Best Dress Pants for Plus Size Business Babes: 6 Corporate & Chic Styles
Looking for the best dress pants for plus size?
There are a few different choices for classy office wear out there.
So, picking the right ones for you can be a bit challenging.
Luckily, I’ve laid down the most popular types of business pants you can get yourself into.
Whether you want a more traditional look or you want to spice it up for summer, these 6 types of dress pants are worth a look.
Best dress pants for plus size
1. Traditional trousers
There’s nothing like a good ole pair of standard traditional trousers.
Straight-legged trousers tend to look best on those of us plus size babes that have more height.
The distinct line of the straight pant legs has a way of giving you a long, sleek and sophisticated look.
Catos Fashions’ curvy trousers offer a flattering line shape and a stretch waistline.
Classic business trousers can pair with almost anything, from your classic blouse to something a little fanicer.
The versatility means you can go from work to evening wear without a massive wardrobe change.
I particularly like Eloquii’s pintuck pant if you’re looking to add a little pep to your style.
Not only does this style come in black, but you can also get your hands on emerald green, navy blue, and bold pink too!
Sometimes the best dress pants for plus size fashionistas is simply to go traditional.
Classic never gets old!
Ponte pants
I experienced my first pair of Ponte pants years ago when I picked up a pair of black 2XL Calvin Klein ditties from Costco randomly.
Oh my gawd, they were amazing.
They looked super professional, but they were comfy as hell.
You honestly couldn’t tell that they were basically business leggings.
Now these bad boys are EVERYWHERE, and one of my fav picks for best dress pants for plus size women.
If you want something super basic, go with Universal Standard’s Moro pant.
For those unfamiliar, Ponte refers to a specific style of double-jersey knit.
Ponte pants combine rayon, polyester and spandex, to give you a cozy leggings-like wear.
But unlike leggings, this type of pant has a more traditional, work-appropriate thickness.
The good news is that with Ponte pants, you don’t have to stick to boring ole solid colors.
You can often find pants that are patterned, like these super cute dot pants by Investments!
Ponte pants tend to have a more skinny-leg look to them — though you can occasionally find them in a straight or wide leg.
With that in mind, they tend to work best for pear or hourglass body types.
Wide legged pants
Wide-legged dress pants have a very poised and professional feel to them.
I am not big on wearing wide legs myself because they tend to make me loop lopsided and feel weird.
But I know some plus size ladies that just kill wearing them.
I love Eloquii’s pink flare trousers — girly, gorgeous and sophisticated.
You pair them with a matching (or patterned) blazer and you’re ready to go!
If you want something a little more casual without going on full legging, Kiyonna has a few cute pairs of wide business-friendly palazzo pants.
These are definitely home-office appropriate.
But you’ll want to double-check your office’s policies before you break them out!
Lovin’ the wide width?
Rectangle or triangle body types can be greatly flattered by pants with wider legs.
If you want more options, check out culottes and palazzo pants — we know you’ll love them.
Paperbag pants
Paperbag pants are both professional and cute.
They’re known for their signature bunched top (typically with a belt tie) and tissue paper like style poking out the top.
You can get shorts or pants, and for the office environment, I recommend full ankle length or slightly cropped.
You can find these style of dress pants in a lot of places.
But you do need to do a bit of hunting for ones that have a more professional edge.
I really like the tapered trousers by Stylus that you can find at JC Penny.
If you’re looking for a casual summer style these are definitely some of the best dress pants for plus size.
You can dress them down with a classic t-shirt or add a flowy blouse to the mix for a professional vibe.
Maurices paperbag pants are an affordable and versatile choice.
While they probably won’t be the perfect fit for in the courtroom, they’re perfect for a casual, fun start-up environment!
Paperbag pants look killer on plus size babes with waist-defining body shapes.
In particular, hourglass and pear-shaped bodies can really rock them!
Capris (or cropped)
Summer is here, which means full pants might not be the best pick.
That’s where cropped pants come in.
If you’re looking for the best dress pants for plus size business babes this summer, check out Maurice’s Bengaline cropped pants.
Halfway between a short and a full pant, a pair of plus size dress capris is the perfect summer wardrobe addition.
Made of a stretchy, comfortable professional fabric, these capris can be paired with classy black sandals or white sneakers all the same!
If you want something with a bit more flow, Lane Bryant has these cute knit wide capris.
You can wear these bad boys in or out of the office.
Dress capris are a great addition to your summer business wardrobe because they offer a bit more coverage than your average shorts or skort.
You can pair them with a dressier shoe and a blazer for your corporate life.
But after hours you can pair them with a cute crop top or a basic tank.
Versatile and summer friendly!
Dress shorts
Last but certainly not least, you can absolutely pick shorts as the best dress pants for plus size business babes.
Now, shorts are not going to be appropriate for every office or work scenario.
But you can definitely dress them up, or even get into a full-on short suit!
A simple pair of black dress cuffed shorts like these ones by Investment.
They’re a perfect match for a sleeveless button-up.
If you want a little more of a dressy flair, picking a pair of plus size dress shorts that have an accent like a belt is a great choice.
Unique Vintage’s Tried & True shorts are a great example.
Complete the look with a pair of cute heeled sandals and a classy kimono for a breezy summer office look.
Now, your shorts don’t have to be a black.
But if you’re trying to dress up for a work setting, I’d go with a solid-colored more neutral short — black, blue, brown, even a light dusty pink — and go bold on the top.
How to pick a pair of dress pants
Creating a business wardrobe from scratch can be intimidating, especially if this is your first in-office experience.
But fear not, finding the best dress pants for your plus size body doesn’t have to be a challenge.
It’s as simple as:
- Check out your HR department’s clothing policy — I personally think it’s archaic that your office gets to dictated this… I wear tube tops to work (spoiler alert, my HR department is me), sadly not all workplaces are progressive.
- Decide what kind of dress pants you want to wear. It doesn’t matter what arbitrarily “looks good” if you don’t want to wear it.
- Pick out your favs and try them on!
The most important part of finding a pair of classy pants you’re going to wear at work is that you go with something you’re comfortable in.
If you’re comfortable and if you feel good you’ll look so much better.
Confidence is a good 75% of your wardrobe.
Plus size dress pants FAQ
Are wide-legged pants good for plus size?
Wide legged pants can absolutely look good on plus size bodies. They’ll likely be the most flattering on plus size women with apple and pair-shaped bodies.
What pants are flattering for plus size?
The best dress pants for plus size bodies depend more on shape then size. Not every body looks good in the same clothes, but there is a right pair of pants out there for every plus size body!
