Though the concept of a capsule wardrobe has been discussed ad nauseam, there’s no denying that a pair of black tailored trousers is an essential piece in any well-edited selection. Finding the best pair, however, is an entirely different matter. With varying lengths, cuts and shapes, let alone mentioning the different shades of black, hunting down the perfect pair can have you feeling like Goldilocks on the high street. (Too tight around the waist! Too short across the ankle! Too fitted around the crotch! Will she ever find the pair that’s just right?)
Fear not, for a happily ever after is coming. Choose a pair of black tailored trousers well, and you’ll be set for any occasion. Inherently polished and incredibly sophisticated, the structured silhouette instantly elevates whatever you pair it with, whether that's a slouchy V-neck jumper or a fresh white T-shirt. Indeed, black tailored trousers have the ability to enhance any ensemble. Dressing up the simplest outfit with a sharp edge and expensive-looking finish, you can wear this staple for all eternity given how versatile and discerning it is. From a Saturday-night dinner with friends to your Monday morning commute when you’re a little pressed for time, the best black tailored trousers will do all the heavy lifting in making you look thoughtful, considered and sleek.
After all, it’s these qualities that have made them a fundamental part of today’s fashion landscape. And as editors well-versed in the latest trends, runway shows and emerging designers, we’re quite familiar with what styles stand above the rest. So, to truly guide you on where to find the best black tailored trousers, we took it upon ourselves to provide an unflinching breakdown of the chicest styles to shop.
From celebrity-approved styles from The Row to sculptural pairs from beloved emerging designer Róhe and tried-and-true options from mid-range favourite Reformation, uncover the best black tailored pants, as reviewed by discerning fashion editors, ahead.
The 6 Best Black Tailored Trousers, as Tested by Fashion Editors
- The Best Overall Black Tailored Trousers: Reformation Mason Pant, £198
- The Best Designer Black Tailored Trousers: The Row Gala Pant, £1010
- The Best High-Street Black Tailored Trousers: COS Relaxed Fluid Wide-Leg Trousers,£95
- The Best Wide-Leg Black Tailored Trousers: Me+Em Wide Tux Man Pant, £275
- The Best Cropped Black Tailored Trousers: With Nothing Underneath Regent Cigarette Trouser, £225
- The Best Pleated Black Tailored Trousers: Róhe Puck Sculptural Tailored Trousers, £560
1. The Row Gala Pant
"Given that The Row started with a pursuit to create the most premium basics on the market, it should come as no surprise that this design methodology is woven into everything the brand produces. As for the best black tailored trousers, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have many contenders, but none come close to the Gala Pant. This shape is slightly unconventional in the way that it hangs loose through the leg and sits low on the waist. It’s more relaxed than what you’d usually expect from a tailored trouser, but with a silky-soft finish and unstructured ease, I can easily see why so many people with taste own them.
"Better still, they’re incredibly comfortable. Though the fabric composition suggests something heavyweight, they feel light as a feather on and really graceful to walk around in. With an elastic waistband, I slightly suspected they would shift around on my hips as I moved, but they stayed put, despite being in between sizes. I suspected I would need to size up, but I actually took these in a size S and felt they were the perfect fit, which just nods to its generous cut even more.
"On that note, they were incredibly long and puddled along the ground. Regardless of whether you’re petite or tall, these trousers will certainly graze the floor, so keep that in mind if you’re a Monica Geller-level germaphobe and don’t want to be picking up whatever is lingering on the pavement as you wander around town. But as we come into autumn, you can bet I’ll be channelling my inner Olsen twin and throwing these on with an oversized pashmina scarf and longline knit." — Ava Gilchrist, SEO writer
Shop the Trousers:
Style Notes: Bias-cut in fluid double-faced heavy crepe with slim, gathered elastic waistband and relaxed wide leg.
Material/s: 69% triacetate, 31% polyester
Sizes: XS-XL
Colour/s: Black and navy.
Pros
- Incredibly fluid and loose shape.
- Feels soft as butter whilst preserving its tailored silhouette.
Cons
- This style doesn't feature any pockets or anying adjustable on the waistband.
2. COS Relaxed Fluid Wide-Leg Trousers
"As someone who only committed to her first pair of jeans recently, I'm extremely picky about the fit of trousers. I've lived in dresses for most of my adult life, but mostly out of necessity as a classic 'pear shape'. I have a small waist but wider hips and thighs, and when it comes to trying on trousers, the dreaded waist gap has put me off a lot of pairs.
"I came around to tailored trousers as soon as the wide-leg became the look du jour, and I now find a lot of balance in a boxy blazer and baggy trousers, but I needed something smart enough to feel polished. Often, the high street gets tailored trousers wrong for me. (M&S are way too short, Zara are way too long?!) But I just found the holy grail in COS. Behold!
"A 'puddle' pant that falls exactly how I want it to: wide in the leg, long and gathered at the ankle, high-waisted to nip me in and pleated at the front to give some structure. These are the kind of trousers you can dress down with a vintage tee or style up with a matching blazer, and all for a pretty good price for COS' exceptional quality." – Remy Farrell, fashion editor
Shop the Trousers:
Style Notes: Crafted from a fluid lyocell blend, they're tailored in a relaxed shape with sharp front pleats and loose, wide legs.
Material/s: 94% lyocell, 6% polyamide
Sizes: EU 32-44
Colour/s: Black, dark grey and beige.
Pros
- Premium quality fabric, especially for the high street.
Cons
- Not suitable for petites—I'm 5"6' and anyone shorter would need to get these tailored..
3. Reformation Mason Pant
"I've tried on more black tailored pants than the average person, but there's one pair that stands above the rest. These Reformation trousers have been a staple in my capsule wardrobe for years now. The brand manages to perfectly balance the ease of a wide-leg trouser with the polished finish of perfectly placed pleats. The fabric is lightweight and has a silky finish to it, which makes them seriously comfortable.
"I love that they come in a selection of shades, as well as petite options, which has saved me a trip to the tailor. My only gripe is that some of the past-season colourways have been discontinued, and I wish I had snapped them up when I had the chance. That being said, this classic black pair works hard in my wardrobe year after year." — Florrie Alexander, shopping editor
Shop the Trousers:
Style Notes: High-rise with a relaxed, wide leg. Features front double tucks and a button closure at the waist.
Material/s: 100% Tencel Lyocell
Sizes: 4-16. Available in both short and standard lengths.
Colour/s: Black, beige and cream.
Pros
- Petite lengths.
- Extended sizes
Cons
- The fluid fabric can crease easily.
4. Róhe Puck Sculptural Tailored Trousers
"No clothing item makes me feel more like myself than a sleek pair of black tailored trousers. Helping me feel put-together without any fuss, they're a wardrobe staple I hold in the highest esteem. As such, I take the task of tracking down a worthy pair very seriously—and in Róhe’s high-waisted, pleated trousers, I think I’ve found my favourite yet.
"Crafted from a heavyweight fabric, they drape over my frame exactly as I wish all tailored trousers would. Skimming and elongating my frame, their long leg and perfectly placed pleats culminate in an impeccably tailored trouser. With a simple black knit or tee, I feel elevated and chic, but these also offer the perfect outfit foundation for styling with silky blouses and tops." — Natalie Munro, news writer
Shop the Trousers:
Style Notes: Tailored trousers with a rounded sculptural silhouette through the leg and a single pleat that adds structure and definition to the shape. Finished with side pockets.
Material/s: 73% virgin wool, 27% mohair wool
Sizes: 4-UK
Colour/s: Black.
Pros
- With a weightier-than-usual finish, these drape better than any other tailored trousers in my collection, creating the undone structure I’ve always found so elusive in tailoring.
- The heavyweight composition also makes them feel notably warm, which will make autumn/winter styling all the easier.
Cons
- Unsurprisingly, these elevated trousers sit at the higher end of the price spectrum, making them a considered investment. Still, I think they will earn their place in your wardrobe for years to come.
5. Me + Em Wide Tux Man Pant
Style Notes: "These Me+Em trousers might just be one of the best-fitting pairs I’ve ever tried. I’m usually a UK size 8 and took my usual size; they do run slightly on the generous side, but for me that made the fit perfect, sitting comfortably at the waist and falling into a beautifully fluid wide leg.
"The tuxedo-inspired detailing makes them feel that little bit more elevated than your standard black trousers, but they’re still incredibly easy to style with everything from a simple V-neck knit to a sculptural top. I also love that they come in short, regular and long lengths, something I always appreciate due to my 5'2" frame." – Marina Avraam, senior shopping editor
Shop the Trousers:
Style Notes: A high-rise, wide-leg silhouette with pin tucks darted down the centre of the leg and a contrasting satin waistband.
Material/s: 79% wool, 19% Lenzing Ecovero viscose, 2% elastane
Sizes: 4-18. Available in short, regular and long lengths.
Colour/s: Black.
Pros
- Three length options, which makes it much easier to get the perfect fit.
Cons
- They run a little large, so if you’re between sizes or prefer a more fitted waist, I’d consider sizing down.
6. With Nothing Underneath Regent Cigarette Trouser
Style Notes: "Before putting these trousers on, they appeared to be just your standard black trousers. They're nice to the touch, being 100% wool, but as many of us know with trousers, it’s not until you put them on and see their fit and the way they sit on your body that you can really make a judgement. Once on, I have to say I quite fancied myself.
"They finished at the perfect point on my ankle, showing my shoes and just enough skin so that I felt polished, sophisticated and frankly more put-together than I usually do on a busy weekday afternoon. The compliments I received spoke for themselves. In the half-an-hour or so I wore these to take these photos, four people asked me where they were from. Believe me when I say I didn’t want to change back into what I was wearing before!
"I’m a size 10-12, and these fit perfectly in the size 10. I could have sized up for a more comfortable, slouchy fit, but as they’re a cigarette style with a neat high waist, I felt like they needed to cinch. With the inch-wide waistband, cinch they did. Comfortable, cool and the word I only use sparingly—chic—they’re worth every penny." — Rebecca Rhys-Evans, acting deputy editor
Shop the Trousers:
Style Notes: A cropped cigarette trouser with a classic slimline silhouette, high waist and a tapered leg.
Material/s: 100% wool
Sizes: 6-18
Colour/s: Black and navy.
Pros
- Luxury feel for a semi-affordable price point. Whilst not cheap, I have Toteme trousers that feel the same.
Cons
- Perhaps a little too cropped for anyone 5"6' and over (I’m 5"4').
Shop More Black Trousers:
For a more traditional look, opt for The Row's Felicita Pant. Inspired by suiting, they're made from a structured wool twill and finished with front double pleats, an adjustable back buckle strap, side-seam pockets and a satin side stripe.
Tailored trousers don't just have to sit up high on the waist, as this pair from Reformation proves. With a cropped waistband, this style will look exceptionally chic with satin scoop necks and peasant blouses alike.
Billowing and bold, this balloon shape is designed with pleats that protrude through the leg before drawing in at the ankle, creating a really graceful silhouette that complements so many figures.
As straight-cut as a Vogue Slim, this pair sits fitted through the hips before tapering at the ankle. The pleat through the middle also enhances the structured shape.
Crafted from wool silk, this pair offers an incredibly luxurious feel without the designer price tag. The streamlined shape perfectly balances oversized knits and shirts, too.
Designed between Helsinki and Stockholm, Almada has become a pioneer of modern Scandinavian luxury and minimalism. These trousers are fluid and soft, with fabric that promises to be resistant to creasing and easy to care for.
A favourite for discerning dressers like Jennifer Lawrence, these trousers are made from Japanese cotton-poplin with a crisp yet lightweight feel. The pull-on style is shaped with a relaxed barrel-leg silhouette, making it the epitome of casual luxury.
Understated with an elastic waistband and 100% wool composition, the slim, gathered waist offers that throw-on-and-go elegance.
Are Black Tailored Trousers in Style?
Black tailored trousers are one of those styles that transcend the trend cycle, meaning that they are always in style. With a timeless appeal, they’re a true classic that really withstands fashion fads.
What to Look for When Buying Black Tailored Trousers
When you're investing in a pair of black tailored trousers, there are several elements to consider. The fabric composition is crucial, as it dictates longevity and quality. Look for natural fibres like wool and silk, as these will prove the most durable and comfortable, though the trousers themselves will often be softer and more fluid compared to the sharper styles associated with synthetic fabrics.
The length and shape are equally important. Wide-leg styles were the most common tailored trousers a few years ago, but now, slimline styles are proving more popular. For those looking for their first pair, I’d always recommend looking for a straight-cut style that’s slightly loose through the leg and features a soft pleat through the middle, which is why Reformation’s Mason Pant is our vote for the overall best black tailored trousers.
How We Tested the Best Black Tailored Trousers
Who What Wear UK’s fashion editors rigorously tested the best black trousers. Beginning by looking at sales data and best-sellers, including speaking to buyers and industry experts, we narrowed down a list of top styles according to what’s most popular and desirable. Then came the actual testing process. Wearing these for hours at a time and across numerous different settings, we reviewed them based on how stylish they looked and how comfortable and luxurious they felt, especially based on their cost.
Why Trust Us?
At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.
We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.