Remember when bootcut jeans were the fit du jour? Or how about the noughties, when most of us slinked into skinnies and never looked back? But fashion, as always is cyclical, and times have changed once again. This year more than ever, say the style set, it’s all about the mom jean – the high rise, tapered look you probably wore the first time around.
According to consumer shopping app LIKEtoKNOW.it, searches for the style have soared by an impressive 3,700 per cent in recent months. Instagram feeds are full of them, and so are the shop rails – so we asked the denim experts at Levi’s how to pull them off.
What are mom jeans?
‘Classic mom jeans are the perfect blend of early 90s nostalgia and a super flattering fit,’ says Levi’s Women’s Head of Design, Jill Guenza.
‘Ours sit high on the waist and are a little roomy through the hips and taper to the ankle. One of our favourite details of this ironic/iconic fit are the slightly smaller back pockets that sit high on the butt and angle out, just like the pockets on the jeans our moms used to wear. The end effect is an uber feminine silhouette, accentuating the waist and flattering the hips and legs.’
Why are mom jeans back in fashion?
‘The seed of the trend comes from a collective, nostalgic love for the 90s,’ she adds. ‘It’s been fuelled by women looking for cool denim styles that go beyond skinny jeans. The stretchiness and ease of skinny jeans have secured them a permanent role in our wardrobes, but mom jeans offer a fun, new look that’s flattering and comfortable.’
How should you style a mom jean?
‘Because they draw attention to the waist, we recommend tucking in a top or wear something cropped to just above the waistband,’ Jill advises. ‘They look great with a slim bodysuit or a ribbed tee, a skinny belt, and a dad sneaker for a youthful look or a pointy sling-back kitten heel for a more refined statement.’
12 places to buy the best mom jeans
Monki
Topshop
Levi’s
Weekday
Lash Seven Blue Jeans, £40, Weekday
H&M
Lee
Mom Straight Relaxed, £85, Lee
Madewell
The Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean in Fitzgerald Wash, £92.55, Madewell
River Island
Mid Blue Mom Ripped Jeans, £35, River Island
Mango
Slim-Fit Mom Jeans, £35.99, Mango
Pull & Bear
Mom Jeans With Elasticated Waistband, £25.99, Pull & Bear
New Look
Curves Blue Ripped Slim Mom Jeans, £27.99, New Look
