We’re hitting hard on mom jeans right now because we get so many questions about styling them! I’ll admit, I wasn’t fully on board with this particular denim style until I recently found the perfect faded black pair.
As a team, we’ve had a bit of debate and discussion as to what exactly constitutes mom jeans, but, in my eyes, almost any pair that is fairly high-rise, baggy in the knees and not skinny is pretty much a mom jean. I honestly think it’s the baggy knees that sets mom jeans apart from other styles. This all just dawned on me one day.
I’ve found that cropping almost always helps to achieve an actually flattering mom jeans look. Your ankle area is the slimmest part of your leg, so you balance out the fabric of the knees by drawing the eye down to the slim ankle area. CROP! If there were more jean fabric down there, this wouldn’t naturally happen.
My second trick is to TUCK. You gotta tuck, just like Abby said in the amazing video she and Shana did last week. Not into tucking? I get around that by wearing cropped sweaters or sweatshirts with my mom jeans. And most of the time, I’ll even half-tuck the cropped shirt, too. This creates that flattering, nipped-in-at-the-waist look without adding more bulk to the hips.
So, why do we overanalyze and spend hours figuring out one style of denim, you ask? BECAUSE FASHION, BRENDA. Haha. I mean, because mom jeans are literally everywhere right now, and we at The Mom Edit cannot resist a good fashion challenge. (Remember the cropped flares drama of 2015? Yup.)
Outfit Ideas: 4 Shoes & Boots That Nail Mom Jeans Style
For me, it was all about finding the right pair of mom jeans. Mine are high-rise, but not super high-rise. I went up a size so they wouldn’t totally dig into my belly. They’ve got that slouchy, tapered shape that’s on-trend, but in a version I can live with and actually reach for all the time (mine are super-comfortable, too). Do I have you convinced yet? Here are four ways I’ve been wearing them…
*Fit info: I sized up a few sizes in the Topshop mom jeans I have. The fit info says the 30W fits like a 28/29 and I’m typically a 27 in jeans.
1. Mom Jeans With Heels
I find that this is the most flattering way to wear my mom jeans. Add some height and a sexy pointed toe, and you’re ready for date night. I love this look (you may recognize it from last week’s #TMEStyleChallenge). It’s casual, yet put-together and chic. Now I just need it to warm up so I can wear this on date night. (Also, I need to schedule a date night.)
blouse / jeans / heels (similar)
2. Mom Jeans With Combat Boots
This is so easy for everyday, and it’s what I’ve been wearing on repeat. Warm, comfy and perfectly casj for my daily Portland jaunts (read: outings for coffee).
jacket / sweatshirt / jeans / boots
3. Mom Jeans With Western-Style Booties
This is a trickier pairing to make super-flattering, but I still like it. Stick with a slim ankle on your booties or even more of a heel than I have here (these have a typical western-height heel, like 1.5″).
blouse (8 US, but slightly big) / jeans (30 petite,fits like 28) / boots (TTS) /
bag (or similar)
4. Mom Jeans With Sneakers
I love this combo and plan to wear the heck out of it. This shirt is cropped, but I still did the half-tuck to create the illusion of more leg length and to show off the waistband.
sweatshirt (similar) / jeans / sneakers
Shop More Mom Jeans I Can Live With
I’ve linked to mostly reasonably priced jeans below. While I love me some high-end denim for skinny and straight leg fits that I know I’ll wear for years, when it comes to something like mom jeans, I like a lower price point. I find Topshop, Free People and Urban Outfitters’ brand BDG perfect for this. Sometimes I have to size up in these brands, especially Topshop due to UK sizing differences, but it depends on the jean and the fabric content. I want to check out that Boyish brand I keep eyeing at Shopbop, too! Let me know if you’ve tried it.
xo,
L
Hey, friends. Hop on over to follow me on Instagram @laurajansenstyle to see more of what I’m up to in Portland, Oregon. If you want to shop my current pieces I’m loving and wearing, head over to My Closet!
