The best pair of pants is the one you forget you're wearing. No waistband pressing after lunch, no fabric clinging on a hot day, no tugging when you sit down. If your favourite pants are wearing thin, or you've never quite found the right ones, here's what to look for.
1. A waistband that doesn't dig in
An elastic or pull-on waist is the single biggest comfort upgrade. Look for a wide, soft waistband rather than a thin cord of elastic, because wider bands spread the pressure and are less likely to roll. A drawstring on top of the elastic lets you fine-tune the fit, which helps if you're between sizes.
2. Fabric that breathes
On warm Australian days, natural blends like cotton-linen feel cooler against the skin and dry quickly. Soft viscose with a little stretch drapes nicely and moves with you. Linen-look polyester gives you the relaxed look of linen with fewer creases and easy washing.
3. A leg shape that skims, not clings
- Wide-leg: airy, elegant and easy to dress up with a blouse and sandals.
- Straight-leg: neat and versatile, good with flats or sneakers.
- Capri or calf-length: cool for summer and great with sandals. We compare these in capri vs wide-leg pants.
4. Pockets
It sounds small, but real side pockets for your phone and keys make pants far more useful on a day out.
5. Getting the size right online
Check the garment measurements on the product page and compare them to a pair you already love, measured flat. If you're between sizes in a relaxed style, size up. Our Size Guide lines up letter sizes with AU dress sizes, and this guide walks you through measuring.
A few of our favourites
- The Magnolia Comfort Pant: our best seller. A soft elastic waist, relaxed fit and sizes up to AU 24.
- The Eileen Capri Pant: a calf-length capri with side pockets in six colours.
- The Hazel Cotton-Linen Pant: light and airy cotton-linen with a pull-on waist.
- The Wren Linen-Look Pant: a drawstring waist and relaxed straight leg that's easy to wash and wear.
- The Phoebe Plus Wide-Leg Pant: soft stretch viscose, cut generously from XL to 8XL.
See them all in Pants & Sets. Standard shipping is free on Australian orders over $100, every order has 30-day returns, and you can pay in 4 with Afterpay. Questions about fit? Email hello@easeandivy.com and we'll help you choose.