Another yay.

Maybe because I bought virtually the same style and wash last season although they were DKNY. I find mine insanely comfortable (that nice high but not tight waist) , my teenager loves them on me and I find them easy to wear. Such a nice break from the skinnies and they feel fresh again. Yes, I did wear something similar but not the same in the eighties.

I'm a nay, mostly because when I see these new "high-waisted" styles on gals out and about, and in pics, they are usually quite fitted, so that they almost have a retro 50's feel about them. To my mind, but obviously not others, the high waist and the loose fit don't go together, mostly because the slouchiness on a low rise jean "fits" with the slouchiness in the rear, legs, etc.

Does that make any sense?

My first thought? They look great, especially in 1 and 5 but also in 4 and 6.

My second thought -- not completely convinced about the rise...something is looking a bit odd there. And I remember that was a tricky issue with that high waisted style back in the day...sometimes they'd be too long in front and too short in the back so you felt like you were getting a permanent wedgie. But the back view looks good.

I totally get the desire for a high waisted BF style that you can roll. This makes sense to me (and would be a good addition to my closet, too.)

I do not seem to have the same negative associations with this style as others. I do know it can be unflattering on some, but these particular ones are not unflattering on you. Although I think i might experiment with others for comparison.

And now I see that Angie has given a nod to them. well, maybe I'm not nuts after all.

Thanks so much everyone, these Mom jeans are leading to an interesting discussion and more thoughts from me.

Deborah -- your comment about Dexy and Bananarama made me laugh! Yes I loved those days too. I actually was not into these Mom type jeans back then, I wore mostly black and vintage clothing back then, preferring a New Wave look with maybe a slight punk touch.

Neel -- I agree the tucked look doesn't work. It really, really emphasizes my short waist. Although, going with my body type (curvy, short waisted, pear-ish) is actually one of the things I like about these. Inspired by In My Joi's horizontally striped skirt post, I've been of the mind to try outfits that go with my shape rather than mitigate it. There is something liberating about celebrating your unique body even if it goes against what is conventionally flattering (usually that means, trying to rectangle myself as much as possible). This going with what you've got creates a striking look and it's kind of bold and refreshing. I think Diana also pulls off this approach and it inspires me.

El Cee -- I appreciate your point of view, that these might be too literal. There is a part of me that thinks, if they are literal, they might come off as unintentional and therefore frumpy. I guess it just depends on how frumpy I'm willing to go. If someone doesn't think my outfit looks intentional, is it a crime.

I have to take a moment to remove a splinter from my Mom's foot (LOL?) so I will be back to reply to the rest of you…

Got the splinter with the help of a magnifying glass and reading glasses!

Viva -- thanks for your honesty. I agree the high waisted style has its negative points. I remember when lower waisted styles started coming out in the mid 90s (early 90s were super high), I was so happy. More comfortable, and more flattering on short waisted me. It could be there is a *slightly* lower waisted style that would look better. Thank you for your detailed opinions on all of the links.

I have to admit that one of the things I like about the UOs is the $59 price, and good quality too. Not made in the USA, but since I blew much of my Spring budget on the R&B pajamas, I need to juggle a bit to work these other jeans back into my budget.

Fastkat -- Great name! Thanks for your vote of confidence in the edgier options I posted (#4 for example). You're right I did not have any in my closet like this in 1985, see my comment to Deborah above. So maybe that's why they feel new to me. The closest thing I had to pants like these was in the early 90s to mid 90s. We wore baggy high-waisted jeans, more straight legged than tapered, cinched at the waist paper bag style. Pictured below.

Angie -- You are right the are only "maybe" flattering and we are not used to seeing such a high waist tucked. But you totally "get" what I'm doing here which is to have fun with fashion, try new looks, and get out of my own comfort zone. You are 100% the reason I am having so much fun at this stage in my life, and I can't thank you enough. One of the most important lessons I have learned from you is that to make a look work, it only has to achieve a small amount of flattery and that in fact some of the most modern looks have less or no figure flattery at all. Do we have Leandra Medine to thank for that? Or the avant garde Japanese designers? This would be an interesting discussion.

donnat -- I had to laugh out loud at your accurate description of the problematic side of the Mom jean! With the potential of camel toe!

Shiny -- Yes! You have to love UO's marketing here. I think Rae would agree, Mom jeans are not a negative with really young kids (teens). I remember ClearlyClaire saying a few years ago that her DD would go thrifting with her and would pick out the worst Mom jeans and then wear them intentionally/ironically.

I am actually not trying to wear them ironically, although I hope they look intentional. I really just see them as a newer jean style that is high waisted and goes with cropped tops.

Gaylene --your comment about the name Mom Jean rings true. And while it is true Boyfriend jean sounds cooler than Dad jean, a Dad jean might still be the butt of fewer jokes than the Mom jean. If you think about it, there is something mean and sexist about it even. This is what I love about Phoebe Philo of Celine. She is taking the ultimate comfort shoe (a mainstay of the Mom look), a Birkenstock, re-inenting it, and pairing it with tailored suits and dresses. Zara is all over this look and I too am so excited to have comfortable footwear back in style.

Jeanie -- I agree, it's a fine line here, between intentional and dowdy. I appreciate the comment about keeping the rest of the look edgy. What do you think of this rendition, in black as you suggested? I thought it was so high contrast, and took your eye straight to the hip area, but maybe I different black top would work.

Rae -- Yes the C/Es are fab! If I lost some weight a pair of my Trues might look like that. I hope you do not feel I am going to battle too much with you on this topic. I do respect your opinion -- it's all processing with me, sometimes slowwwwwly though. Being that I have a rebellious streak which I know you do too!

Greenglove -- I could see you in this look, you have stayed true to your love of cropped tops. I look forward to seeing you in this kind of jean! Thanks for the support.

Beth Ann -- I saw someone in SF dressed in Marilyn jeans, she was short and curvy and they looked AMAZING on her!!! Thanks for the idea, I must try this!

Diana -- I get the high rise poison eye. As I said before, I had a decades long high rise poison eye. I thought it was a perpetually unflattering on me, and was so glad for the low rise. I think what's changed, is that I have more love handles and muffin top than before. Especially over the past 5 years, I am 55 after all. I like the way a high rise holds you in and does not allow any plumbers peeks etc. So there is some function in these, it's not 100% about seeking a new look (although that's the most of it).

Mia -- High-five high waist jean wearer! I'd love to see you in those, must check out DKNY. I love her Pure line, have you seen that -- no denim in that line but true to her original 90s vision.

Sarah -- Yes, I do get how a high rise and full cut are problematic. I fully admit the frump potential in these, and this could be at the heart of their controversy. As in, why am I going there, when, at my age, I need to fight frump for all it's worth? Why even go there when, to Rae and Una and others points, there are so many more flattering looks out there.

Suz -- I think we have a similar eye -- 1 and 5 are my favorites too. Yes one of my main concerns is the rise. It kind of folds in a weird way. That's why I'm going to try a size up. I did try the next size up in store, but they were so much bigger in the waist, it was like there was a 2 size difference. Sometimes the best thing is to try multiple versions in multiple sizes, what with manufacturing differences -- but they had very few left in stores. (Yes I think they are selling! Even with that name "Mom Jean.") To your point I might experiment with different versions -- once I have the money set aside as the others are all multi-fold more expensive than these.

Gryffin how do you do it?!?!?

Hugs back to you, Darling Denise. Wearing looks that are "just flattering enough" allows us to sport items and combinations that are outside of the box, leave off those high heels (if you're me, that is), be creative, try something new, and most importantly - have fun with fashion. There is more to a killer sense of style than heels and creating that forever sought after long lean line. My outfit post hits a few of those notes too. This is 2014 style - and we have figure flattery options.

Yes, I have two workhorses from the Pure line! I actually wore out one cardigan and had to replace it. Of course I am old enough to remember her original concept with the "easy pieces". I find her clothes generally very comfortable to wear. Always pockets in her dresses which I love. Anyway, I digress.

I realized my jeans are actually labelled boyfriend but the wash and high waisted curvy fit at the top is "mom jean" all the way. It's just semantics anyway and the willingness to try something new is what I like to see! Keep the product modelling coming. So helpful.

Another (late) yay here. Especially 3,4,5 and 6. I am floored that they sell "Mom" jeans now, and that it is trending! But you look great in them, especially how you style them.

I'm a little late to the party only the slight taper gives these away as "mom jeans". They appear to be BFs because of the rolled hems and the modern styling (good job!). If you love it I see no reason not to keep them unless you want to pull out the football shoulder pads and teased 80's hair ;-).

I really like higher-rise jeans when they're part of a long lean line. When they fit right they don't punch you in the stomach when you sit down, either.

I dunno about these. I just don't think they're very special. If they feel amazing on, ignore me. But I think you have other jeans that are more obviously wow.

Coming back to this (and not trying to argue, just analyzing), I wonder if my issue is that they work best to my eye when you downplay the mom jeans aspect and make them work more like slouchy skinnies or BFs - in which case why not just wear those instead?

Except for the cropped top part, which is obviously a main objective of these for you, am I right?

Carry on! I will continue to follow your journey with these. And I totally copycatted you and got the R & B sweatjeans.

Hmmm- I agree with Una here I think.
I would only wear with the waistband covered if they were more comfy than my lower-rise BFs, and this would defeat the purpose of the higher waist
Is there any point in wearing a possibly less-flattering cut of jeans just for the sake of edginess?

Krishnidoux -- thank you! It is constantly amazing to me that fashion re-defines beauty. This is what I like about Mom jeans. By making something ridiculed and ugly into something feminine in a nerdy-cool way. Which subtly re-aligns our opinions on body shape. If a Mom jean even in a small way, makes a small, short waist and amble rear, a good look, I'm for it. Similarly, I love the way the long, lean leg line is being subverted by cropped pants with a dropped crotch. It makes you look at a long torso and short legs as beautiful.

Day Vies -- I am so hoping for shoulder pads again, I need help in that area like other girls need a push-up bra (not saying' that's what you need LOL).

IronK and Una/Alaskagirl -- I'm not sure these are the best "Mom" jeans either. They feel a little too high in the waist to me. I was playing with them again today and having second thoughts about this pair. Like I said I want to try a bigger size as well as some of the other high waisted bf jeans. However at $59 these are still an acceptable place holder/experimentation tool to me.

Lyn -- wearing these with the waistband covered does not defeat the purpose at all IMO. When I raise my arms, you will not see skin with a cropped top. That is an important benefit. Also, I like the feeling of being "held in" by a high waist. And finally, I am looking forward to wearing higher waisted briefs with these. There is simply something comforting about the girdling effect of both items. When I drive, I do not have to look down at the roll sitting above my low rise jeans.

Give up figure flattery to be edgy? I think so, yes. It makes sense to me. This is part of my quest to have fun with fashion. And the Mom jean is also about body acceptance to me.

Yes, I agree that if this rise is more comfortable for you then that in itself is a valid reason to wear.
Who knows, you might be one of the first to catch-on to higher waisted pants cycling back to be the 'latest trend'

The thing I love about fashion is that is can be sometimes so surprising, shocking, and downright crazy! I am totally flabbergasted that we now have a term for these kinds of jeans, and not only that, they are back in style. This always happens--I must've kept a pair of high rise jean shorts for ten years. I think I finally got rid of them 2 summers ago because "above the belly button". Now...they're back. Of course. Not that I'm complaining--so over low rise jeans.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the total "mom jean" look -- as differentiated from a mere high-waist jean -- is one that should be left to people who weren't born yet when it was the norm.

Otherwise, I just think there's too much room for confusion over whether one looks modern or out-of-it.

I'm cheering the reappearance of high-waisted looks but I'll stick with them in other cuts. There's so much variety now that no one is stuck with one type of jean, the way we were when mom jeans were the only game in town.

I missed this thread several days ago - but Shannon referenced it so I just had to check it out.
I would wear these jeans in a second. I don't know if that makes you feel like you want to wear them or if it makes you feel like you don't want to wear them. LOL But I think they are just so fun. I like them best with the super cropped top - or with the top tucked in. So fun to try a new denim silhouette! Did you decide to keep them?

Had to come check out this post after seeing your comment on the blog today. I like that you are trying out this style. I swear, you can look good in anything! (And you do inspire me with your posts, as I mentioned in my blog comment.) I actually like #2 and #3, in concept. I also have a short waist and wonder if the Mom jeans trend won't be a way to play up my body shape. I like your idea of going a little bigger with them, especially seeing those photos you posted above. I could totally see you pull off a look like #3 in the b&ws.