Historically, I've had a love-hate relationship with dress pants. While I love looking polished and professional, I'm rarely willing to sacrifice my comfort in order to get there. But according to — well, basically every stylish Gen Z'er on TikTok — that's a sacrifice I don't have to make with Aritzia's The Effortless Pant. The Effortless Pant comes in a wide range of fabrics, rises, inseams, and even silhouettes — totaling dozens of variations — so I tested a small handful in order to figure out whether these high-rise, pleat-front pants are deserving of their cult status.
At $148 for most styles, the Effortless Pant is an investment. That said, as a style writer, I've tested hundreds of apparel pieces over my decade-long career, and if there's one thing I can say with confidence, it's that workwear is one category that's worth splurging on. Your office attire should be durable enough to withstand many washes week after week and fit flawlessly so you have confidence asking for that raise.
Whether you're still riding the corpcore wave or you're in need of some professional-chic separates for that new big-girl job, here's what you need to know about Aritzia's Effortless Pant before you add them to your cart.
Aritzia Effortless Pant styles
With an inseam around 24”, the cropped version of Artizia’s Effortless Pant is meant to hit around low calf — making it a petite-friendly style that’s perfect for showcasing cute footwear.
This summer-ready take on the Effortless Pant — which is made with a breathable blend of textured linen — is remarkably versatile. Pair these pants with a short-sleeve sweater and leather kitten heels to the office, or with a cami and espadrilles on vacation.
Soft, stretchy, and super lightweight, this is by far the comfiest version of the Effortless Pant — and the most wearable year-round. As an added sustainability bonus, the fabric consists of 60% recycled polyester and 30% eco-responsible viscose fiber.
Among all the Effortless Pant fabric options, crepette stands out for its impressive wrinkle resistance. This particular version features an even wider leg than the original, for a look that’s both relaxed and refined at the same time — and still super flattering, thanks to the drapey material and high waist.
A guide to picking the best fabric for you
The first thing that struck me about the Effortless Pant is that it comes in so many different materials. Seriously, there's a version for every season and occasion here. Just a few options include:
- Crepette: Aritzia's uniquely wrinkle-resistant Japanese crepe fabric that drapes beautifully
- CruiseLinen: A one-of-a-kind Aritzia fabric, which blends linen and TENCEL™ lyocell for a softer feel that doesn't wrinkle quite as easily as traditional linen
- PowerLinen: Another linen blend that combines textured linen with 33% LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose
- (Re)ssential: A stretchy, structured fabric that combines recycled polyester with LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose
- (Re)ssential light: A lightweight twist on the (Re)ssential fabric, which is more suitable for sweltering days
- Satin: A smooth Japanese double-faced satin made from wood-based fibers with a subtle sheen
- Wool: An ultra-cozy virgin wool that's 96% responsibly sourced and ideal for the colder seasons
My favorites are Crepette and (Re)ssential light. I found that both of these drape nicely, are appropriate for year-round wear, and basically don't wrinkle. The CruiseLinen is nice, too — it still wrinkles more easily than my two favorites (that's inevitable to a degree with linen), but I will say it didn't wrinkle as quickly as pants made with 100% linen.
How to figure out the best fit for you
Though the pants are great once you figure out what size works for you, sizing isn't intuitive.
Size up, especially in styles with no stretch
The Effortless Pants tend to run a little small. I'm typically a size 4 in pants, but I found that a 6 felt far better in the Effortless Pant. Part of that likely has to do with the fact that not all styles have any stretch.
With 6% elastane and 4% elastane respectively, the (Re)ssential and (Re)ssential Light versions don't feel even the least bit restrictive in the waist. I can comfortably enjoy a sizable meal in these and wear them all day into the night — without even feeling that insatiable urge to tear them off in favor of leggings as soon as I walk into the door of my home.
After sizing up in the Crepette and CruiseLinen, I didn't find them to be particularly uncomfortable — just a tad less forgiving. The advantage to those fabrics, though, is that because they don't stretch out with wear, they definitely hold their shape.
Anticipate that they may run long
Many of the Effortless Pant styles come in multiple lengths — including regular (for anyone 5'3 to 5'7), short (for anyone under 5'3) and tall (for anyone above 5'7).
Aritzia has steadily been solidifying itself as one of the best petite clothing stores, and I was psyched to see that these pants came in a shorter inseam. Since I'm 5'4, I'm right on the borderline between short and regular length — so, I tried both.
The regular length was wearable with higher heels (around 3"). The short version hit right at the perfect spot with a low to mid heel, but still dragged on the floor a bit with flats — so these definitely run a tad long overall. That said, I do think these pants look better with some height anyway — say, a flatform loafer or sandal.
Note that some versions of the Effortless Pant, like the (Re)ssential Light, only come in a regular inseam.
Why I'm obsessed with the Effortless Pants
The Effortless Pant has racked up thousands of five-star reviews — and to be honest, I totally get it now. These pants are well-made, supremely flattering, easy to care for, and shockingly versatile. Here's why I can't stop buying them:
1. They're versatile enough to work for a variety of occasions
Some work pants look just a little too — well, stuffy, for more laid-back social situations. That's not the case with Aritzia's Effortless Pant, which is why they made our list of the best work pants for women.
I've worn them with a blazer and button-down to professional meetings and events and with an off-the-shoulder sweater and booties for date night. And as the weather warms up this spring, I even plan to sport them with crop tees and platform tennis sneakers for more casual outings.
2. They're undeniably flattering
The Effortless Pant is available in several different rises, and even a special "curve" version with additional room around the thighs and hips. Every single option I tried, from the sleek cropped version to the wider leg style, offered a major confidence surge.
And as much as I love the way they look on my petite, hourglass-shaped figure, I also know from seeing them on friends with vastly different body types that these are pretty much universally flattering. Chalk that up to the fact that the rise hits right at the natural waist, accentuating the smallest part of your midsection, the wide leg visually elongates the legs, and the back darts and strategic knife pleats lend some much-appreciated structure and contouring.
3. They'll never go out of style
The core Effortless Pant features a high waist, wide leg, belt loops, a structured waistband with no elastic, and subtle front knife pleats. Unlike, say, a cargo, capri, or barrel-leg style, this style is not a passing trend. In fact, it's a timeless pick worthy of a capsule wardrobe.
That makes the $148 price tag much easier to swallow — because I know I'll get countless wears out of these pants year after year.
4. They're machine washable.
While a select few fabrics have to be dry cleaned (like PowerLinen™ and wool), most of Aritzia's Effortless Pants can be thrown in the washing machine — including the CruiseLinen™ and Crepette™. Most dress pants are not easy-care, so IMO, that's a huge perk worth calling out. Who has time to run back and forth to the dry cleaner's during a busy work week?
The bottom line
There's an Effortless Pant option for literally any situation and season — from a baby shower to a networking event or second-date drinks. But most importantly, every time I slip these on I feel effortlessly put-together — and I know they'll remain a go-to throughout the seasons and for years to come.
Honestly, my only beef with the Effortless Pant is that they seem to run a bit small in the waist, and a bit long in the leg. That said, you're likely to find your perfect fit if you size up, and the length won't really be an issue if you plan to wear these pants with a decent heel — say, at least 2 to 2.5 inches.
There's truly an Effortless Pant style for everyone. If you're a low-maintenance girlie like me, consider the Crepette since it's machine washable and never has to be steamed or ironed. Or, if you prefer your pants to have some serious stretch, opt for the (Re)ssential or (Re)ssential Light styles. Need something lightweight and breathable for the dog days of summer? You can't go wrong with the somewhat wrinkle-resistant CruiseLinen, which unlike the other linen version, can be thrown in the washing machine.
