'Mom jeans': being a curmudgeon? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

'Mom jeans': being a curmudgeon?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Hi. Alison@ Wardrobe Oxygen just posted a review of Everlane's higher-waist jeans now that they've extended their sizing somewhat.
https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com.....eview.html https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com.....eview.html
My immediate reaction, as someone who's got a similar figure, is "yuck. doesn't look flattering at all, I'd never wear those." Is this internal body shaming? A prejudice against early-90s styles (omg, the faded black wash, I had so many jeans like that)...

I know Angie says our eyes eventually adjust to silhouettes and proportions, and I know they do, but I'm really struggling with this one.

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from BrieN

Diana

Veteran

I actually think the black ones look really good on her, and I’m not generally a fan of the high rise look. (I do love 90’s style faded black denim though!). I’m not a fan of the blue ones, because they have that poochy crotch thing going on that often happens with mom jeans.

Anonymous

Not a fan of "mom jeans" per se, but I like that higher rises exist since people's bodies have different proportions! So, what looks awkward on a person with a short rise would be normal looking on someone with a long rise.

Anonymous

These are flattering from the back, but less so from the front view. It's hard not to put one's own body issues/fears/dislikes into play though ...but the button fly is only drawing the eye to a place that I don't personally love .However - if the wearer is comfortable and likes it, then that's all that matters. I'm not fond of mom jeans myself - tried a few pair on , and don't like what it does to my lower stomach area. Poochy, bumpy , as Diana mentioned above, and I don't need the extra fabric sitting up under my rib cage

Anonymous

I like the black jeans a lot.
But the last pair, the "cheeky straights", are good from the back, but the front view is not right on her.

Anonymous

Thinking the black ones might be more flattering because the style itself is more curvy, while the other more linear style would be more flattering on a straighter, narrower figure.

It sounds like you feel like you already did this look? Maybe a spring time version in a shorter length would seem fresher?

LaPed

Veteran

This is so interesting. I wear the Cheeky Straights at the other end of the size range, 24/25/26, depending on the wash and what kind of fit I want to achieve. On me, the Cheeky Straights look more or less like the black skinnies do on Alison -- a sort of relaxed slim leg. I have the regular length and it hits right around my ankle bone, maybe a bit above (5'4" with a 31" inseam). I can wear them full-length or rolled depending on footwear. The ankles are the right width to wear inside tall boots or outside short boots, which is pretty magical.

I also tried several sizes of Everlane's original skinny jeans when they did their first denim release, maybe a bit over a year ago? And, predictably for skinnies, they didn't fit me at all. Not keepers. Saggy in the waist/hip and too tight in the thighs and calves. I would probably need to size up about four sizes to avoid sausage casing on my calves. I have muscular legs relative to my waist size. My legs do not give the impression of tapering the way Alison's do. (I might use the term "tree trunks" on days when I'm feeling down about myself.)

Bottom line: What's amazing to me is how different bodies need different cuts to achieve the same basic silhouette. I am rejoicing that mom jeans and high-rise straight jeans are available these days because they are "my" skinnies. Yay variety!

Anonymous

I'm with Diana. The black ones I like on her, but that pooch area on the blue ones kind of ruins the look to my eye.

Helena

Veteran

I think its hard too because if you wore it in the 90s (as I did), you also spent the 00s hearing that it was a terrible style that looked awful on us all. It takes time to re-adjust for sure ... And perhaps it's not for you and that's fine too!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What LaPed said. Even if your general body type is the same as another person's, the body type modifiers will change the item's fit and it might look quite different on you. I personally like the black skinnies on Alison and also like the back view of the blue mom jeans, but I don't think they're quite the right cut for her on the front. But adjusting the length might have helped a bit there. I also think the narrow-heeled bootie might not have been the best choice with these outfits.

I tried a pair of CoH straights that felt a bit similar to me -- I can't really say why but I just felt the cut was "off" and it may partly have been the lack of taper on the bottom combined with the relatively snug fit up top on the thigh. I am unsure. (Ended up returning those).

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Laura, I liked a photo on Alisons' instagram a few days ago (black jeans outfit). I think she looks fabulous in the black jeans and in that outfit.

I like the blue jeans less, but they are trendy. It's a styling thing in that pic more than anything else - and she mentioned so in the comments.

I'm not a big '90s fan. In fact - it's my least favourite fashion era. I like the '80s vibe of these (early '90s), and have a high tolerance for the look. I wear Levis wedgies myself - so clearly, I'm biased towards liking the silhouette.

Levi's Wedgie Icon Jeans

View Info

Top Pick

12

Levi's Wedgie Icon Fit High Waist Crop Jeans (Bauhaus Blues) | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

15

kkards

Veteran

i think its also the color of the cheeky jeans that she's wearing....as she also mentions....i'd have loved to see them in black to have a real comparison...i love the black button fly on her

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I m with the crowd on this.l like the black jeans but not fond of the blue.Every body’s shape is different and certain styles will flatter more that others .l don’t think that recognition of this fact is body shaming.Its not a size thing ,it’s a proportion thing.

MsMaven

Veteran

These jeans don't seem so much like Mom jeans as I remember them. I'm happy to see a little higher waist become available. Weren't Mom jeans a bit baggy through the upper thigh?

During the 80s & 90s I had a terrible time finding jeans I liked that fit me well. When DKNY came out with straight leg jeans I at last felt at home in them and liked the way they looked then.

I agree with most of you that the black pair look and fit better. Right now I have a poison eye for black jeans though.

LaPed

Veteran

The other thing I noticed is that the way those Cheeky Straights are cut in the larger size really illustrates the challenge of scaling a garment up or down in size. On Alison, the leg openings give almost a dungaree look, whereas on me those same jeans follow the contour of my legs pretty closely. Do all people with larger waists have larger ankles and need a wider leg opening? Not necessarily. Do all people with smaller waists have smaller ankles and need a narrower leg opening? Again, not necessarily! So it's really a situation where no single design can please everybody. (Dug up some photos for reference.)

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Lesley

Veteran

I am echoing everyone else to say I love the black and less so the blue.

Suz and LaPed, you guys are rocking it! I thought I could never do high-rise skinny (had no interest, even) but then I tried a few of the toothpick jeans on from J.Crew and color me converted! (Pardon the dog gate and house shoes...)

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Style Fan

Veteran

Another love for the black ones. I remember these fondly from the 90s. Bring them back. I also wore something similar to the blue ones. I don't mind revisiting trends.

Runcarla

Veteran

Gosh but she has a lovely curvy body and has styled those black jeans to perfection! I think she looks great.

The thing about a higher rise is that it resolves muffin top! However, I'm not ditching my current jeans for a 'new' highrise profile, because a 10 inch 'mid' rise covers my belly button, and Is highrise on me. Any higher and the waist would be uncomfortably at my rib cage. Since I rarely tuck my tops into my pants, rise doesn't really matter.

In conclusion, folks with a build like the blogger's have a good review with pics that can inform their purchase.

rachylou

Veteran

They both seem fine to me. The cut on the blue doesn’t seem a perfect fit - they seem to be sagging a bit at the crotch and I find the hem a little off somehow... may a smidge too long or narrow. However they both seem very modern, which I approve of.

Momo

Veteran

I like the black. Not the blue.
But as I read the post she feels the same way?

Aliona

Going against the grain, I prefer the blue BUT w/the help of tailoring. Haven’t looked up the fabric on either but the black pair look like that ubiquitous thin, stretch fabric that creates a multiple-horizontal crease effect on the thighs, knees and ankles. On everyone. Pet peeve of mine as it adds unnecessary visual distraction from the good parts of the fit. And that button-pulling on the fly? Wouldn’t happen on heavier cotton. On the blue, the bumfling on the leg can be corrected with hemming and waist shaping would help at the top. That straight-across horizontal waist? Jeans never used to be made that way. So I agree with Laura, both are yuck, but IMO it’s more the cheap fabric and corner-cutting construction than the style. I love mom jeans but they have to be 100% cotton —no less than 98% anyway—and have the right heft and tailoring to work.

BrieN

Veteran

I like the black high rise on her - those buttons are great but I’ve somehow suddenly developed a poison eye for skinny jeans. So weird. I’m wishing everyone into bootcuts and flares (including myself)