a post

I have long had a theory that workwear is influenced by denim trends, in large part because you get used to the volume differential. Skinny jeans and tunics leads to tighter ankle pants and longer, looser blouses and sweaters. Bootcut, flare, and wide-leg jeans and tighter tees (baby tees in the 90s, bodysuits now) are going to lead to more fitted tops at the office. A good example: the waist-length or cropped cardigans we're seeing (versus the longer cardigan styles we've seen the past few years).

So what's in style in denim right now? The big thing that I keep reading is going away is skinny jeans. But I'm still seeing a ton of them in the stores — and as we head into holidays I'm even seeing seasonal skinny jeans in leather, velvet, sequins, and more. So I think skinny jeans are still in — I wouldn't invest major amounts of money in them, but if you have an outfit you like I still think you can wear it.

At the same time, though, wide leg, loose jeans are very in — and bootcuts — and crops — and flared bootcut crops — and slits. So… I think it's fair to say that anything is still in.

(Add to this, of course, that the street does not look like the runway — people tend to keep wearing things after they've gone out of style, only adding one or two new pieces at a time.)

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

How to Decide What Pants to Buy When Trends Are All Over the Map

So where does that leave you for workwear, particularly pants? If you're buying a few new pieces to bridge the gap in your weight difference (whether you're losing weight and just passing through the size, or have gained weight temporarily and intend to lose it), here is what I would consider buying for work pants right now.

What is your commute like? Full length pants can stink in slush and rain — to be honest, I've always worn skirts or dresses instead of trying to deal with full length pants in the rain. If you're trudging through rain, slush and snow on a regular basis for your commute, you may want to reconsider buying some of the trendier, longer styles out right now.

How varied are your shoe heights? Assuming your previous shoes still fit, take a look at how varied the heel heights are. Do you wear flats one day and 4″ heels the next? Do you commute in flats and change into higher heels at the office? Again, with full length pants, getting the hemming just right can be a pain — and you generally have to pick a specific shoe while you're getting it hemmed. That can be limiting, which may or may not work with your existing shoe wardrobe.

What tops do you intend to pair with the pants? If all of your workwear tops are going to look best with ankle pants because that's what you've always worn… I might just get another pair or two of ankle pants and call it a day. On the flip side, if you've been buying more fitted tops for work and play, you might want to look into some of the wider pants styles.

How trendy do you want to be — and how? I'd say there are a few big trends we're seeing in workwear as well as streetwear.

1) Monochromatic dressing with huge attention to texture

2) dopamine dressing with bright colors to influence your moods

Trendy Dress Pants for Women: Texture Dressing

So again – consider the rest of your wardrobe. If you're going to shoot for the first trend, do you need your pants to bring texture — or can they be matte? If you need texture you're going to be limited to what's available in velvet, corduroy, and tweed in fall. I partly feel like this is why faux leather styles are so popular right now — but know your office and yourself before you buy them.

Trendy Dress Pants for Women: Dopamine Dressing

On the flip side, if you want to try some dopamine dressing, this might be a good place to double down on the trends — get a bright pair of wide-legged pants to hit both trends.

A few good options for colorful pants for dopamine dressing:

Hunting for colorful pants for work? They're very popular everywhere for 2024, but note that in general, brands like Rekucci, Krazy Larry, Banana Republic, Express, J.Crew, and Boden have a ton of options.

Hunting for more wide-leg pants to wear to work? We just rounded some up, and general favorites include pleated pairs like Favorite Daughter, Everlane*, Reformation*, and Abercrombie*, with flat-front pairs from Good American,* M.M.LaFleur, and Ann Taylor. (* = plus sizes; see the post for notes on petites and talls). We've also shared our thoughts on what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants! Our latest favorite wide-leg pants include these (as of 2024):

Some of Our General Favorite Work Pants

Historically, these have been our favorite dress pants for women… these are still in stores right now, and have been in stores for a long time — odds are many women you work with will have these pants, so you'll fit in.

As of 2024, we think the best work pants for women include longtime favorites such as Nic & Zoe, Theory, NYDJ, J.Crew, and M.M.LaFleur — as well as trendy brands like Spanx, Favorite Daughter, and Everlane. For budget-friendly styles, check Quince, Old Navy, and Amazon seller Tapata.

The Best Pants for Curvy Professionals

Hunting for work pants if you're curvy? As of 2024, you can find them at Ann Taylor (regular and petite sizes 00-18), Banana Republic Factory (00-20, 00P-14P, 00T-20T), Loft (regular, petite, and tall sizes 00-18), and White House Black Market (00-18, regular, short, and long). Talbots also offers some options in sizes regular, petite, plus, and plus-size petites, as does Lane Bryant. (Banana Republic seems to have temporarily stopped making them, unfortunately.)

Hunting for the best plus-size pants for work? As of 2024, favorites include Eloquii, Nic & Zoe, NYDJ, Universal Standard, Eileen Fisher, Maree Pour Toi, Liverpool, J.Crew, and Lafayette 148 New York.

Some Comfortable Pull-On Pants for the Office

If comfort is a high priority for you, these are some of the reader favorites for comfortable pull-on pants…

There are a bunch of great pull-on pants for the office in 2024. Some of our longstanding favorites include those from Athleta*, Everlane, Eileen Fisher*, Betabrand*, and Uniqlo. If you're looking for something a bit more polished but still ultra comfy, check out Nic & Zoe* or NYDJ*. (Brands with plus sizes are marked with asterisks.)

Some particular styles we love are below:

Great Work Pants in Specific Shapes

Our Latest Favorite Bootcut Dress Pants

There are a bunch of great bootcut dress pants. Some of our favorites include Good American, Theory, Spanx, and Boss, as well as the very affordable Tapata brand (with tall, petite, and regular lengths); Alexander McQueen also has a bunch right now. On the more casual side, check out KUT from the Kloth cords, Wit & Wisdom jeans, and Betabrand “dress yoga pants.”

The Classic Ankle Pants for Work

Ankle pants may not be super trendy at the moment, but they can still be a great look, particularly if you like to switch up your shoe heights a lot. As of 2024, longstanding favorites include pants from Eileen Fisher*, J.Crew*, and Theory. For plus sizes check Eloquii as well as the options with asterisks — and on the more casual side, check out Old Navy*, Athleta*, and Everlane*.

Simply Stylish: Straight Pants for Work Outfits

Straight pants can be a bit tricky to get the hem correct, and they have a slight potential to be frumpy. That said, they are a classic because they tend to be immune from trends. Some great options in 2024 include reader-favorites Nic & Zoe pants, NYDJ, J.Crew, these “perfect” pants from Spanx, and the very affordable Amazon seller Tapata (with petite, regular, and tall sizes).

Wide Leg Pants to Wear to Work

Hunting for more wide-leg pants to wear to work? We just rounded some up, and general favorites include pleated pairs like Favorite Daughter, Everlane*, Reformation*, and Abercrombie*, with flat-front pairs from Good American,* M.M.LaFleur, and Ann Taylor. (* = plus sizes; see the post for notes on petites and talls). We've also shared our thoughts on what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants! Our latest favorite wide-leg pants include these (as of 2024):

Flared Pants for Work Outfits

Stay tuned for our latest favorite office-appropriate flared pants for women! In general in 2024, check out Spanx, Hugo Boss, Theory, Amazon seller Rekucci, Anthropologie's Maeve line, and Eloquii.

My $.02 on Pants Trends

Here's my best advice: regardless of the trends, I'd go for established shapes that have been around for a long time. Ankle pants? Check. Straight pants? Check. Bootcut or flared pants? Check. Wide leg pants? Check. High rise, regular rise, check, check.

The trends I would avoid are the newer ones – front slits in your pants, side slits in your pants, cropped wide leg styles, sailor-style pants, puddle pants, and so forth.

Readers, what are your thoughts? Which of the trendy dress pants for women are you buying right now? If you NEEDED to buy new pants for work right now, what would you buy?

Stock photo via Stencil.

The post What Dress Pants to Buy When Trends Are All Over the Map appeared first on Corporette.com.

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.

Elizabeth posted last week about wide leg trousers from Express, and there are SO MANY out right now that I thought we'd do a mini Hunt for the best wide-leg pants to wear to work right now. Readers, how do you feel about the trend? What are the best 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?

For my $.02, I still feel like the proper hemming for full-length, wide-leg pants should be with a slight break on the vamp of your shoes, without pooling or dragging in the back. (I really have to redo the graphics on this post about hem lengths, but I generally still agree with my older advice.)

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

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 (source)? 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.

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.

Readers, what are your thoughts? Have you bought any great wide-leg pants for work or play lately? How have you hemmed them, and what are you wearing them with?

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

Pictured at top: beige / pink / beige

The Best Wide Leg Pants to Wear to Work

Anthropologie / Maeve

Readers have been singing the praises of these pants from Anthropologie…

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 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 some 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 standard sizes 00-16, petite sizes 00-16, tall sizes 2-16, and plus sizes 16W-26W.

Spanx

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, and plus sizes.

Anine Bing

Hat tip to Elizabeth for this find… as she noted:

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect pair of black trousers, Anine Bing has you covered. These pants are made from a viscose-wool blend with a twill texture and natural drape. They also have functional belt loops, which feels like it shouldn’t be a surprise, but it really is.

The pants are $350 at Anine Bing and come in sizes 30-42 (equivalent to 0–12). If you’ve already found your perfect black pants, these also come in nine other colors and fabrics.

Amazon / Tronjori

I bought these $35 Amazon pants after seeing them on some TikTok influencer, and liking that they had them in shorter lengths. The pros: they do fit me, and the hems aren't dragging at all — and the fabric, while cheap, is drapey and fluid. The cons: they are very wide. Also in this very affordable price range: Target (regular and plus sizes), Banana Republic Factory ($45+).

Abercrombie & Fitch

This is something else I've seen on TikTok, especially with mid-size bloggers: Abercrombie pants for the win, apparently! Every time I've gone to the website they have extremely limited sizes left, but are still available, so I suspect they're just being restocked in uneven ways. (You may have better luck at your local store.)

The pants are $90 at Abercrombie in sizes XXS-XXL in long, regular, and short sizes. Also in this price range: 1.State, NYDJ, Gap, and Express.

Everlane

These Everlane pants look fabulous for $118. They come in 30″ and 32″ lengths, sizes 0-16, and 4 colors. For a similar casual/drapey feel around this price point, look to Madewell (petite, regular, tall sizes 0-16), and Norma Kamali (highly rated, lots of reviewers note they're great travel pants). These Anthro pants are $140 and come in regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes.

Reformation

Another plus-size friendly brand with great wide-leg pants to wear to work: Reformation, available in TONS of colors in sizes 0-12 and in less colors in sizes 14-24. You can also find a few colors at Nordstrom and other retailers. They're $178.

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 short lengths). They're available in sizes 0-18. Also in this price range: MMLF (plain front, $295), Reiss (more flared pants than wide, $245+).

Readers, what are the best wide-leg pants to wear to work in 2022? 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).

The post The Hunt: The Best Wide Leg Pants to Wear to Work appeared first on Corporette.com.