For years, I was convinced that the perfect work pants do not exist. I am a picky perfectionist when it comes to fabric and cut, and it seemed like every pair I tried was off in some area. Then came Anthropologie’s Maeve Colette Pants. Praised for being flattering on everyone, these wide-leg pants come in many seasonal iterations and this year, I finally decided to try them for myself. Are these $100+ pants worth it? I put them head-to-head with a more affordable option from Quince. Colette Pants vs Quince $50 Dupe: let’s see which one is the winner!
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The Colette Pants are praised for being universally flattering, with an elongating wide-leg design. They come in 4 different fit options (Standard, Petite, Long, Plus) ranging from sizes 23 – 34. Another plus is the versatility. These pants come back every season in a different color, print, or fabric (even denim), making it an irresistible wardrobe staple to own multiples of!
Recently, I committed to the Colette ‘Magic Fabric’ Wide Leg Crop pants, and I am already contemplating whether to get another pair. That said, if you don’t want to commit to a more stylish version, another great option is renting through Nuuly (get $30 off your first month using my referral link). Both Anthro and Nuuly are owned by parent company URBN.
As with any big (ish) purchase, I like to compare my options to see what is the best value. I paid $120 for my Colette pants, but was also tempted by Quince’s $50 option. So I ordered both, and here is how I felt about the two.
Below I compare Anthropologie’s Colette ‘Magic Fabric’ Wide Leg Crop pants against Quince’s Ultra-Stretch Ponte Cropped Wide Leg Pants.
I ordered my Colette Pants in size 25 Regular, and Quince in a size 0. For both pairs, I was pleased that the hip and waist were true to size. The biggest difference, however, is the leg opening. While the Colette pants felt like the perfect thigh-width, Quince’s ran much bigger on me. The difference in thigh measurements across both pairs is ~4/5 of an inch, which unfortunately meant the Quince pants looked baggy on my frame. The Colette pants are a form-fitting high-rise that gradually transitions into a wider leg, leaving no awkward fabric bulging.
Both the Colette Pants and Quince Ponte Pants had the same cropped inseam at 26″, which on my 5’6″ frame, hits just above the ankles. In addition, both pants have a comfortable amount of stretch so if you’re in-between two sizes, sizing down may offer the better fit.
The Colette Pants come in a few different fabrics, so it’d be unfair to compare the ‘Magic Fabric’ version to Quince’s Ponte material. But in case you are debating these 2 versions, there are a few big differences to note. Anthro’s ‘Magic Fabric’ is better suited for summer and warmer months, as it’s a sculpting woven fabric made with a viscose-linen-cotton-spandex blend. Meanwhile Quince’s Ponte Cropped Wide Leg Pants are made with nylon-viscose-spandex, which is a weightier, sleek, double-knit material.
Both are comfortable, but Quince’s version looks more professional, weighty, and is wrinkle-resistant. The Colette ‘Magic Fabric’ pants, on the other hand, are more versatile and lightweight, but wrinkle more easily. After putting them in the wash, they haven’t looked as smooth as when I first bought them. So if you’re someone who hates ironing, you may want to consider this pant in a different material (e.g. denim, corduroy, knit).
Here are images of the front and back – both pants have a similar darting in the back to stay fitted from the waist through to the hips. The Colette pants have slightly deeper pockets in the front + back, but you can also see here that they wrinkle more.
If you’re someone who appreciates variety, the Colette Pants are the clear winner with many different seasonal colors, prints, and fabric offerings. Additionally, I love the wider range of inseam lengths and sizes whereas Quince only offers neutral colors, 2 inseam lengths (24″, 26″), in sizes 0 – 16. Their cut and limited size range feels less petite-friendly. Another challenge with Quince is their best-selling colors tend to sell out quickly, so if you’re someone who craves bolder colors and prints, Anthropologie is the winner.
Having paid full-price for the Colette Pants, I see why this style is so appealing and worth the money. In addition to their variety of colors, prints, and fabrics, these pants are cut with a closer fit through the hips. On the other hand, Quince follows similar waist, and hip measurements but a larger thigh-width that looked awkwardly bulky on me.
My opinion, of course, should be weighed against your own proportions and preferences since the fit is not something other consumers have called out in the reviews. From a care and laundry perspective, I can definitely see Quince’s $50 version as the lower maintenance option, which is another point to consider.
If you appreciate the fabric of Quince’s Wide Leg Pant, but want a better fit, I will throw in a third option: Spanx’s Supersmooth Ponte Kick Flare Pant. These pants offered me a better, contouring fit with a similar fabric construction and weight as Quince’s Ponte version.
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