I guess the logical progression after we’ve covered mom jeans is now…dad jeans. I don’t name these things, y’all, I just style them up. But, as silly as the name seems to me, I adore this fresh fit.

Dad Jeans: High-Waist, Straight-Leg Denim

What are dad jeans you ask? Well, they’re a wider straight-leg cut, relaxed in the booty, and are now made a bit more modern with a higher rise. Sounds weird, but there’s something new (and old, of course…super ’90s) that I just love about these. As I was searching for alternatives to the Topshop pair I have here, I found that essentially, you could size up in just about any higher rise, straight-to-wide leg rigid jean and get dad jeans. The lines are blurry here, friends, but that’s what I’m going with. You can see where I initially fell in love with them here.

Fit notes: As I always have to do in Topshop pieces, I sized up. I go with the US sizing in parentheses to decide which size, so mine are said to fit like a 28/29 and my typical jean size in fitted denim is a 27.

How To Style Dad Jeans

On me, these jeans are obviously too long, but I actually adore them cuffed. Again, it’s something different, y’all. I live for different. Hi, I’m Laura and I’m an Aquarius. Surprisingly, too, these jeans also work with a range of shoe options. That’s always the test, right? I’ve worn them with everything from heeled boots (see my recent post here) to high-tops and loafers, from moto ankle booties to Dr. Martens. I think the only shoe that might not jive is a small profile shoe, like a ballet flat. Good thing I never wear ballet flats. Haha. I think they’re just too delicate for the cuff here, but even a flat mule looks great! And if you’re taller or hack off the jeans with no cuff, we could say just about every shoe would work with these. Let’s get into the two ways I’m styling them up here for now and later.

Dad Jeans Now: With A Cami & My Favorite Taupe Booties

I love this look. I don’t know what you call this but, again, it’s something different that I haven’t worn to death over the past few years. It’s a mix of sexy / moto / ’90s dad vibe? Hahahaha. I DON’T KNOW. I’m good at styling, bad at labeling. I’d just add my leather jacket when it gets cool! If you’re a cardigan gal, an oversized cozy one in ivory or taupe would be lovely for warming this look up, too.

cami (S-ooh or this one on sale!) | Topshop dad jeans (30-size up or this non-ripped pair) | Frye Ray Harness boot (TTS on sale!) | Rebecca Minkoff Mac mini crossbody (or similar Minkoff bag for under $100!) | face mask (some of our very favs)

Dad Jeans Outfit For Later: With An Oversized Jacket & Doc Martens

Oversized is back, y’all, and I have to admit I’m here for it. Let’s all start dressing like Mary Kate & Ashley again please (I feel like that would be the fashion equivalent of the giant hug from the universe that I so need right now…).

This outfit is my first journey back into that vibe and it’s SO comfy. This quilted jacket …I can’t even tell you…it’s like if velvet met a baby’s bottom. That’s how soft it is. I love that it’s shorter in the back, too. Rad find for sure. And it also comes in olive, red leopard and a faded leopard print. (This olive one from Gap is on sale, but I cannot attest to whether it’s velvet-baby-bottom soft or not.) And let’s give a little hooray for me finally finding the Doc Martens I wanted to keep. Yay! These are soft leather (no stiff breaking-in period) and have just a bit of a heel on the back, but aren’t a thick, heavy platform which just isn’t me. I think they’re a little bit more flattering than the flat Docs I kept trying, but they still have that classic vibe I was missing in the chelsea style or the more hiking boot style. Love these.

BlankNYC quilted jacket -S at Nordstrom | at Zappos | on sale at Amazon (only a couple left) (or this one from Gap) 

Vince sweater (s) | Topshop dad jeans (30-size up or this non-ripped pair) | Dr. Martens Clemency boot (some sizes on sale at Amazon)

Shop More Dad Jeans

So, I don’t know that my dad has ever worn jeans quite like these, but hmm. Maybe I’ll ask him. He is quite the clothes horse. Whatever name they should or shouldn’t have, hooray for baggy jeans!

xo,

L

Hey, hey from Portland, OR. Would love for you to follow me over on Instagram for all things casual mom-wear, lots of foodie pics and donuts, some kitchen dance parties and some social justice. xo

Photos by the lovely Posy Quarterman Photography.

This one’s for the pinners…