What, exactly, are mom jeans? Good question. We’ve been discussing this very topic in the TME office, and have found ourselves somewhat dumfounded at how hard this is to answer. (I mean… S had a whole diagram on the white board trying to break down what they actually are.) We eventually came to the conclusion that if a boyfriend jean and straight-leg jean had a baby (with a high rise and slightly tapered leg??)…the mom jean is born. Helpful? One can only hope.

How To Wear Mom Jeans

We also couldn’t quite pinpoint what makes mom jeans so tricky to style…but we knew it was something. Maybe it’s their changing reputation: where once they were considered dowdy or mumsy…now they’re trendy. OR maybe it’s that our world is finally starting to appreciate a nice rounded tush (which these jeans are so good for) instead of bum-flattening (which I can’t quite grasp WHY you’d want this, but S and Linzi swear it was once a thing).

Regardless, mom jeans can still run into the gray area of mumsy, depending on how they’re styled. So. I came up with 4 easy ways to modernize them and steer clear of all that frumpiness.

5 Tips For Styling Mom Jeans

Tip 1: Tuck It In

I cannot overstate: tuck it in. Half-tucks are OK (they sometimes work with mom jeans), but what we’re really talking about here is the full tuck. Julieta and Shana go into allll the detail on how to tuck when wearing mom jeans in this video (and also have a quick discussion of where to crop ’em, too).

Tip 2: Add a Band Tee

No, I will not stop pushing the band tees. I wear them so often that at this point they’re basically my skin. Plus, they’re arguably the easiest way to make mom jeans less mumsy. They’re edgy, tuck easily into mom jeans, and, most importantly, comfy. Since the mom jeans show off the waist (especially when you wear ’em with a belt) add an oversized blazer — it works perfectly! A mini purse and tiny earrings add just a lil’ bit of chic. I added white booties for a statement, but regular black booties (or even sneaks) would totally work, too.

blazer or blazer 2 | tee | jeans | boots | bag | belt | earrings

Tip 3: Go All Chic Monochromatic

For a really chic look, layer on soft hues of cream and gray. With this outfit, I’d tuck the cami fully into the mom jeans since I paired it with a slouchy cardigan. Slouch on slouch (although I definitely try to rock this often) isn’t the most flattering. Adding the hoop earrings helps elevate it and make it day or night appropriate. To make it a little more eye-catching, I’m adding in some animal print!

cardigan | cami | jeans | boots | wallet | earrings

Tip 4: Rock The High-Tops

High-waisted jeans can help elongate your legs and make high-tops totally work (regardless of how tall you are or…aren’t). I love pairing sneaks like the ones below with slightly elevated pieces like the furry jacket and structured purse. Adding in the pop of mustard yellow with the turtleneck helps make this outfit match without being matchy-matchy. (I’d tuck the sweater just like Topshop did in their model photo which you can see here.) Also — if you decide to go for a bootie instead, I HIGHLY suggest this pair. I mean…. LOOK at those boots. I’d consider selling an arm and a leg for them.

jacket | sweater | jeans | sneaks | bag | watch | earrings

Tip 5: Add A Leather Jacket

Now this. This is me to the core. You can never go wrong with a good ol’ leather jacket and white button up. I’d slightly tuck the white button up into the jeans, and let the back hang out. I’d maybe even consider pulling a high-fashion, street style moment and only tuck the one side of the shirt in…(check out what I mean here.) Chunky military boots (or even some classic Vans if you prefer sneaks) are always a good go-to, especially with tricky jean styles.

jacket | top | jeans | boots | lipstick | belt | earrings

Shop Cute Mom Jeans Outfit Ideas

Don’t be afraid to rock jeans that seem a little more complicated than the classic skinnies. They’re SO fun and can make your look that much more exciting to look at. (Would also love to know if there’s any other jeans you guys are having a tough time styling. I’m up for the challenge!)

-Danielle