I am old enough to have lived through the first mom jeans trend and a brief message from the past, it wasn’t pretty. Of all the 1990s trends that are making a come back – acid wash, shoulder pads, babydoll dresses, the high waisted, pleated, tapered pants were the worst. So imagine my surprise to see mom jeans among the latest trends at ASOS, Topshop, and Urban Outfitters.
Mom jeans were immortalized in this SNL sketch featuring some of our favorite ladies in comedy, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. All the unflattering features are highlighted here. Belly button covering waistline, check. Long, flat butt, check. Pouchy zone between the belt and crotch, check. Hence the tagline, “I’m not a woman anymore…I’m a mom!”
This cut of jeans isn’t only unflattering to moms. The iconic 1990s denims does no favors to the attractive and fit ladies (and gentleman, they’re pretty much the same fit) of Beverly Hills, 90210. Clothes can go both ways. A good cut will streamline any figure and highlight assets while an unflattering one creates the illusion of issues that aren’t there.
My first response to the resurgence of this trends was nooooooo and I came here to state publicly that mom jeans are a don’t. But then I took a closer look. Despite the name, mom jeans 2014 are not necessarily the hideous pants of the past. Here’s what to look for if you’re embracing the latest jean trends of fall 2014.
1. High-waisted
I for one am pleased that low rise skinnies are on their way out – no more muffin top! High waisted jeans are very flattering, especially to highlight a narrow waist. However, keep it below the belly button.
2. The rear view
It’s officially the year of booty (see J-Lo, Iggy Azalea, Kim Kardashian). A great jean showcases this asset to your advantage with lift and definition. Avoid any pants that flatten the butt, have poorly placed pockets, or give one of those perma-wedgies.
3. Tapering
Tapered pants are back and we like it. The key is the fabric. It works well with the latest joggers but add too much volume with denim and it’s a fail. Most mom jeans are skinnies with a higher waist so not much to fear but keep this in mind.
4. Denim wash
Dark denim is a versatile neutral but don’t limit yourself. Acid wash is a fun way to add subtle texture and pattern to an outfit but still goes with everything. It comes in a range of colors including black, grey, and indigo.
1. New Look Inspire High Waisted Supersoft Skinny Jean