How to get a week of work outfits from one key piece

Lululemon's Daydrift Low-Rise Extra-Wide Leg Trouserslook like your typical, professional tailored work trouser. But on the inside, the Daydrift takes on more of a sweatpant feel. There's no zipper, for example, even though it looks like there is one on the outside.

Despite how comfortable and soft they feel on the body, these lululemon work pants appear more like crepe trousers to the naked eye. But, they are, in fact, made of lululemon's Luxtreme, which is a technical and stretchy fabric composed of nylon and lycra. (This is why you don't need to worry about ironing or steaming these too much, which I consider an advantage.) As someone who loves form and function, I also appreciated the deep pockets in these, including the card sleeve sewn inside of the right side.

Ahead, I styled a week's worth of work outfits around a pair of lululemon's chocolate brown wide-leg pants, which worked well across a range of looks from casual to more business casual. You'll even see how I incorporated the art of layering and the unique color combinations trend into looks for work.

A note about your tester

I've worked in tech, law, newsrooms, and fashion, so I understand there are a lot of nuances when it comes to your office.

I'm 5'4", which means I'm on the upper bounds of petite. Fortunately, Lululemon's Daydrift trousers come with two options for the inseam: a shorter 29.5" or the regular 31.5". I went with the shorter one, which left me roughly a half break when I wore them high-waisted.

Monday: Business casual for back-to-back meetings

When I'm stuck in meetings all day, I never want to be distracted by the discomfort of my clothes. That's why I paired the chocolate brown trousers with an icy blue short sleeve that matches the work outfit vibe I was going for thanks to its collar and button-up design.

In this ensemble, I didn't just feel comfortable all day long, but I also loved how the brown and blue looked together. (It's so much more fun than wearing a monochrome or black and white look.) Keeping in theme, I accessorized with a brown work tote, brown belt, and chestnut ballet flats.

Daydrift Low-Rise Extra-Wide Leg Trouser, Mahogany Muse

Button-Up Collared Short-Sleeve Shirt, Starch Blue

Tuesday: Commute-friendly for a day on-site

I firmly believe that dressing up according to the level of work you want to get done can yield results. Manifesting productivity early on in the week, I wore a blue button-up that matched the tailored vibe of my trousers, coincidentally wearing that blue-brown color theme again.

Jewelry always adds a sense of refinement, so I sported a cuff and statement ring for a little flair, but kept my work tote and shoes minimal.

I loved this look because it's comfortable but polished enough for those days where you commute to the office. The other thing I love about this look? It's versatile. Play with tucking or not tucking your shirt, depending on your own style and work environment.

Daydrift Low-Rise Extra-Wide Leg Trouser, Mahogany Muse

Wednesday: Power suiting to get over the mid-week hump

These trousers don't come with a coordinating jacket, so I had to flex my separates game.

For a more buttoned-up look, I wanted to do more than just wear a blouse and blazer. Instead, I dabbled in the art of layering by donning a black top as my base layer; a classic button-up shirt in pink; and a pinstripe, oversized blazer.

In accessories, I wore two silver cuffs over my shirt so that whenever I felt like taking off my power suit-looking outer shell, there was a fun surprise. It's a styling trick that Gloria Steinem talked about as one of her favorite things to wear, using cuffs to channel a sort of Wonder Woman vibe.

Daydrift Low-Rise Extra-Wide Leg Trouser, Mahogany Muse

Woven Relaxed-Fit Button-Up Shirt, Pink Pearl

Thursday: Polished for an office day that goes into dinner

Some work days are longer than others, including those where you may have to go from the office to a client dinner or happy hour after. For a more polished look, I paired the rich brown Lululemon pants with a jewel-toned and fitted top, tucked inside the pants.

On its own, the look works but is a bit underwhelming. To make it feel even more elegant and put together, I accessorized with a metallic cuff (gold or silver work!) and a sweater wrapped around my neck using the slip-loop method.

Daydrift Low-Rise Extra-Wide Leg Trouser, Mahogany Muse

Wundermost Ultra-Soft Nulu Crewneck Long-Sleeve Shirt, Remixed Marine

Friday: Relaxed for wrapping up business

Personally, I love wearing something a little more splashy and cheerful for Fridays. After being reserved for most of the week — keeping in line with what's chromatically common in a lot of offices — I wanted to finish things with a bang.

Lululemon's chocolate brown Daydrift trousers served as a great base for an outfit with a lot of colors, which is why I paired it with a bright and striped knit. Trousers like this make getting dressed for work cost less mental energy because they go with so many things. A bright or interestingly patterned sweater makes for an easy outfit formula here.

Daydrift Low-Rise Extra-Wide Leg Trouser, Mahogany Muse

The bottom line

I find wide leg pants are not only comfortable, but they also channel power and, in my opinion, are extremely versatile across aesthetics and seasons. Lululemon's Daydrift Trousers are the exact kind of piece you can use as a base for many work outfits.

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