We love a good deal and an affordable find as much as anyone else. So many of our absolute favorite products, from comfortable sneakers to jeans clock in at under $100.
But the truth is, some things are worth splurging on. And with many people spending the majority of their week going into an office, I would argue that one of the best things you can invest in is a good pair of work pants. And according to plenty of people on the internet, Aritzia’s Effortless pants are some of the best of the best.
So we took four of our editors, whose sizes range from 4 to 16, to an Aritzia in New York City to see if the pants match the hype. Plus, the brand also set us up with one of its Styling Advisors to help us find a handful of other beloved essentials from the brand, so we could see what is really worth the splurge.
Why is Aritzia’s Effortless Pant so popular?
According to The Wall Street Journal, Aritzia first introduced the Effortless Pant into its lineup in 2019. It started as just one style of high-rise, wide-leg trousers, but has since expanded into a complete lineup, with a variety of fits, including cropped, lo-rise, wider and shorts, as well as a range of fabrics from Crepette, a Japanese crepe material, to linen.
In the last few years, trousers, in general, have dominated the fashion world. Gone are the days of the “jeans and going out top,” now it’s all about a basic top and nice pants. And if you ask someone about their favorite pair, the Effortless Pant is often a top answer.
At $148, the trousers are not cheap, but they hit a good middle point between the options from luxury brands and those from classically affordable brands.
Scrolling through the practically countless TikTok videos about the style, you’ll find people raving that they “need every color” and the pants are both comfortable and easy to style. As someone who has owned a pair for nearly a year now, I can say that they’re versatile, flattering and more durable than other similar styles that I’ve owned.
Keep reading for all of our editors’ thoughts.
Is the Effortless Pant worth it?
During our try-on session at the Artzia store, the Crepette version of the pants was the main style that all of our editors tried. These are also the pants that I have owned for nearly a year now, and the ones that I love and have earned countless compliments on.
I’m 5-foot-2 and I typically wear a size two or four. The pair I have is a size four regular and they drape over my shoes a bit, but I kind of like the way they look. They are a little tight around the waist, so in the store, I chose to try the short style in a size six and it was the perfect fit, hitting right above the ground and allowing me some extra room in the waist.
Each Effortless Pant features knife pleats along the front, which drapes down the front and not only adds a fun, stylish touch, but as a petite woman, I feel like it elongates my legs and makes me look taller.
I also love how low-maintenance they are. I have washed them countless times and they still look as good as they did the day I got them. I am admittedly terrible at taking care of my clothes and even though the average person would probably hang dry a nicer item like this — and the brand recommends tumble drying the pants on low — I throw them in the dryer on full heat every time and have not noticed any signs of wear and tear from it. I have a similar pair of trousers from another brand (they’re priced at around $100, so slightly more affordable) that I got more recently, and they are already piling and have some threads coming loose.
I’ve also never once felt the need to iron these pants. Every time I pull them from the drawer, they are smooth and ready to wear, even after being haphazardly shoved into my overstuffed dresser. And that’s thanks to the Crepette material, which is designed to stay wrinkle-free.
There are a range of materials that you can purchase the pants in, including linen, (Re)essential and Crepette. I tried all three of those, but the Crepette was by far my favorite. (I will note that the sizing is pretty consistent across the varieties.) It’s lightweight enough that you can wear it through the hotter seasons and the fact that it doesn’t wrinkle as easily as some of the others is a major bonus.
Though I was surprised by how cool the Re(essential) material felt, it almost reminded me of a track pant.
Editor Vivien Moon says that the pants really live up to their name. “I feel like I can put these on and look put together but feel effortless. I am truly a fan of them.”
Moon, who typically wears a size 4 regular and tried on her true size, shares that they “feel like they are absolutely true to size.” She adds, “I didn’t feel like they were overly baggy, but they had a great amount of room for my legs. I would say they do run close on the waist, so if you want a true high-waisted fit, consider that first and foremost. Because I have bigger thighs, I did notice it was a little tight in that area, but it wasn’t too tight that it made me want to swap sizes. I didn’t feel like I was stuffed in them, but they felt fitted and comfortable. I do think the length is great for those who want to wear a heel or an elevated shoe to the office.”
The brand also makes a curvier version of the pants, which Aritzia says features an additional two inches of room in the low hip and 1.5 inches in the thigh. However, these pants also only go up to a size 16.
“I’ve never tried or worn anything from Aritzia a day in my life, honestly, because I thought nothing would ever fit me there,” says editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson, who typically wears a size 16. While she first tried the Effortless Pants in a size 16, the size she normally wears, she shares that “they were a little tight around the thighs and butt, but worked well length-wise.” She then tried a size 16 of the curve-fit and says, “I found that to be helpful!” However, she says that she would have still preferred to try a size up if they offered it. She adds, “I liked the length and I liked the look of them. If they were just a little larger, they’d be perfect.”
It should be noted that associate editor Annie Shigo is typically a size 16, but the pants did not fit her.
Overall, I think the pants are worth it for those who are willing to spend a little more money for a good pair of work pants. The quality comes through in the way they fit and the way they hold up over time. The main drawback is the limited sizing, which means that those who wear sizes larger than 16 (or in some cases are typically size 16) are unable to wear them.
More of the best essentials from Aritzia
We wanted a basic tee that we could try on to help showcase the pants, and our Aritzia Style Advisor suggested this one — and for many of us, it ended up being one of our favorite garments we tried on. It’s hard to find a white tee that is comfortable, not see-through and drapes perfectly, and this one checked every single one of those boxes.
“This shirt was the first thing I tried on and it immediately surprised me,” Stewart-Jackson says. “Naturally, I went for an XL first, but it was actually kind of big. When I sized down to a large, it was exactly what I wanted. It has a little bit of weight to it without being heavy; it just sits really well on the body.” She adds that normally, she can be “really self-conscious about the way arms fit,” in shirts, but with this shirt, even though she sized down, “the fit was still flattering and comfortable.”
Shigo calls the shirt “the most comfortable thing ever,” adding that “it was so soft.” The day we went was a high heat and humidity day, and she says that “I was sweating so much and I didn’t bleed through the shirt.”
“The design is structured and fits beautifully, which is something that I want in a tee,” says Moon. “I especially appreciate that it looks professional while still being relaxed — another rare win. When it comes to the quality, you can feel the weight of it and how well it will withstand the heat, but will feel comfortable in the colder months. And during the trying-on process, I was tucking and untucking it, and it kept its shape and didn’t feel like it wrinkled much. So I feel like when it comes to packing or wearing it all day, it will hold up. While it is a bit pricey, I would purchase this for that price and even buy other colors.”
“These are hands-down some of the softest pants I’ve ever put on,” says Stewart-Jackson. “I actively said so when I first put it on. They’re super cozy and stretchy. I usually struggle with pants being too tight in the thigh area, but that wasn’t the case at all with these. I also appreciate that they came in the tall length because they sat really nicely on!” She adds that she tried on her normal size, the XL, and they fit perfectly.
“Can I be vulnerable for a second? I don’t love my legs, so I never wear shorts outside of running errands or around the house, so I didn’t expect to find a pair of shorts that I liked enough to walk out of the store with,” Moon says. “The length is great for those girls like myself who don’t want a micro fit and want to feel comfortable in a pair of shorts. I think part of the appeal is that it has an elastic waistband, which adds to the ease in wearing them. I appreciate the pockets and how, even when I have things in them, I don’t look like I am stuffing my pants with stuff. It’s rare for me to be comfortable in a pair of shorts, both in the style and the way I feel in them so these are a big win for me. Because they’re also made with linen, I can feel comfortable packing them for a vacation and taking them out right from my suitcase and putting them on.”
Shigo calls this lightweight linen top “the perfect summer shirt.” And Moon says this has taken the top spot in her closet when it comes to linen shirts.
“I love a comfortable (read: not stuffy) button-down that can be paired with anything from the pool that I don’t go to to the restaurant after work, and this one checks those boxes,” says Moon. “When I got home from the try-on, because it was so hot and humid, I opted to put this on instead of the top I was wearing and it instantly made me cool down while still looking presentable for my event.” Though she adds, it is oversized, so if that’s not your go-to look, you may want to size down.
The Effortless Pants also come in a short version, and you can choose between Micro, Mini, Mid-thigh and Long lengths. I had been looking for a pair of shorts that were more elevated than the classic denim pairs I own, and these fit the bill. They look super polished and I like that I can even wear the longer length to work.
Moon calls these a “surprising win.” She says, “I prefer a high-waisted bottom option, whether it’s shorts or a pair of pants so having a pair of shorts that doesn’t end up looking too short and still looks elevated is a big win. These are true to size and give me just the right amount of coverage on the legs, so I can wear them out in the evening but also in the daytime without feeling exposed. I honestly have such a hard time finding shorts that give me confidence, and these do.” In fact, she shares that she loves them so much, that she would buy them in a range of different colors.
“I loved this dress as soon as I saw it,” says Stewart-Jackson. “It had the summery, flowy vibe I was looking for that could either be dressed up or down. I tried it on in a large and was surprised at how well it fit! It’s perfectly flowy and lightweight, and I’m already imagining ways to accessorize it and give it different looks.”
Moon says she was more uncertain if she’d be a fan when she first saw the style, because of the tropical printed version that they tried on. “As somebody who doesn’t love prints, I was hesitant to try it, but I can say, I am converted and not just because the dress itself is sublimely comfortable. I would wear it every day if I could because it flows beautifully, has so much room and is easy to take from day to night. This might be my perfect summer dress, print and all! It’s especially great because the fabric feels easy to iron or steam so getting the wrinkles out should be no problem.”
Aritzia’s jeans aren’t necessarily the most buzzed-about item in their lineup, so I didn’t expect that the denim would be one of my favorite things that I tried all day, but these jeans blew me away. Everyone knows the struggle of trying on jeans and normally, it takes trying a few (or 20) to find the right pair. But I slipped these on and was instantly in love, which I can confidently say has never happened before with jeans. These jeans are made from a rigid denim, so they’re not necessarily soft or stretchy, but it gives them a really cool vintage feel and look. They hug in all of the right places and I love the wider leg look. And as a short girl, the ankle length was absolutely perfect for me, and I didn’t have to roll them like I normally have to do with jeans, which is a serious win!
For those who weren’t fully satisfied with the fit of the Effortless pants, the Style Advisor recommended trying these and we were fully sold. “The Lodge Pants were my favorite and fit so well on me,” says Shigo. “If you can’t fit in the Effortless Pants, I suggest these pants as an alternate.”
They have Linen, Satin and more varieties, but once again, the Crepette was my favorite. I like the way that they hung and that the drawstring at the waist means that you can customize the fit. The short size 6 hit me right above the ground, so I can wear them with flat shoes but I think they’d look even cuter with wedges.
What time of year does Aritzia have sales?
Aritzia typically hosts sales twice per year. Aritzia just hosted its exclusive Summer Clientele Sale and will typically have another one in the late fall. The brand also typically has a sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Frequently asked questions
While some items run pretty true to size, we found that overall, many of the items, bottoms especially, ran slightly smaller. We recommend sizing up in most styles for a more comfortable fit.
When visiting Aritzia, you can chat with one of the Style Advisors in the store, who can give you personalized recommendations and suggest styles to try.
During our visit, Aritzia set us up with one of its advisors and we found the experience to be super helpful, especially for those of us who were not super familiar with the brand.
If you want to get an even more personal experience, you can book a Personal Styling Appointment (PSA) by contacting the Aritzia Concierge here or visiting a store and setting it up in person.
"It was nice to have someone who’s familiar with the stock in the store bring options I’d like based on the vibe I said," Jackson-Stewart said of the styling experience. "Because I feel like I get overwhelmed in a store that large when I’m trying to achieve a certain look."
How we chose
When it comes to the latest viral styles, our editors are always curious to see if fashion staples live up to the hype (and if they look good on a range of body types). Given how popular Aritzia’s Effortless Pants are, we wanted to try them for ourselves. While at the store, our editors tried a range of styles, including variations of the Effortless Pants and other basics, to see what is worth buying.
