I was just chatting the other day with a girlfriend of mine, and we both found ourselves complaining about how hard it is to find work pants that fit great. They’re either too long, too baggy in the bottom, too tight, or just not as befitting as we’d like them to be…

Case in point: I’m 4’11” with an hourglass silhouette, short bust and short legs. And honestly, saying that finding pants that fit well is more than an understatement…So far, Express “The Editor” pants have been my favorite, but my friend recently suggested that I should try Banana Republic’s pants.

So what are we looking (AND not looking for) in a perfect, or at least a well-fitting, pair of work pants:

• The “Hanging” Waistband: if you find yourself pulling your pants up every time you get up, or find that your pants are anywhere below your belly button, the fit is simply not appropriate.
• The “Hanging” Crotch: Yup, it is as bad as it sounds. If the fit is loose enough that there is a suspect amount of fabric between your lady parts and the bottom of your pants, then you need new pants.
• The unflattering “camel toe“: The popular expression is as unflattering as the effect of ill-fitting pants that hang way too high. Too tight pants are not appropriate for work (even for those with the body shape for it), nor are they very comfortable to spend the day in and actually be able to concentrate…Just sayin’…
• The “second skin” syndrome, referring to pants that are so tight in the thigh/leg area that they literally look like second skin. Not only does the fabric on said pants tend to thin out over time, but you run the risk (literally) to have your pants bust out at the seams.

Martin-fit Pants – $98 – bananarepublic.com

For our lunch shopping break, we are suggesting the Martin-fit pants from Banana Republic, which comes in Regular and Petite sizes. I love the mid-rise fit and trouser silhouette, that is universally flattering. It’s $98 at Banana, to which you can add a 35% discount on your entire purchase (and 40% off if you use your Banana Republic card).

Readers, any thought on what makes a great-fitting pair of work pants?