A shocking thing happened this past week: I’ve been substituting these new straight-leg distressed Levi’s for my wear-on-repeat MOTHER jeans. For those of you who follow The Mom Edit and my selfies, you guys know I wear these silly MOTHER jeans a lot! Like a WHOLE lot! And have for a while now. So it’s kiiiind of a big deal that I’ve been reaching for something new.

And I didn’t just reach for these Levi’s this week, I reached for them and actually wore them several times out and about…and liked it! Even though I still love my MOTHER crop jeans — and I assure you they’re not going anywhere — I’m intrigued by the idea of working some other denim styles this fall in to my daily casual uniform.

Denim (28) | Birks | Top (XS) | Similar Top | Bag (sold out) | Earrings

Even though I haven’t necessarily acknowledged it in my fashion choices, I AM aware that the denim fashion trends have been getting looser and looser and more relaxed. I don’t always follow those fashion trends, though. I like to pick and choose which ones I get behind and which ones I strongly pass. I didn’t get on board with skinnies (NOT my personal style for sure), and I never felt like I wanted to rock tapered mom jeans (despite trying a few times). Looser and more relaxed, though, sounds pretty good. Especially when we’re talking straight-leg and flare jeans.

Fall Denim Refresh: 8 Casual Outfits Ft. My Fave Jeans + Straight-Legs & Flares

Although I adore my MOTHER The Insider cropped jeans, I do wear them a LOT. I could definitely use a new style to break up the monotony this fall, and I would love to incorporate a style that’s different from my usual fitted cropped flares.

I decided I need to play with the options. I knew I wanted to see how some of my casual fall outfits — which I usually wear with my cropped MOTHERs — looked with the Levi’s ribcage jeans I just brought home. I also, however, have these more-relaxed MOTHER flares that I haven’t fully incorporated into my day-to-day, despite LOVING the way they feel (so comfy!). Figured it was worth cutting the flares a bit shorter, so I could wear them more often with casual shoes, as well as take a look at how they work with some of my fall go-to’s.

Now, for playtime! I tried eight casual fall looks below, each with three different styles of denim — my wear-on-repeat cropped MOTHERS, my brand-new straight-leg Levi’s and my new-ish relaxed MOTHER The Tomcat flares. Spoiler: I don’t think any one pair of jeans looks best with ALL the outfits. I like my older cropped jeans with some, my newer relaxed flare denim with others and my newest Levi’s with some too. Curious to see what you guys think!

Here we go! Let me know your favorite looks (or any you think don’t work) in the comments — this can be a collaborative post!

**For details on sizing and fit, scroll down to the bottom of the post.

1. Cashmere Vest & Clogs

I love this Anthropologie sweater vest with all the denim. 100% cashmere, available in five colors and super-versatile. You do have to adjust the neck a bit to get it to behave, but it’s SO freaking soft. I love the oversized fit and detailing on the front. For fall, I’ll likely wear it with just a cami underneath, but you can see on the model that it can be worn as more of a top layer over long sleeves as well. Would also be great with pants for a more professional look.

Jeans (29) | Vest (S) | Bag | Clogs | Earrings | Bracelets

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Vest (S) | Bag | Clogs | Earrings | Bracelets

2. Pretty Green Sweater & Tan Boots

This Anthropologie 100% cashmere sweater is also super-soft, and the dark green is gorgeous in person. SUCH a pretty color, and I like the relaxed-fit V-neck that can do the slouchy, slightly off-the-shoulder thing at times. Note that the back is open on this sweater, so I haven’t figured out yet what I want to do about that. I’ve been thinking about trying to find a low-back bra (but with regular straps), so this sweater might be the motivation I need. In terms of a simple sweater with my newer denim styles: I like it with the Levi’s, but I feel like it’s a bit of a boring look with the darker MOTHER The Tomcat flares. (Looking at these photos, I think all of these looks actually need a bigger, bolder bag for my personal style.)

Jeans (29) | Sweater (XS) | Boots | Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Sweater (XS) | Boots | Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

3. Side-Button Tunic & Birkenstocks

I SO want to rock this look! I feel like I am CONTINUALLY searching for the right proportions in tunics. This isn’t quite it. BUT this cotton side-button tunic (also by Anthro) comes in petite, so I’m hopeful that sizing will work better. It also comes in a crisp white as well as a pretty light copper, in addition to the stripes below. It has side buttons that look great unbuttoned as well for more movement and a different shape. I think if I had the right sizing (petite), it would work with all the styles of jeans.

Jeans (29) | Top (XS) | Birks | Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Top (XS) | Birks | Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

4. Oversized Sweater-Blazer & Hoodie

One of my most-worn fall looks: jeans, sneakers and a cardigan. This fall, I’m going to be wearing my new Vince oversized sweater-blazer on repeat, so it was important to me to see how it looked with my newer jeans. I knew I loved it with my older MOTHER The Insiders — I wear these jeans with oversized cardigans ALL the time. I think it works fine with the flares, but I don’t know about the Levi’s. It feels like maybe too much oversized on top of oversized with all the layers. I don’t mind baggy with baggy — I like the oversized white cotton-gauze button-down featured in the first photo in this post with the more-relaxed Levi’s. But I think too many baggy layers (below) with the Levis might be too much on me.

Jeans (29) | Hoodie (S) | Sweater-Blazer (XS) | Sneaks | Bag | Earrings | Sunnies

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Hoodie (S) | Sweater-Blazer (XS) | Sneakers | Bag | Earrings | Sunnies

5. Ruffle Linen Top (Fall In Philly Can Still Be HOT)

I have gotten SO much wear out of this Faherty ruffle top. It’s 100% linen, so it’s lovely to wear in hot weather, and the ruffles and cute little buttons on the side just make me happy. Kind of a surprise summer hit. And I think it may look even better with the newer styles of jeans than my trusty go-to’s. Yes?

Jeans (29) | Top (S) | Similar Wedges | Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Top (S) | Similar Wedges | Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

6. Going-Out Top & Heels

My husband looked at this photo and was like, “WHEN have you EVER worn something like this?” He’s right…never. Actually, maybe a couple of times during the pandemic when I was desperate to wear real clothes to our back kitchen area and pretend we were at a bar. I do like to play with outfit combinations, though, and see what these newer jeans would look like with high heels in case I ever DO feel like going “wild.” BTW…the heels are Naturalizers and super-comfortable for heels, and this Vince Camuto mock-neck top is a great base layer under a cardigan or blazer as well. Note: There’s not an ounce of natural fibers in the top — looks and feels like curtains…in the best way possible. And I think it works with all the denim types but especially the Levi’s.

Denim (29) | Top (S) | Heels | Similar Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Top (S) | Heels | Similar Bag | Earrings | Bracelets

7. Sweatshirt & Sneakers

The true test: How do these jeans look with a casual gray sweatshirt? Hmmmm…I don’t know. Having a hard time deciding on this one. Fine? Not great? I’m SO used to the silhouette of the more-fitted MOTHER The Insiders — maybe I just need to get used to seeing myself in a looser, bigger silhouette. The Levi’s and flares definitely feel more modern to me, for sure, which I like.

Jeans (29) | Sweatshirt (S) | Bag | Sneaks | Earrings | Sunnies

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Sweatshirt (S) | Bag | Sneaks | Earrings | Sunnies

8. Cozy Around The House

It’s quite often in fall that I’m out and about but then return home to get some work done before school pickup. I usually stay in my jeans but switch to slippers and a cozy cardigan or this Zella wrap jacket. And then…I often lose track of time, never switch back out of these pieces, and end up going to school pickup wearing the cozy, meant-for-home combination. So…how does the cozy combo work with all the jeans if I find myself outside of the house wearing these pieces together? Similar to the Vince cardigan: I don’t think the oversized top layer works as well with the baggier Levi’s. Not enough shape contrast, I think.

Denim (29) | Sweatshirt Wrap (S) | Tee (XS) | Lined Birks

Jeans (28, left) | Jeans (29, right)
Wrap Jacket (S) | Tee (XS) | Lined Birks

Sizing + Fit:
Levi’s Straight-Leg Ribcage, MOTHER The Insiders & MOTHER The Tomcat Flares

For reference, I’m 5’2″, 137 pounds, with smaller upper body and larger lower body (pear-shaped). I wear size 28 to 29 in jeans in most brands.

Tee (S) | Fancy Clogs

Left: Levi’s Ribcage Straight-Leg Jeans (28) – I typically wear a 29 in Levi’s, but the 28s in these ribcage jeans fit well. The denim is softer than other Levi’s I’ve worn, and even though the waist is very high, I wore them out to dinner, over-ate (per usual) and was fine keeping them buttoned. I often regret wearing high-rise cotton denim out to dinner (and have been known to unbutton my jeans on my walk home), but I was surprised that these Levi’s did not make me miserable. Maybe it’s the 1% elastane or the softness of the denim? Whatever it is, I’m quite pleased.

Middle: MOTHER The Insiders Chew Hem (29) – I’ve worn these jeans in a 28, 29 and 30 (they’ve been my favorites for a while) to try to assess the best fit for you guys. My fave fit is a size 29. The 28s fit me, but they’re a squeeze and need to be really stretched out after going through the dryer. The 30s are perfect when I put them on initially but then get a little too saggy with wear. The 29s are just right. These jeans do stretch and relax with wear, but if they’re just a little snug when you put them on, they ease up perfectly, so they never feel saggy. They’re definitely still fitted-style jeans, though — at least on those of us with a curvy bottom half. MOTHER jeans are tricky with sizing. They’re all over the place with their fits, but I can confidently recommend going one size up from your typical jeans size. Two sizes if you want an even more relaxed fit.

Right: MOTHER The Tomcat Flares (29) – These are uber-stretchy and comfortable. I’m wearing a 29, but I think I likely could have gone down to a 28. These have plenty of room in the waist and, after several wears, need to be washed to shrink back up. So if you’re deciding between two sizes, maybe go with the smaller one — unless you want the roomier more relaxed feel.

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OK, I’m ready for it… What do you guys think? Do I branch out and work one of the newer, more-relaxed jeans into my fall rotation or stick with the MOTHER The Insiders I’ve been wearing for what feels like forever? ny looks you’re particularly liking or not liking? Or other jeans you guys are loving for a denim refresh?

-Linzi