Fashion Clothing Pants The 13 Best Faux Leather Pants That Can Be Worn Year-Round The Aritzia Melina Pants have a soft sheen and are universally flattering. By Madison San Miguel Madison San Miguel Madison San Miguel is a Contributing Writer for the commerce team at InStyle and has covered everything from travel recommendations to new beauty and fashion finds. InStyle's editorial guidelines and Bianca Kratky Bianca Kratky Bianca Kratky is a fashion & beauty commerce writer at InStyle. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on March 30, 2023 @ 03:33PM Pin Share Tweet Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews What to Keep in Mind Your Questions, Answered Why Shop With Us We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Nordstrom/ Abercrombie & Fitch / Aritzia I love jeans, but there’s just something special about a great pair of leather pants. Not only do they allow you to quickly transition your typical office attire to an evening out with friends, but they also instantly elevate any outfit. And while once noticeably different than real leather, faux leather has come a long way, looking nearly identical to the real thing — it even lasts just as long, too. Faux leather pants are offered in a variety of styles, colors, finishes, and rises that enhance their appeal, even at their high price point. With all of these options to choose from, we researched and tried the most popular faux leather pants on the market to make your shopping experience easier. Earning the top of our list is the Aritzia Melina Pant, thanks to its soft sheen, slim fit, and five-pocket styling that universally suits everyone. Keep reading to learn more about the best vegan leather pants. The 13 Best Faux Leather Leggings of 2023 For Fall And Beyond Our Top Picks Best Overall: Aritzia Wilfred Melina Pant at Aritzia.com Jump to Review Best Splurge: Miaou Lace Up Pant at Miaou.com Jump to Review Best Budget: MakeMeChic Faux Leather Pants at Amazon Jump to Review Best Slim Fit: AFRM Straight Leg at Revolve Jump to Review Best Cropped: Commando Faux Leather Paperbag Waist Crop Pants at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Straight: Abercrombie & Fitch Vegan Leather 90s Straight Pants at Abercrombie.com Jump to Review Best Plus-Size: Good American Good Icon Faux Leather Pants at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Flare: Edikted Faux Leather Flare Leg Pants at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best High-Rise: Madewell High Waist Straight Leg Faux Leather Pants at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Mid-Rise: Apparis Trey Pants at Apparis.com Jump to Review Best Overall Aritzia Wilfred Melina Pant 4.4 Aritzia View On Aritzia.com What We Love: The finish is buttery soft and smooth and doesn’t have a sticky feel.What We Don’t Love: The sizing runs a bit small, so you may want to size up for a roomier fit. If you’re obsessed with the Melina Pant (like me), then you know the vegan leather alternative will be just as good even before trying. Like the original, these are a high-rise straight that are universally flattering and have a unique five-pocket styling (plus, come in three different lengths). When I slipped these pants on (which were kindly gifted from the brand), I would have never guessed leather, or in this case, vegan leather, would fit my three requirements in bottoms: extremely comfortable, stretchy, and breathable to wear. The stretch mainly has to do with the polyester lining in the interior, but the exterior is made from buttery soft polyurethane (a blend of synthetic materials) that adds to its mobility. Aritzia’s innovative vegan leather not only feels like the real thing but looks like it, too. Anyone who has shopped for faux leather pants or other garments before is aware that it can look the complete opposite (ahem, pleather). With these pants, you will not have to worry about their appearance or an annoying squeaky sound as you walk. The only issue you’ll be running into with these pants is selecting a color from the 20+ options available. Colors: 28 | Fit: High-rise straight | Material: Polyurethane exterior and polyester interior | Size range: 00 - 16 in three lengths Best Splurge Miaou Element Lace Up Pant Revolve View On Miaou.com View On Revolve What We Love: The lace up front helps to accentuate the waist, while the front slits add a little bit of a statement.What We Don’t Love: The pant leg might be too long on shorter heights. You’ve most likely seen Miaou’s iconic corsets on the likes of Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber. But just like their timeless staple, these fitted low-rise, lace-up pants are nothing but sexy. Instead of a zip-up closure, a lace up front draws the eyes to the waist and allows for custom adjustment. And if you follow the detailed seams down the leg, you’ll easily notice the front slits at each hem that will work well with any heeled boot, pump, and sandal – the perfect twist to your typical leather pants. Colors: Black | Fit: Low rise straight | Material: Polyurethane and rayon | Size range: XS - XXL Best Budget MakeMeChic Faux Leather Pants Amazon View On Amazon What We Love: They’re very stretchy and flattering on thicker thighs.What We Don't Love: They might fall a bit short on tall people. These leather pants had a little viral moment on TikTok. According to the reviews, these live up to the hype. They’re stretchy, comfortable, and flattering around the middle. Some even pointed out that if you have thick thighs, the impressively stretchy fabric hugs them in the most pleasant way — basically, they fit properly without constricting movement. However, our tall friends might find the hem a little too short for their liking (unless they’re going for a cropped look). If you lean on the petite side (according to the reviews, five-foot-four looks to be the cut-off), you’ll find these lightweight pants a wonderful addition to your wardrobe. Price at time of publish: $50 Colors: 6 | Fit: High-rise, straight cut| Material: Viscose, polyamide, spandex | Size Range: XS - XL Best Slim Fit AFRM Heston Straight Leg AFRM View On Revolve View On Shopafrm.com View On Zappos What We Love: Not only are the pant’s incredibly soft, its silhouette is flattering on everyone.What We Don’t Love: They fit bigger around the waist, so reviewers suggest sizing down. Inspired by the style of the ‘90s, AFRM's Heston Straight Leg truly hits at all the right places. Reviews have called these pants one of the most “flattering” and “comfortable” pair of faux leather pants they’ve tried, even considering them the best on the market. Not only are the pants super soft, they’re designed to lengthen and enhance your silhouette thanks to their five pocket styling. Plus, they come in four vibrant colors to match with the brand’s faux leather Koa Top for a monochromatic look. Colors: 4 | Fit: High-rise slim straight | Material: Polyurethane | Size range: 24 - 32 Best Cropped Commando Faux Leather Paperbag Waist Crop Pants Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Neiman Marcus View On Shopbop.com What We Love: They’re stretchy enough to wear all day, and can easily be dressed up or down.What We Don’t Love: The waist belt doesn’t hold up the pants snugly. The paperbag style has always been in, and the Commando Paperbag Waist Crop Pants prove just that. Designed with a four-way stretch, relaxed fit, and tapered leg, these pants will easily be the bottoms you transition from work to drinks in. You can remove the tie belt for a looser fit, or wear with the pants to cinch the high waist. No matter how you choose to wear them, they’re a great addition to every wardrobe. Colors: 4 | Fit: High-waisted relaxed | Material: Polyurethane, viscose, and elastane | Size range: XS - XL Best Straight Abercrombie & Fitch Vegan Leather 90s Straight Pants Abercrombie & Fitch View On Abercrombie.com What We Love: No matter your height, these pants will definitely fit you at just the right length.What We Don’t Love: Not everyone will love the ultra high-rise waist. One thing I love about Abercrombie’s sizing is that it comes in multiple lengths. These 90s Straight Pants (which were kindly gifted from the brand), are available in four – extra short, short, regular, and long – so you never have to worry about the legs of the pants dragging or rising above the ankle. They feel and look super luxe, and are ultra high rise all the way up to the waist (but still manage to flatter my body) for a true 90s fit. Colors: 2 | Fit: Ultra high-rise straight | Material: Polyurethane coating, polyester, and elastane | Size range: 23 - 37 in four lengths Best Plus-Size Good American Good Icon Faux Leather Pants View On Nordstrom View On Cruisefashion.com View On Flannels.com What We Love: The pants move perfectly with your body.What We Don’t Love: They gap in the back on those with wider hips and bigger butts. From their “Better Than Leather” Collection, Good American launched a collection of excellent, size-inclusive faux leather pants. Senior commerce editor Chloe Anello tried out this pair, noting that they feel slippery smooth (a good thing), so it's effortless to pull them on — no need to jump, pull, or tug to get them over your hips. The fabric flexes with your body to give you a full range of movement, especially around your hips, which is something that can't be said for many stiff pairs of leather pants. Though, Anello says it does tend to gap a bit in the back due to her wider hips, but she tucked a shirt into the pants, and it looked just fine. We love how these pants feature a straight-leg fit that sits perfectly in between boyfriend jeans and skinny jeans. They look slightly more tailored without being constrictive, yet they aren't exactly loose or baggy. We appreciate how inclusive this pair is, and they definitely will look great on lots of body types. Colors: 2 | Fit: High-rise straight-leg | Material: Polyester | Size range: 00 - 26W Best Flare Edikted Luna Faux Leather Flare Leg Pants Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Edikted.com What We Love: The flare leg creates an hourglass silhouette when on.What We Don’t Love: We wish these pants were made from stronger materials. Similar to most products by Edikted, these pants will add a little bit of flare to your wardrobe, literally. The shape is super fierce and only enhances your figure by creating an hourglass silhouette. While it is hard to find stretch in faux leather, especially in faux leather pants, you won’t have any issue with these because of its spandex blend. Colors: 6 | Fit: Flare | Material: Polyester, rayon, and spandex | Size range: XS - XL Best High-Rise Madewell The Perfect High Waist Straight Leg Faux Leather Pants Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Madewell.com View On Stitchfix.com What We Love: The high-rise waistband accentuates the waist, while the rest of the pants hug perfectly around the hips and thighs.What We Don’t Love: The sizing runs small. Trust me, Madewell’s faux leather pants (which were kindly gifted from the brand) are truly the perfect vintage jean. The cut is described as a straight, ‘90s supermodel-inspired jean with an irresistible waist-accentuating high-rise, which in real-life, is all completely true. The fabric is extra soft to the touch, and has a beautiful sheen that is far from being glossy. Only expect these pants to drape nicely along your hips and thighs, as it is meant to be fitted in these areas. Besides their standard sizing, the pants are also available in plus, petite, and tall, but after trying them ourselves, we think they run a bit small. Colors: 3 | Fit: High-rise straight | Material: Polyester and polyurethane | Size range: 23 - 33 Best Mid-Rise Apparis Trey Pants Apparis View On Apparis.com What We Love: The elasticated waistband and relaxed fit of these pants make them perfect for a day-to-night look.What We Don’t Love: We wish there were more stand-out design elements. Faux leather pants with an elastic waistband? We couldn’t ask for a better pair. Because of its comfy waistband, these pants can easily be dressed up or down, especially with their relaxed leg that fits loosely all-around. They’re an Apparis staple for a reason, and will most likely be one of yours, too. We just wish they had a few more standout details for the price. Colors: Black, dark brown, and cream | Fit: Mid-rise relaxed | Material: Polyurethane and viscose | Size range: XXS - XXL Best Red Free People Cassie Super High-Rise Straight Leg Pants Free People View On Freepeople.com What We Love: They’re straight-cut along the legs, but form-fitting around the bum.What We Don’t Love: The length might be a bit awkward. If it weren’t for Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the idea of wearing bright red leather pants might not jump to the top of your mind. However, the icon made the fashion statement into what it is today — and even decades later, we’re still looking for new ways to sport the flashy pants. This high-waisted option has all you need in pants: a zip closure, four pockets, and a stellar fit. While the leg portion is relaxed, the waist fits snugly, flattering your bum. With a 31-inch inseam, the length might be a touch awkward on those who are petite because they flare out to a 16-inch opening and will definitely appear more bootcut. And those on the other end of the spectrum might find them just a bit too cropped. We suggest measuring your inseam before purchasing to determine where they’ll land on you. Price at time of publish: $120 Colors: 2 | Fit: High-rise, straight cut| Material: Polyester | Size Range: 24 - 32 Best Liquid Commando Faux Patent Leather Pants Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Saks Fifth Avenue View On Zappos What We Love: The glossy finish sets these apart from your usual leather pants.What We Don't Love: You can only hand wash these pants. For something a little more glossy, try the trending liquid leather pants. With a bit of a “wet” effect to them, the fabric — a blend of viscose, polyurethane, nylon, and elastane — looks both stretchy and sturdy all at once. They crop just above the ankle in a slim fit, so it will be easy to pair them with some high heels. They’re also more form-fitting than some of the previous pairs we’ve included, which combined with the texture, makes them perfect for nights out in town. You must avoid machine washing them at all costs, though, or the glossy texture might get ruined — but hand washing every so often isn’t too bad. Price at time of publish: $228 Colors: 6 | Fit: High-rise, straight cut | Material: Viscose, polyurethane, nylon, elastane | Size Range: XS - XL Best Tall Cult Naked Killa Trousers Cult Naked View On Cultnaked.com What We Love: They’re made for taller women to wear with heels.What We Don't Love: The seam around the high can be a little irritating. The number of celebrities who have worn and loved these pants is quite impressive. Everyone from Ariana Grande, Normani, and Kendall Jenner (who has it in black and brown) have been spotted strutting around in the Cult Naked Killa trousers, and for good reason: they’re perfectly high-waisted and ridiculously comfortable. The best part? They’re made for our long-legged ladies. (The description after all says they’re “long enough for tall girls to walk in heels.”) Bianca Kratky, who’s one of the writers on this story and five-foot-eight, wanted to put this claim to the test and tried on the Killa trousers herself. Sure enough, they’re extremely flattering with her three-inch heels. Even with sneakers, they bunch up naturally and don’t drag on the floor. That being said, she found that the seam around the thigh can feel a little irritating after some time. Also, women with a little more booty might find these pants a little restricting around their bottoms. Price at time of publish: $270 Colors: 5 | Fit: High-rise, straight cut| Material: Recycled polyester, polyurethane | Size Range: XXS - XXL What to Keep in Mind Color We’re fans of neutrals, but when it comes to shopping for leather pants, we encourage shopping for shades outside of black. Consider a brown, camel, forest green, or cream to wear year round. Or, opt for a pop of color with brighter reds, browns, and greens, which are equally flattering and pair well with almost anything. Material Faux leather should mimic real leather in every way, especially in its feel, breathability, and durability. The primary materials used in faux leather are polyurethane leather and polyvinyl leather (also known as pleather). While polyvinyl leather is cheaper, it is less environmentally friendly than polyurethane leather, which uses synthetic materials. Contrastingly, polyurethane uses other fabrics to mold together, including nylon and polyester, that make it feel and look as though it is genuine leather. It also is more durable and softer than polyvinyl leather and shouldn’t crack and peel overtime, depending on the quality of materials a brand uses. To us, the higher price point for polyurethane leather-made pants are worth having pants that will last longer and require less maintenance. Fit and rise Searching for our desired fit in pants comes with trial and error. With many styles to choose from, ranging from straight to bootcut to a skinny pant, the right pair will flatter your figure, compliment your wardrobe, and provide enough comfort to wear throughout the day. But depending on your style preferences, some fits will offer you more or less room than others. Just as you would interpret from its name, a relaxed pant is roomier around the waist and thigh, whereas a slim pant is slimmer around the legs, but is not necessarily a skinny. A boyfriend pant, on the other hand, is much more baggier in style than a relaxed pant, yet offers a straight design throughout the legs. You will also have to take into account the rise in a pant, as most pants are available in a low-rise, high-rise, super high-rise, and/or a classic rise. Your Questions, Answered How do you wash faux leather pants? Depending on the pair you own, most faux leather pants can be put in the washer on a cold cycle. Like genuine leather, faux leather requires extra care, so when you clean your pants, it is best to place them inside a machine washable bag to prevent any damage. Another alternative to washing your faux leather pants is using a delicate, non-abrasive cloth dipped in water and a gentle soap to wipe over your pants. For both methods, allow your faux leather pants to hang dry or lay them flat to help maintain their shape and quality – never place faux leather in the dryer. Do faux leather pants stretch? Quality faux leather will fit snugly, never tight. But if you prefer a bit of stretch in your pants, good news: faux leather will gradually stretch over time, especially in areas like the waist, knees, and legs. To quicken the process, fabric softener and warm water can always be used. Why Shop With Us Madison San Miguel is a contributing writer for the commerce team at InStyle, and has covered everything from fashion week to beauty product reviews. Bianca Kratky is an in-house commerce writer with over two years of experience covering fashion and beauty products. In addition to their research, they tested a number of faux leather pants to provide the most accurate review. The 23 Best Blazers That Will Instantly Elevate Any Outfit in 2023