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I tried 5 pairs of plus-size pants under $50 from Amazon — here are the ones worth your money (and the ones that aren't)

Should you buy pants from Amazon? I tried a bunch so you don't have to.

Vanessa Nigro
woman posing wearing pants from amazon canada, I tested a bunch of pants from Amazon Canada — these were the best (and worst) ones (Photos via Vanessa Nigro).
I tested a bunch of pants from Amazon Canada — these were the best (and worst) ones (Photos via Vanessa Nigro).

When I was 12, I watched Cameron Crowe’s "Almost Famous," a movie that follows a young journalist who travels with a touring band writing a profile on their triumphant rise to success. It was the first time I was exposed to journalism as a career and I was immediately sold on the busy lifestyle spent backstage, on set and always on the move. No one tells you the realities of journalism: that most days you can find me in the office in front of my computer working on my next story. Because so much of my time is spent in an office, I'm always looking for a stylish pair of pants that are affordable, comfortable and can easily go from office chic to evening wear. Amazon Canada has a really great selection of pants that can go from day to night, ranging in styles, colours and sizes. I'm a size 14/16 and I found lots of options for my daily life. Here’s my honest review of what worked for me and what didn’t.

Feiersi Women's Casual Wide Leg Pants High Waisted Long Trousers Button Down Straight Palazzo Pants with Pockets
Straight Palazzo Pants with Pockets (Photo via Vanessa Nigro).

Starting off strong with a favourite of mine, these wide-leg palazzo pants are exactly what I’m looking for in pants I can wear both to the office and an evening out. I love the fit of these; they hit all the right places and are super comfortable to sit and stand in. I sometimes find that the waistband on these kinds of pants can be a bit too snug or dig in, but these were perfect and felt true to size. The pants are made out of a rayon and polyester blend, but felt closer to a linen blend, which was a nice surprise. They’re super lightweight but still look expensive despite their affordable price tag. The only downside is that they do need a steam before you can wear them, but that won’t stop me from adding these into my rotation.

Elastic High Waisted Straight Leg Business Casual Dressy Trousers Slacks with Pockets, PRETTYGARDEN Women's Summer Work Pants Elastic High Waisted Straight Leg Business Casual Dressy Trousers Slacks with Pockets
Me in the PRETTYGARDEN Women's Summer Work Pants from Amazon (Photo via Vanessa Nigro).

Everyone needs a pair of black trousers that you can rely on in a pinch. These are a great option if you’re looking for something affordable and reliable. These pants are flowy in all the right places, while still hugging your backside, creating a really great silhouette. They’re true to size and come with a stretchy waistband which is handy if you’re between sizes. My only cons with these are that the material isn’t super breathable and the length will be a problem if you’re 5’9" and above. I’m 5’8" and these hit me perfectly at the ankle, so I will be adding these to my closet!

Me in the Qixing Womens Wide Leg Casual Loose with Pockets, Qixing Womens Wide Leg Casual Loose with Pockets Lightweight High Waist Adjustable Pants
Me in the Qixing Women's Wide Leg Pants (Photo via Vanessa Nigro).

These blue and white patterned pants are a bit outside my comfort zone in terms of what I’d usually wear to the office, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like these. They are super lightweight and I love how flowy they are. You can dress them up with a white button down and dress them down with a t-shirt and the print is a nice change from the neutrals I usually wear to the office. My only qualm is that I wish the elastic waistband had a bit more give. It’s not horrible but a bit more give would be appreciated, but given how well these fit and how comfortable they are, I can definitely see myself reaching for them come spring.

Me in the Willit Women's Work Pants, Willit Women's Work Pants Wide Leg High Waisted Casual Slacks Business Office Dress Pants with Pockets 28
Me in the Willit Women's Work Pants (Photo via Vanessa Nigro).

I had high hopes for these black trousers after the luck I had with the other pair I wrote about earlier, but these ones were a dud for me. I managed to button these up, but just barely — as they do run small. I found the waistband to be very tight with not a lot of give, which isn't ideal for pants I was hoping to wear for an entire work day. Because these pants run small, they didn’t fit properly and weren’t the most flattering. If I ordered these again, I would definitely size up.

Me in Famulily Women's Comfy Cotton Wide Leg Pants, Famulily Womens Comfy Cotton Wide Leg Pants Casual Elastic High Waist Drawstring Trousers with Side Pockets
Me in Famulily Women's Comfy Cotton Wide Leg Pants (Photo via Vanessa Nigro).

Another pair outside my comfort zone! I don’t own any other pants in this khaki colour, but I really like them. Again, these can be dressed up or down and are super comfortable and flowy. Bonus points for an elastic waistband with an adjustable string that can work for folks between sizes. I saw some reviews mentioning they were see-through, but I didn’t have that problem. I did find them a bit short, they fall right where my ankles begin, so anyone taller than 5’8 might have a hard time with these. They also need a good steam before wearing out, I photographed myself in these straight out of the package and they were extremely wrinkly. I will be keeping these for casual office days and running errands.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of work pants from Amazon. But there is one pair of pants that really stands out and has become a staple in my office wardrobe — and more than 1,000 Amazon reviewers agree with me.

  1. The Feiersi Women's Casual Wide Leg Pants are my top pick if you’re looking to invest in one pair of go-to pants for the office. The lightweight material made them super comfortable to wear over long stretches of time, the waist fit perfectly, and they look expensive on a budget. That said, they do need to be steamed or ironed before you wear them, but a small price to pay for the perfect work pants.

  2. Coming in second place is the PRETTYGARDEN Women's Summer Work Pants, a great pair of staple black pants that look and feel great and can be relied on in a pinch.

  3. Third would be Famulily Women's Comfy Cotton Wide Leg Pants which are so lightweight and great for a casual day in the office but do require a thorough steaming before wear.

  4. In fourth place: Qixing Women's Wide Leg Pants. I love the pattern and colour selection of these, but the rigid waistband is a bit of a drawback for me.

  5. And finally, Willit Women's Work Pants look great and really snatch your waist, but when I’m at work, I want to be comfortable so I can actually focus on my job, so if I bought these again, I would size up.

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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