13 Pairs of Pants That Feel Like Leggings (but Look Way More Polished)

Name: Everlane Dream Pant
Brand: Everlane
Price: 98 USD

No zipper, no problem

By Dana Dickey

•

Updated Jan 6, 2026

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

pants like leggings uni 2026 editors picks

Loft/Everlane/Ann Taylor/lululemon

I'm all about comfort when it comes to what I'm going to wear for the day, from appointments around town to sitting at my desk for long stretches. And I want to wear something that's as comfortable as sweatpants, but isn't going to make me look unprofessional or sloppy.

Pants like leggings are the answer—something with a stretch waist and a polished, non-athleisure vibe. They need to look cute with my collection of comfortable loafers or comfortable heels. After all, there are plenty of days when I could really go for the ease of joggers or the most comfortable jeans, but I want to elevate my style (and ahem, butt appearance) a little more than my most casual clothes do.

I know I'm not the only one, which is why I'm sharing my rundown of the best figure-flattering pants to buy now that are also nap-friendly—including lululemon's Daydrift Trousers ($148), Everlane's Slim Trouser ($128) and Quince's Ultra-Stretch Ponte Bootcut Pant ($40).

The Best Pants Like Leggings at a Glance

Best for Tall Girls

lululemon Daydrift Trousers

$148 at lululemon

Best Flare Leg

Spanx The Perfect Pant

$158 at Spanx

Best Plus Size Design

Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pant

$99 at Athleta

Best Lightweight

Eileen Fisher System Slim Ankle Pants

$198 at Bloomingdale's

Best Work Pants

Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Bootcut Pant

Buy It ($40)

How I Chose the Best Pants That Feel Like Leggings

I chose our edit of pants like leggings based on waistband, fabric, figure-flattering fit, size range and reviews. Here's more about my criteria:

Waistband: Want to fuss with zippers, button flies or hook closures? Then this list isn't for you, since I edited out any pants with such annoying details.
Fabric: Why do we love leggings? Their stretch fabric is always comfortable, moves with you and can even be made into wide-legged styles. So every pair of pants on this list has stretch fabric.
Figure-flattering Fit: Sure, one woman thinks ankle-length crop skinnies are heaven while another person wants a gentle straight-leg pant that's full-length. And then there are petite, tall and plus-size shoppers with particular needs. I took pains to represent everyone on this list.
Size Range: Not only do I seek out styles that make a wide range of styles, I only included pairs that had a wide range of sizes in stock at the time of publication. Because no one wants to learn about the pants of their dreams only to find out there's a six-month waiting list.
Reviews: I polled PureWow staffers and pored over online reviews to sniff out the less-than-optimum fabrication, irregular sizing, weird fit and other retail bummers, and weeded those babies out first.

lululemon

Best for Tall Girls

1. lululemon Daydrift Trousers

What I Like

barrel leg styling
warm fabric
pockets

What I Don't Like

runs a bit large

lululemon

PureWow Vice President of Editorial Candace Davison gives lululemon's Daydrift Trousers the tall-girl stamp of approval. "I love the high waist and roomy leg, and how there's a nice heft to the fabric, so it doesn't wrinkle easily and holds its shape well. They're so comfy I've fallen asleep wearing them." These pants are constructed like athletic wear (think moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, breathable), but also have a faux fly and functional belt loops to make them feel more office-appropriate.

Fast Facts

Material: 69 percent nylon, 31 percent lycra elastane
Size Range: XXXS to XL with 29.5'', 31.5'' and 35 inseams
Cut: wide leg

$148 at lululemon

Everlane

Best Office Shapewear

2. Everlane Slim Trouser

What We Like

shaping without restricting
7/8 length
darts and pintucks elevate cut

What We Don't Like

limited colors

Everlane

Perhaps you're like PureWow SEO and Audience Development Editor Marissa Wu and don't want your pants to be too stretchy. "I find that Everlane's slim trousers are a good in-between," she says. "There's support and shape, but the material isn't so stiff it's squeezing you half to death. In fact, the elastane content gives it a fair amount of stretch. The straight cut has pintucks and darts that lend it a polished, office-appropriate air while still being comfortable enough to sit in. That's a win all around for me." It seems buyers agree, with one noting, "I bought these pants for a long haul flight, and they are so lovely I've been wearing them to the office! They have the vibe of casual business wear, but the comfort of [sweatpants]."

Fast Facts

Material: 66 percent viscose, 30 percent recycled nylon, 4 percent elastane
Size Range: US 00 to 16
Cut: slim

$128 at everlane

Spanx

Best Flare Leg

3. Spanx The Perfect Pant

What I Like

machine-washable
core-shaping design

What I Don't Like

requires line drying

Spanx

"I have wide hips and I love the way the waistband really smooths over my hip dips and lifts my butt, giving my shape a very sculpted look," says former PureWow Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak. "The silhouette is so polished and clean-cut, for a put-together, yet sexy look." Thanks to smoothing ponte fabric and Spanx's signature flattering fit, these pull-on pants have a perfectly flat front. And the fabric has a super-comfortable four-way stretch, so you don't have to sacrifice comfort for a professional look. Wearers praise the pants' ability to shape and hold, without being overly restrictive.

Fast Facts

Material: 68 percent rayon, 28 percent nylon, 4 percent elastane, with 80 percent polyester and 20 percent elastane lining
Size Range: XS to 3X, regular, petite and tall
Cut: high-waist flare

$158 at Spanx

$158 at Nordstrom

Athleta

Best Plus Size Design

4. Athleta Brooklyn Ankle Pant

What I Like

woven to let air flow through fabric
six versatile neutral colorwars

What I Don't Like

stretch fabric may not hide lumps and bumps

Athleta

"I love that they come in so many sizes, including tall and petite, and that they look polished and professional but are so lightweight and comfortable," says former PureWow Fashion Editor Abby Hepworth of these best-selling pants. "They are my go-to travel pants, because the front pockets are just the right size and there’s also a zippered pocket in back for stowing important things you don’t want to lose." Made of recycled material, they have the soft feel of an expensive legging, and the wide waistband and gentle drape of the leg fabric make them crisp enough for wearing to the office on Friday or as part of an upgrade-worthy travel look. Quick-drying and UPF 50+, these pants are begging to be worn at a nice resort ASAP.

Fast Facts

Material: recycled polyester/spandex
Size Range: 00 to 26, regular, tall and petite
Cut: mid rise, tapered

$99 at Athleta

Pants like leggings: Eileen Fisher ankle pants

Bloomingdale's

Best Lightweight

5. Eileen Fisher System Slim Ankle Pants

What I Like

flattering back darts
matte fabric finish looks luxe

What I Don't Like

can be too thin for colder weather
14-inch leg opening might be too narrow

Eileen Fisher

These are slinky little pants that can be dressed up or down, and not only are they super comfortable, I've been on trips where I washed them in a hotel sink when I was traveling, then just dried them over the shower rail. Also, I depend on these to layer under dresses all through fall. Eileen Fisher's separates are beloved for their durable construction, high-quality materials and classic ultra-wearable designs—and this pair of pull-on skinny pants is one of the brand's most popular styles, and IMHO, totally worth the investment.

Fast Facts

Material: viscose, nylon, spandex
Size Range: XXS to XL
Cut: skinny

$198 at Bloomingdale's

Quince

Best Work Pants

6. Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Bootcut Pant

What I Like

machine washable
four-way stretch

What I Don't Like

no pockets

Quince

"These pants are very comfortable and look sleek," writes one reviewer. "I love them and will wear them through three seasons. I’m usually an XL but I sized down to a L and they fit better due to the stretch." Available in olive, charcoal, navy and black, these bootcut pants have a pull-on style with flat elasticized waistband and belt loops.

Fast Facts

Material: 67 percent rayon, 28 percent nylon, 5 percent spandex
Size Range: XS to XL, 30-, 32- and 34-inch inseams
Cut: boot cut

Buy It ($40)

Ann Taylor

Top Petite Style

7. Ann Taylor Petite Perfect Wide-Leg Pant

What I Like

regular and petite sizes
high waist
machine washable

What I Don't Like

limited colors
all synthetic fibers

Ann Taylor

Petites, your straight-from-purchase, no-hemming-necessary dreams have been answered with these full-length, wide-leg pants. The camel and stone colorways are perfectly polished, and I especially love the latter, which is not-quite-gray and note-quite-white, but rather something surprising in between. The touch of spanex in the fabric means there's a little give, while still buttoning up nicely without digging into your stomach while you're sitting.

Fast Facts

Material: 73 percent polyester, 24 percent rayon, 3 percent spandex
Size Range: US 00 to 18, petite and regular
Cut: high-rise, wide leg

~~$13~~9; $70 at Ann Taylor

Banana Republic Factory

Best Tapered

8. Banana Republic Factory Hayden Tapered Pant

What I Like

machine wash
high-rise fit

What I Don't Like

ankle length might be too short for some

Banana Republic Factory

"Love the fit, love the waistband. Great traveling pants!" exclaims one reviewer, and I couldn't agree more. The recycled polyester-and-rayon fabric resists wrinkling and tapers through the thigh, so you can look pulled together even as you're jumping up to race to your assigned gate at the other end of the airport. They are loose enough so that they don't show every lump and bump on your thighs, but so well-tailored they don't need a zipper to get into and out of.

Fast Facts

Material: 63 percent recycled polyester, 34 percent rayon, 3 percent elastane
Size Range: 0 to 20, regular, petite and tall
Cut: tapered trouser with faux fly

~~$90;~~ $45 at Banana Republic Factory

Amazon

Best Affordable

9. Amazon Essentials Women's Cropped Wide Leg Pull-On Pants

What I Like

machine washable
not overly tight

What I Don't Like

limited colorways

Amazon Essentials

"These pants feel like soft, comfortable leggings but fit like a flattering pair of dress pants," writes one reviewer. "They feel very soft and comfortable but have a crisp, professional look that I can definitely wear to work." The 29-inch inseam with an 11.5-inch leg opening is suitable for petites to wear as full-length and taller folks to sport as slightly cropped. Available in navy blue and black, these trousers pair nicely with T-shirts and denim jackets as well as profesh button-front blouses.

Fast Facts

Material: 68 percent viscose, 27 percent nylon, 5 percent elastane
Size Range: X-Small to XX-Large
Cut: wide-leg relaxed fit

$20 at Amazon

Nike

Best Heavy-Duty Style

10. Nike Sportswear Everything Woven Pants

What I Like

elastic waist
wide leg cut
loose fit

What I Don't Like

may be too long for petites
some find the wide cut overwhelming

Nike

With a loose fit for the on-trend swish when you walk, these pants have a versatile silhouette that means you can wear them to non-sporting events as well as weekend wear. Lightweight, they have an elastic waist and length that drapes attractively over any footwear, from sneakers to heels. And their super-sturdy fabrication and construction means you can machine wash-and-dry these babies for years without them looking worn.

Fast Facts

Material: 100 percent recycled nylon
Size Range: XS to XXL
Cut: high-waist, straight leg

$85 at Nike

Vuori

Best High Waist

11. Vuori Birch Cargo Pant

What I Like

large streamlined pockets
28-inch inseam

What I Don't Like

white drawcord stands out on darker colors

Vuori

These are an elegant version of ripstop climber pants that are surprisingly flattering, have handy pockets and are practically indestructible. "Very comfortable and slimming," writes one wearer, who recommends pairing them with slip-on sandals and a T-shirt.

Fast Facts

Material: 98 percent cotton, 2 percent elastane
Size Range: XS to XL
Fit: high-waist straight leg

~~$148~~; $103 at Vuori

Loft

Best Wide Leg

12. Loft Palmer Ponte Wide Leg Pants

What I Like

button patch pocketes
machine washable
back welt pockets

What I Don't Like

no plus sizes
no petite sizes

Loft

"Work pant perfection," declares one reviewer. "They fit like an absolute glove. The ponte material is thick and smooth...they feel like sweatpants!" These pants are fitted through the hip and relaxed through the leg, with charming button patch pockets. Plus, the fabric blend is so fine you won't believe it's machine-washable.

Fast Facts

Material: 66 percent rayon, 29 percent nylon, 5 percent spandex
Size Range: US 00 to 18
Cut: wide leg

~~$85~~; $51 at Loft

Everlane

Best Overall

13. Everlane Dream Pant

What I Like

tapered leg
pintuck seam
affordable

What I Don't Like

sweatpant-like fabric can pill

Everlane

I'll take my Everlane Dream Pants off when they pry them off my rigor mortis body clutching my laptop. There, I said it. Why am I so passionate about these guys? I love that the pintuck detail along the flat front of these Everlane babies makes them look presentable, while the double-knit cotton modal fabric is always nap-ready. Win-win. "These are my favorite pants for cooler temp seasons. So comfortable and they have really held up so well," writes one reviewer. "I’ve had them for several months, worn them frequently and they truly still look like new." Available in a handful of colors, the 27.5-inch inseam on my petite bod and the not-too-snug waistband make this a great fit for so many outings where I want to look equally chic and comfortable.

Fast Facts

Material: 58 percent cotton, 38 percent modal, 4 percent elastane
Size Range: XXS to 3XL
Cut: tapered leg

$98 at Everlane

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Call Pants That Feel Like Leggings?

Pants that look like leggings are popularly called stretch pants or pull-up pants. Think of them as the evolutionary missing link between the before-pandemic days (when we good citizens thought nothing of zipping ourselves into suit pants or dress pants with a zip fly and tab closure) and pandemic times, when we maybe opted for sweatpants 24/7 because we weren't leaving the house, wanted to be comfortable full-time and maybe had a chardonnay-enhanced figure we didn't want to examine too closely. No judgement! But now that we're all seeing each other, these casual pants like leggings give us a variably figure-enhancing and dependably easy option to throw on with a nice top.

What Is the Difference Between Ponte Pants and Leggings?

The exact definition of ponte pants is really as flexible as the knit fabric they're named for. In general, ponte pants are thick stretch knit pants that don't have a zipper, button or tab closure to keep them fastened around your waist, but they do have more structure than leggings, such as pintuck details, patch pockets or kickout flare hems. Ponte pants are named for the stretchy knit they are made of, a blend of rayon, nylon and spandex that often has a bit of texture, in contrast to the smoother and usually thinner material used in leggings.

Is It Appropriate to Wear Leggings as Pants?

One Reddit commentor responds to the recurring debate with a look back to the beginning of the athleisure craze: "This cracks me up because to be honest, I was in my early 20s when leggings started becoming a thing. I was ADAMANT that they were not okay to wear in public!" she writes. "Twenty years later, and you'll catch me in nothing but leggings these days." The moral of this story is yes, the acceptance of leggings-as-pants has increased in in the past decade or so, however wearers need to decide on a case-by-case basis if their leggings are going to look too casual for their situation. (For example, if my surgeon shows up in leggings and loafers, I'm a little unsettled.) My recommendation is when in doubt, wear a stretchy pair of pants from our list instead of leggings everywhere except headed to your workout.

Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying? Sign up for our shopping newsletter to uncover our favorite finds.

Dana Dickey

Senior Editor

Writes about fashion, wellness, relationships and travel
Studied journalism at the University of Florida

read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.