How not to look like a mom in mom jeans?

Aziraphale

I have recently become fixated on the subject of higher rises on jeans. Denim is an important component of my wardrobe (to put it mildly) and every fall I add a new pair of jeans in one of the current silhouettes. The current part is important to me. I have been doing some preliminary shopping, and the "current silhouette" involves, in all instances, a non-low rise.

So here's the problem. I am small, so even an 8" rise looks like mid-rise on me. A 10" rise nearly comes up to my belly button, and puts the jeans squarely in mom jeans territory. It makes me look like the very funny comediennes in that Saturday Night Live "mom jeans" sketch! My question is, as a middle-aged woman, is it possible to wear mom jeans without looking like I belong in that sketch? Young women can pull it off, but can older women? Does anyone have any styling suggestions?

11 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from trendin1234

karymk

Veteran

I think your figure type will help you out here! If they don't suit you, then don't wear them just to be "current."

There are still plenty of your favorite low rises out there that will read as current. AG, Seven for All Mankind, True Religion, Hudson--They all offer multiple styles each season to suit different tastes and body types.

Is there a low rise you can find with a special selvedge finish perhaps? Or one in a new wash that you haven't seen before? Or maybe one with a baby bootcut?

I don't think the "Mom Jean" silhouette looks good on most women. If you are young, thin, and NOT a mom, then they are for you. Put anything with more than an 8 inch rise on a curvy woman and you are into SNL skit territory.

And please no elastic waistbands!

11 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I <3 the way Jess Cartner-Morley is wearing hers in this video. I have been throwing my high rise jeans on with everything but prefer them with a simple v necked t tucked or semi tucked TBH.

http://www.theguardian.com/fas.....tips-video

11 years ago

Urbanfae

(website)

Active Member

I haven't bought any high rise denims yet for that very reason. I remember when the trend was the very high rise, and I don't want to go back to that. I'd also suggest wearing what looks/feels good rather than what's trendy.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

We've talked about this before, but I think this is one of those times I will have to find another way to keep my denim looking current. My body type just simply looks awful in high-rise jeans. I don't think it's age so much as build.

Even though I'm a fair bit taller than you (5'7"), it sounds like our rises are similar -- I think 10" hits my waist/belly button too.

11 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I would say if you're not tucking in your tops, the way to keep your denim looking current is by updating the wash and the leg width/shape. If your tops cover the back yoke of the jeans, how would anyone know just where the waistband falls?

Also, if you can't find the right jeans in the stores, you could always make them or have them made. There are Craftsy classes on making jeans (with Angela Wolf - highly recommended) and also on copying a pair that fits the way you like (with Kenneth D. King). Just sayin'

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

The jeans in the video linked above are not high rise jeans as I define them. True high rise jeans come above the hip bones, to or over the belly button, and come in at the waist. The ones shown may be a higher rise than was popular, but they are not mom jeans by my definition.

As for truly high rise jeans (those that come fully over the hips and to or over the belly button, coming in at the waist), they are very difficult to pull off, and unfortunately age does play a part. I am over 40 and I doubt anyone would look at me in high rise jeans and assume I was being current; they would instead assume the opposite, and that I had not purged my closet since the 1980's. Very young, very slim women can wear high rise jeans with cropped tops and show a sliver of skin, but high rise jeans are otherwise difficult to wear, IMO.

11 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Four things:
1. It takes time for our eyes to adjust to new silhouettes.
2. It's all about intention and attitude. I wear high rise skinnies and Mom jeans and because I don't think of myself as SNL sketch material, I feel good in them. And never mind if someone else is snickering in the corner. I truly don't believe that a higher rise pant is aging in itself. The devil is in the details as Angie says.
3. Not all high rises are equal. There is a high-ER rise at 9", the lower high rise at 10, and the truly high rises at 11" and up. I have jeans at all rises, and I wear them all although the 9 and 10" are more flattering on ME due to my short torso. For you, the same look could be had from an 8" rise, while a 10" might be above your belly button.
4. Assuming you do find some higher rise jeans you like, you don't need to show the high rise. I like wearing a top that falls a few inches over the waistband. Some would say that defeats the purpose of a high rise, but I like the girdled feeling of a high rise, and the lack of muffin top especially. I think one of my favorite things about the higher rise is that it creates a cleaner front silhouette. You no longer see pockets at the leg top, the pockets are around your hip bone or higher.

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I very much agree with CocoLion about liking the feeling of higher rise jeans. I also appreciate how they hold everything in, and when/if I wear them, I always have a top over the waist so most people can't really tell they are high rise pants to begin with. But I assumed that the concern over being "current" indicated that the higher rise would have to show, otherwise a lower rise could serve the same purpose and a person wouldn't need an "updated" silhouette.

And FWIW, I don't view pants with colour or other fabrics as "mom jeans". It is ONLY the denim in a certain wash with the high waist that ticks all the "don't" boxes for me. I freely admit that may be because my eye has not yet adjusted, but as we have discussed in the past, almost everyone has a poison eye for some particular wash of denim. We may not all agree on what it is, but most of us have one. Pants in green or pink or other colours wouldn't fit into the mom jean category for me because they lack the denim wash that in part defines mom jeans for me.

11 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think there will always be a variety of rises available....so if higher rises are not your thing there will be options.

Sometimes your eye adapts and sometimes it does not. My eye adapted to slowly to skinnies (on me) but quickly to boyfriends. I never liked platforms on the front of the shoe unless it is a wedge and still have poison eye for them.

11 years ago

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

My brand new NYDJ white jeans come over my belly button. I had no idea that that defines them as a "high rise." There is no way these could be mistaken for "Mom Jeans." I think Echo is right--it really depends on the wash, too.

11 years ago

Active Member

I agree with CocoLion. An outfit looks like Mom Jeans once you start wearing it with maybe a round neck tee and sneakers.
I would switch up the shoes - wear something trendy (but not bulky white sneakers). Heels would be awesome and so would be pretty pointy flats and partially tuck in a top/shirt in front. So that the front view showcases the highrise, but the backview prevents the dreaded Mom Jeans look.

11 years ago

trendin1234

Active Member

Its all about fit and attitude!!

11 years ago

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