Lululemon Daydrift Trouser Review: A Style Writer’s Honest Thoughts

4 min readI started my big-girl job as an editor during the work-from-home era, so my first real work wardrobe consisted mostly of clothes that looked acceptable from the waist up on a Zoom call (COVID graduate, baby). And if the pandemic taught me anything, it’s that comfortable pants >>> everything. Which made the transition to an actual office particularly difficult: Suddenly, I was supposed to build a professional wardrobe of office outfits from scratch while also accepting that I could no longer spend eight hours a day in leggings.SHOP THE LULULEMON DAYDRIFT HIGH-RISE WIDE-LEG TROUSEREnter: the lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Wide-Leg Trouser. I love a wide-leg silhouette because it’s super comfortable and easy to style, but finding pairs that still look office-appropriate was way more difficult. After wearing the Daydrift to the office for weeks in a row, it’s become a new staple in my work capsule wardrobe and something I wish I had in my closet when I first started swiping into the office. It’s extremely versatile and comes in clutch on those mornings when I’m running late and just need to throw something on and get out the door while still looking like I tried—which is about as strong an endorsement as I can give.ProsStylish and versatileComfortableOffice-appropriateConsPricey, but the style and comfort make it worth the splurgeSizes3XS—XLLengthsShort (29.5 in.), regular (31.5 in), tall (35 in.)Colors7Material69% nylon, 31% Lycra elastaneIt Feels Nothing Like My Old Work Pants.The first thing I noticed about the Daydrift trouser is how comfortable it is, which sounds like a low bar until I remember how many work pants dig in at the waist and leave marks all over my torso by the end of the day. The Luxtreme fabric (a blend of nylon and elastane) has a soft, smooth feel with enough heft to give the wide-leg silhouette shape and structure, but it doesn’t feel stiff or restrictive. The high-rise waistband sits comfortably without digging or pinching, and the roomy legs give me plenty of room to move throughout the day. I can sit at my desk for hours, walk around the office, and commute home from NYC to Long Island without counting down the minutes until I can change into my pajamas. I also love that unlike some of my other work pants, this pair is perfect for summer days. Sometimes I can overheat super easily in warmer weather (especially while running to catch the subway), but the breathable fabric and roomy fit help keep me cool on my commute and comfortable in the office AC.Shannen ZitzProof That Comfy Pants Can Still Look Like Real Pants.I’m already a wide-leg-pant convert, so the silhouette was an easy sell for me. The Daydrift has that relaxed, drapey shape I love, but there’s enough structure through the waist and legs that it still reads as a trouser rather than a lounge pant that wandered into the office. It’s a pull-on style pant without any front zipper or button, but it has a faux fly to maintain that work pant aura. There are also belt loops and pockets at the front and back, so it’s not skimping on functionality. I especially like styling this pant with a more fitted top or tucked-in tee and a belt to balance out the roomy shape, though I’ve also worn it with a sweater when I want something a little more relaxed. It’s a really easy pant to style and somehow always looks office-appropriate even when I’m going for a more casual, dressed-down look.It’s Extremely Versatile for an Office Pant.One of my favorite things about this pant is that I’m not saving it for Monday through Friday. It’s relaxed enough forrunning errands, grabbing coffee, going out to dinner—so it doesn’t fall into the “clothes I only wear to work” category, which is important to me as someone who’s trying to keep her wardrobe tight. I’d much rather own one pair of pants that can handle half my life than twelve pairs that each have one very specific job. It also works surprisingly well in my travel capsule wardrobe: It’s way more comfortable than the average pair of jeans on a long flight, but still looks like I made an effort to dress up when I land. Plus, it’s an easy pant to mix and match with my other basics while on vacation.SHOP THE LULULEMON DAYDRIFT HIGH-RISE WIDE-LEG TROUSERMy Final Thoughts.The lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Wide-Leg Trouser has essentially become the pants version of what I wanted my post-college work wardrobe to be all along: comfortable and stylish. I love that I can wear it to the office without feeling over dressed, but I can also throw them on for a travel day or a casual weekend and not feel like I’m headed to a convention. If you’re similarly tired of choosing between looking professional and feeling comfortable, this is the kind of pant that makes a pretty compelling case for having your cake and eating it, too.SHOP THE LULULEMON DAYDRIFT HIGH-RISE WIDE-LEG TROUSERShop More Wardrobe EssentialsCapsule Wardrobe Essentials | Best White T-Shirts | Most Comfortable Jeans | Best Capris | Best Swimsuits | Most Comfortable Sneakers | Best Summer Pants | Best Matching Workout Sets | Best Workout Tops | Best Workout Shorts | Best Travel Clothes | Most Comfortable BrasShannen Zitz is the Associate Style & Reviews Editor at Women's Health, where she covers all-things sneakers and activewear. Previously, she was an assistant editor at Prevention. Shannen graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor's degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men's Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.