Ten ways to wear the Paula Ryan Ankle Pleat Basque pant

A pair of trousers that blends line, comfort, and versatility is a quiet wardrobe luxury, and the Paula Ryan Essentials Ankle Pleat Basque pant in Microjersey black has become one for a great many women.

Cut in Italian Microjersey with a basque waist that sits flat across the midsection and a tapered ankle that lengthens the line of the leg, it is a piece that asks very little and gives a great deal. Here are ten ways to wear it.

Why the pant works so well

The Ankle Pleat Basque pant is made for Paula Ryan in Italian Microjersey. The fabric needs no ironing, holds maximum resistance to pilling, and retains its shape after repeated washing, so the line you bought is the line you keep, wash after wash. The basque waist sits flat and the tapered ankle draws the leg long. It is comfortable enough to live in and considered enough to wear anywhere, which is why it travels so well. Available in black and navy, in sizes XS to 3XL.

Ten ways to wear it

1. Easy daywear with sneakers

For a relaxed but pulled-together look, pair the pant with a crisp white tee or an easy knit and your favourite sneakers. Right for errands, a coffee with friends, or a long day of walking a new city.

2. Smart casual with flats

Lift the everyday version with a fine blouse and elegant flats. This sits comfortably between ease and polish, at home in a smart-casual office or over a long lunch.

3. Ready for travel

The pant is a natural traveller. The Microjersey folds flat, recovers overnight, and needs no iron on arrival. Pair it with a simple tank and a light cardigan or a tailored layer for an outfit that carries you from the plane to wherever you are headed.

4. Evening with heels

Take the pant out for the evening with a silky camisole, a sharp tailored layer, and heels. The clean line reads sleek and quietly modern.

5. Layered for winter

As the season turns, reach for a merino or cashmere knit and ankle boots. The tapered ankle sits especially well above a boot. Pictured below: Paula Ryan Ankle Pleat Basque Pant in Merino.

6. With a tailored jacket

A tailored jacket balances the proportions and adds a contemporary edge, ideal for the in-between weather of a changing season.

7. Balanced with a boxy top

The narrowing at the ankle pairs beautifully with a shorter, boxy top, for a shape that is both easy and considered.

8. A canvas for a statement top

The understated cut of the pant makes it a quiet backdrop for a bolder top, whether a printed blouse or a beautifully detailed knit. The clean line keeps the focus where you want it.

9. Monochrome depth

Wear the black pant with a black top and layer for a long, unbroken line. Universally flattering, and quietly confident.

10. Simply comfortable

In the end, the best way to wear the pant is whenever you feel most yourself in it. The comfort is built in, so the confidence tends to follow.

A piece that keeps showing up

The Paula Ryan Ankle Pleat Basque pant earns its place not through novelty but through use, the kind of garment you reach for without thinking and keep reaching for, year after year. You will find it, with the rest of the line, among our pants.