If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I test a lot of clothes. And you know I LOVEEEEEE me some comfy pants!
And some of the questions I get all the time are: “What are those jeans you recommend all the time again?” and “What are your top pant recommendations?”
Not just what’s trending. Not just what’s cute. But the ones that are actually:
- comfortable
- easy to style
- and worth buying
So, to make it easy for you to find them, I wanted to put them all in one place.
These are my MVP pants for spring and summer — the ones I consistently recommend. These are the pants you can wear on repeat and reach for when you don’t want to think too hard about getting dressed.
This isn’t an overwhelming list.
It’s a curated, best-of-the-best breakdown by category so you can quickly find what you need.
Heads up: I own most of these personally, but not all of them, because I either don’t need them all or they just don’t work for my body. But, don’t worry — the ones I don’t own are still top recommendations. We’ve seen them work fabulously for plenty of PMTers!
What Makes a Pant an “MVP”?
Before we get into the list, here’s my quick filter. If I’m calling something an MVP, it checks these boxes:
- Comfortable enough for daily life (sitting, moving, running errands)
- Easy to style with multiple tops and shoes
- Versatile (can be worn different ways)
- Looks good with little effort (has that special factor that makes it look stylish even though you just rolled out of bed)
Because the goal isn’t more clothes. It’s having pieces that make getting dressed feel easy!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
MVP Jeans (My Top 3 + Honorable Mention)
If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you already know — I talk about these jeans all the time.
And that’s because they consistently deliver on the things that matter most:
- comfort
- flattering fit
- and real-life wearability
These are my top three MVP jeans, plus one runner-up that’s still worth mentioning.
1. Quince Wide Leg Jeans
These jeans are currently my most-worn pair of jeans. They’re SO comfortable AND look polished.
The denim is incredibly SOFT and very STRETCHY. In fact, I played volleyball in these recently (unexpectedly, hence the jeans — and with 14-under and 15-under club players, so, actual work 😅)… and just kept going because they are that comfortable. 😆
Also, they’re affordable for the quality and work across multiple seasons in terms of the weight of the fabric — not too thin and not too thick.
I own these in 5 colorways at this point, ha! Find them HERE. I wear size 6/28.
2. Wit & Wisdom Wide Leg Jeans
This brand has been a favorite of mine for over a decade, and for good reason. SO DANG COMFY. While every style differs on how thick or thin the fabric is, this brand is always soft and super duper stretchy.
But really, the defining factor is the super stretchy waistband — elastic built in for ULTIMATE comfort!
This particular pair of jeans is especially great for spring and summer because the denim is thinner and very soft. A friend texted me after trying them and said they felt like sweatpants! Find them HERE. I’m wearing size 4.
3. KUT From the Kloth Meg Wide Leg Jeans
These jeans are another standout and tend to feel the most luxe of the bunch (depending on the colorway).
They’re really SOFT and very STRETCHY — including the waistband — but still look polished and elevated. Also worth noting: these are Courtney’s favorites — and she is very picky about jeans.
One important note:
Their “high rise” usually comes in around 10.5”, which is slightly shorter than other high-rise options. If you like doing a full tuck, these often do not hit high enough, and might make you feel frumpy. But if you don’t do full tucks, they can be an amazing option. Find the current options HERE. I wear size 4.
Honorable Mention: Old Navy Wide Leg Jeans
These jeans deserve a mention because so many of you love them — and for good reason. They’re soft, fairly lightweight, and very affordable. My tween daughter (who has some clothing sensitivities) loves them too. These are the most affordable of the bunch, especially during Old Navy’s sales. They’re a runner-up simply because the fabric doesn’t feel quite as elevated as the others — but they’re still a solid option.
Available in straight, petite, plus, and tall sizing, plus several washes HERE. I wear size 6.
Shop the Outfits
Fit Notes: Comparison
If you’re trying to figure out which pair will fit you best, here’s how they compare:
Quince Wide Leg Jeans
These work well for almost all body types: Pear, Hourglass, Rectangle, Inverted Triangle — and some Apples. The waistband is stretchy, but not as stretchy as Wit & Wisdom’s.
Wit & Wisdom Wide Leg Jeans
These work well for almost all body types: Pear, Hourglass, Rectangle, Inverted Triangle, Apple. Why? The elastic waistband gives a very flexible fit to work with curvy hips, straighter figures, and a curvier midsection.
KUT From the Kloth Meg Wide Leg Jeans
These also work well for almost all body types: Pear, Hourglass, Rectangle, Inverted Triangles, and Apples, similar to Wit & Wisdom.
Old Navy Wide Leg Jeans
These work most easily for Rectangle and Inverted Triangle shapes. They can work for some Pear and Hourglass shapes, particularly if you are less curvy.
MVP Casual Pants (Non-Jeans)
Now let’s move on to some non-denim options. These are great when you want a break from denim but still want to feel comfortable and put-together.
I’ll keep these sections a bit shorter than the jeans section (I clearly have a lot to say about jeans 😆), but these are still pieces I recommend all the time.
1. Wit & Wisdom Utility Pants
Sturdy but stretchy! Available in several colorways HERE and more colorways HERE. There are some really cute colors for spring, but these work in the fall as well.
2. J.Crew Factory Pants
I don’t own these, but a LOT of women LOVEEEE these. Comfy, look polished, and can be worn casually or to work. Available in straight, petite, plus, and tall sizing HERE.
MVP Work Pants
Next up: work pants. These are the ones that look polished and put-together but are still comfortable enough to wear all day — a must!
1. Quince Ponte Pants
I don’t own these pants, but I’ve tried them on and own an identical pair (that I had before I saw these). VERY SOFT and super stretchy. So, SO comfortable! These do run a tad short at 26″ and 24″ inseam options, but they are comfortable and worth trying nonetheless. Several colorways available HERE.
Above is a picture of me wearing my identical pair so you can see how sharp these look styled in outfits.
2. Wit & Wisdom Black Pants
SOOO comfortable — soft, stretchy, and thick! And, they look really polished. Check them out HERE. I wear size 4.
3. Old Navy Wide Leg Pants
These pants are sturdy and structured but very, VERY stretchy and comfortable! They’re super affordable, too. They aren’t super thick or luxe, but they’re not crepey thin either — medium weight that’s perfect for spring. Available in straight, petite, plus, and tall sizing HERE. I wear size 6.
Runner Up: Gap Factory Wide Leg Trousers
I personally LOVE these pants, but I know they can be a tough fit for many, so they are the runner up. I love the effortlessly cool vibe these give off. You can wear them for work or dress them down with a t-shirt and lifestyle sneakers. Find them HERE. I’m wearing size 6.
Shop the Outfits
MVP Summer Pants (Top 2 + Honorable Mention)
If you don’t love wearing shorts (hi, same 🙋♀️), these are going to be your best friends in the summer.
Both of these are SUPER breathable, lightweight, and make a huge difference on really hot days. These are the pants I reach for when I want to stay cool but still feel comfortable and put-together.
1. Simply Vera Wang Travel Pants
These pants are silky smooth (not scratchy at all), lightweight, and so, SO breathable. The waistband is fully elastic for total comfort. And, they never wrinkle, which is a huge win for staying polished!
They feel good, look good, and hold their shape throughout the day without getting that worn-out look.
One important fit note:
Because of the large pockets and slight pleating under the waistband, these can look a little wonky if they’re too big. Make sure you really nail the fit. If they end up not working for you, don’t worry — there’s another option below!
Available in multiple colorways, with new ones each year HERE. (I now on three, hehe!) I wear size S.
2. Old Navy Playa Pants
These pants are very similar in feel to the Simply Vera pants — silky smooth, lightweight, and super breathable!
The main differences:
1) These have a more streamlined fit, and therefore fit well more effortlessly for more women.
2) These do wrinkle throughout the day. But weirdly, they also kind of un-wrinkle as you wear them. 😂 I know that sounds strange, but I’ve tested it many times. They’re still not wrinkle-free like the Simply Vera pants, so I tend to wear these for more casual situations where a relaxed, slightly rumpled summer look is totally fine. 😆 Honestly, better than hating life in shorts, haha!!
These also come straight, petite, plus, and tall, HERE. I wear size S. And like the Simply Vera pants, new colorways come out all the time. I own four!
Honorable Mention #1: Old Navy Gauze Pants
I JUST got these pants and haven’t actually worn them or spent time in them, which is why they’re only honorable mention. But they are SO COMFY that I had to include them in this roundup! They’re really lightweight, super soft, and soooo comfortable that I almost forgot I was wearing pants! These are barrel leg, but as you can see, the shape is so subtle. Available in lots of colorways and sizes HERE. I’m wearing size S.
Shop the Outfits
Some pieces are no longer available, but there are similar ones you can check out here.
MVP Athleisure Pants
And for athleisure, I’m keeping it simple with one pair:
Zella Wide Leg Pants
I love these Zella wide leg pants! They’re made of a sporty fabric that doesn’t wrinkle, doesn’t lose shape, and always looks good. They’re stretchy, super comfortable, and an easy go-to for casual days when you still want to look a little pulled together. Find them HERE. I wear size S.
Shop All MVP Jeans & Pants
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a huge collection of pants to have a functional wardrobe. You just need a few really good ones that are comfortable, easy to style, and work for your everyday life.
If you’re not sure where to start, pick one category that you feel like you’re missing, whether that’s jeans, work pants, or something breathable for summer, and go from there. Choose 1-2 options to get some GREAT pants in your wardrobe!
Make Getting Dressed the Easiest Part of Your Day — Stylish, Simple, and Stress-Free
With this guide, you won’t have to think so hard about what to wear, how to style the items in your closet, or which new styles to try.
Instead, you’ll have a plan you can follow that you can customize to your tastes, a guide to know which trends to incorporate (if you want to) — AND how to style them, and outfit ideas galore so you can make the most of your clothes.
Check out the brand new Spring 2026 Wardrobe & Outfit Guide! With it, you’ll have:
- a guided plan to build a functional and versatile spring wardrobe for casual wear and workwear
- a capsule of 28 pieces that turn into 71+ outfits
- outfit ideas galore at your fingertips to help you figure out what to wear
- a bonus shopping guide with curated links of great finds all in one place to save you from having to scour the internet yourself
- an easier way to pull together a wardrobe and build outfits
Take a look at the new Spring Wardrobe & Outfit Guide and give your closet a fresh start.
