Hey, hey, new Mom Edit readers. I know we have new peeps joining us all the time, so I wanted to give you a little heads-up about my jean posts: they **may contain (only) distressed jeans.** My style is casual, edgy, sporty, and a little bit classic sometimes (I love mixing preppy with edgy, like SO much) so if you don’t like distressed boyfriend jeans, just count this as your warning. You will not find dressy, work-appropriate denim in most of my posts (or in this one). Also, being the stubborn Aquarius Sun, Taurus Rising I am, I do not like trying on things I don’t like. Haha.

That being said, I LOVE a good jeans try-on. I just can’t stop testing out all the jeans that seem so good online, in order to find that newest perfect pair each season. It’s seriously my favorite thing ever and kinda what I’m known for around here. To use a term I loathe, it’s in my wheelhouse. Heh. Perhaps I woke up on the sassy side of the bed this morning.

The Abercrombie Curve Love mom jeans we all tried did NOT work for me, so I had to keep searching. I adore my AGOLDE Riley straight-leg jeans so much, but I hadn’t ventured into boyfriend jeans territory in a long time. So, what better time than right now to do some important denim research? Let’s dive in…

What Are Boyfriend Jeans?

For the sake of being specific, let’s talk about what a boyfriend jean fit is. Boyfriend jeans are straight-cut, lower to mid-rise, straight leg jeans. I mean, I guess it is a classic men’s cut jean, honestly. I always think of it as a weekend kinda jean, where it’s a bit loose and comfy in the fit — like you borrowed your boyfriend’s jeans. I also think the name is kinda lame and wish they’d just call ’em weekend jeans. Everyone has weekends, not everyone has boyfriends. And I like to think we wear our own clothes, #thankyouverymuch. K, thx for coming to my tiny TED Talk.

I have this amazing pair of Madewell Slim Boyjeans (different wash…you can find some more like mine on eBay) that I’ve loved for years, so could this style work for me again?

5 Pairs Of Boyfriend Jeans, Tried & Reviewed

Let’s dive into the try-ons, shall we? I tried five pairs ranging from under $100 to um…, well over $100, because I can’t resist those high-end washes. We’ve got Citizens of Humanity, FRAME, Free People, Moussy Vintage & Hidden brands in the mix here. I didn’t try any newer Madewell Boyjeans because I just wasn’t blown away by any of the washes.

I sized up in all of these below for a few reasons: a) quite a few were rigid denim, b) I have a booty and thighs that typically need a size up in straight fits, c) who even knows what my actual size is any more or what sizing is anymore, in general. As usual, it’s a bit all over the map (hence, probably why I still have a job here doing exactly this).

1. Best Wash, Cutest In Pics:
Citizens of Humanity Emerson Slim Boyfriend

So this first pair, the Citizens of Humanity Emerson Slim Boyfriend = one of the more popular pairs of boyfriend jeans out there. They continually sell out in their various washes. I had a pair a few years ago that I wound up passing on because I didn’t love the wash, but I still think about them. So I ordered up this pair to try.

This is essentially 2 sizes up from my typical size, but they were out of 28s. This wash, Tease, is a rigid denim and will give with wear, so I would say only size up one size.

The verdict? These look adorable. I love love the wash, the butt looks good and the distressing is spot-on for my style. The length is even fine on my 5’4″ self, which is rare. BUT. Y’all. I cannot do a lower rise anymore. Perhaps I would if I found bodysuits a thing I’d actually wear regularly. Perhaps. But if you look at the booty-view, you know why low rise is tempting, so tempting but no.

It doesn’t work for um, sitting. At all! Or bending. Or, being human. Ugh. Cute for pictures, not for life. How did we used to survive in these? Haha.

CoH Emerson jeans in Medium Blue (29) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

CoH Emerson jeans in Medium Blue (29) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

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2. A New-To-Me Brand:
Hidden Jeans Ripped Slim Boyfriend

OK, so these are an under-$100 brand at Nordstrom I hadn’t heard of: Hidden Jeans. They are SUPER soft, y’all! The wash is v on- trend, but I’m still on the fence about it. The distressing is great. If you need a really comfy pair of jeans and you like the boyfriend fit, these are great.

I sized up to a 28, and they fit in the butt and thighs, but were loose in the waist, which I think IS that boyfriend cut. So I’d say if you don’t want slouchy, stick to your normal size.

Hidden BF jeans (28) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

Hidden BF jeans (28) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

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3. The Highest Rise:
FRAME Le Original High Waist Boyfriend Jean

This pair from FRAME boasts an 11.5″ rise and while I’m not sure that’s a typical boyfriend fit, it is one of my favorite pairs. Probbbbbly because they look the most like Levi’s, honestly. Haha. I love you forever, Levi’s. These are adorable. These are also rigid denim, so they’ll take a bit of work to break-in. This is the kind that will mold to your shape as you wear them.

To assist in breaking them in, try Julieta’s trick of spraying the tight areas with water and wearing until they dry. I’ve done this with multiple pairs of Levi’s and it works so well. If you want a slouchier look, size up.

Frame Le Original jean (28) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

Frame Le Original jean (28) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

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4. The Ones I’ve Been Curious About:
Moussy Vintage Boyfriend Skinny

The washes on Moussy denim (pronounced moo-see for my fellow language nerds) ALWAYS make me do a double-take, so I decided to order them and try. I’ve only tried them once before and knew they run small, so I tried both one and two sizes up. They did not disappoint, friends. But I get it, whew, that price point. (Ooh, but at least they are on sale right now!)

What I love love about them is the wash and the distressing here. The butt is also good. I’d stick with just the one size up and let them break-in. They’re rigid denim, too. The downside to these is that I adore the back hem distressing, but would want them a bit shorter in front…always the dilemma for us semi-shorties. I think I’d trim the front in a bit of a curved cut and leave the back as-is. So tempted with these.

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Moussy Vintage BF skinny (28) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

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Moussy Vintage BF skinny (29) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

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5. Sadly, Just No:
Free People Slim Boyfriend

It could be these rolled cuffs paired with the mules I’m wearing, but no. These were better in my head when I tried ’em. I think this style would need a heel, which I’m not really rocking right now. These are super soft and comfy. I wouldn’t size up two sizes (sometimes I have to in FP jeans,) but these stretch. A 28, one size up, would have been fine. I also don’t adore the wash. It’s fine. The price point is decent on these, too. Maybe the black pair would be more my vibe?

FP Slim Boyfriend (29) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

FP Slim Boyfriend (29) | tee (m) | mules (similar)

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In Conclusion: I Don’t Like Boyfriend Jeans

I mean, it was worth a shot, right? I just realized while I like them in pictures, I don’t actually like them on my body, especially with flats. I’m used to high rises now and, with the exception of the FRAME pair, these were all mid- to low-rise. And that makes sense seeing as they’re boyfriend cut, but sometimes you just gotta try things on to let it really sink in just why you haven’t tried this style of jean for a while.

Here, for comparison, is a current favorite pair of non-boyfriend jeans. These are the Madewell Perfect Vintage that I’ve had for a bit now, broken in a bit, and hacked off at the ankle. A high-rise and an ankle crop will always be more flattering on me, especially with flats. And maybe that’s just it. Boyfriend jeans are cute for going out, with heels on. And that’s not really happening right now.

Madewell Perfect Vintage (28) | sweater (similar) | loafers

Next up? I’ll try out more straight leg jeans for spring! Have no fear. The jeans posts will always keep coming atcha, friends. Per usual, let me know in the comments if you have found a magical pair of boyfriend jeans we all need to try out! Until next time…

xo,

L

Hey hey…would love you to follow all my daily style musings, donut pics and dance parties over on Instagram @laurajansenstyle. I try to keep it real over there, with a side of fun and a good dose of social justice…coming at you live, from sunny Portland, Oregon. 😉