Although dresses get a lot of attention in summer, for most women, pants carry the day.

"A good-looking pant is key when you figure it covers about 60 percent of the average body," says personal stylist Stacy Wallace-Albert. "That's a good reason to invest in a really well-made pair of pants in a good fabric and versatile color, like black, heather gray or taupe, that can be worn several times a week for several seasons."

She recommends a lightweight wool blend with a bit of stretch, or a virgin wool. Read the fabric content label and crush the fabric in your hand to make sure it doesn't wrinkle immediately. A good lightweight wool won't bunch or make noise when you walk and can be worn on all but the hottest summer days. A silky lining will ease the itch factor.

A few brands to check out:

$300 and up: Wallace-Albert's favorite pants brand is one also worn by First Lady Michelle Obama: Gunex (www.shopstyle.com). It offers different shapes and rises every season to fit curvy or straight bodies. She also likes Zanella and Bernard Zins (www.markshale.com). Piazza Sempione (www.neimanmarcus.com) is another high-end brand known for well-fitting pants in classic cuts.

$125-$250: Theory makes well-fitting pants in a number of blends (www.bloomingdales.com). Wallace-Albert likes J.Crew's high-quality Super 120 wools (www.jcrew.com).

$100 and less: Banana Republic (www.banana republic.com) and Liz Claiborne, designed by Isaac Mizrahi (www.carsons.com), are workhorses that start at less than $100. Lower-end pants are likely to be a synthetic blend, but they'll still be better-wearing than cotton, she says.

When trying on pants, go a size up if you see creasing across the crotch area; have the waist taken in if needed. Hippy women should pay special attention to pockets.

"Side slash pockets can be sewn shut so they don't spread out, and back pocket liners can be removed if they show through the fabric," Wallace-Albert says.