Outfit Details: Top HERE, Bottom HERE, Boots HERE, Coat HERE, Bag HERE
My search for the perfect vintage-style jeans, often called “mom” jeans, has been a rollercoaster ride with plenty of ups and downs.
Honestly, there have been more downs than ups, but the journey has been worth it. The truth is, my husband hates them and finds them unflattering on me. He makes his opinion very clear every time I wear a pair.
To be fair, he’s not entirely wrong. Looking back, some of the styles I’ve tried in the past were pretty awful.
Finding the right fit for jeans is tough in general, but I found it even more difficult to track down the perfect pair of mom jeans. Determined, I bought the Levi’s 501s, which are always in high demand and often sold out. After doing a lot of research—aka scrolling through Pinterest—I was convinced these were a must-have style.
When they finally arrived, I was thrilled with how they looked, except for the waist, which is a common problem with most jeans. Still, I felt confident and wore them on a casual day out, pairing them with a bodysuit. I thought I looked great, but my husband didn’t agree.
Not going to lie, his reaction hurt a little since I expected him to love the vintage look as much as I did. Feeling a bit down, I decided to ignore the criticism and kept rocking my mom jeans whenever I could. But then my daughter gently pointed out that the jeans needed some adjusting.
This time, I took a closer look at myself in the mirror, and to my surprise, they were both right. Normally, I’d abandon a style after this, but I was determined to make these jeans work for me.
The beauty of mom jeans is how comfortable they are, and I do feel confident wearing them. However, the oversized waist was making them look bad. So, I took them to the tailor—something I should’ve done from the start. A week later, I got them back, and the difference was instantly noticeable. I kicked myself for not getting them tailored sooner.
It also made me realize that this was the first time I cared enough about a pair of jeans to get them tailored. Next, I’m planning to get the length adjusted, which will take them to the next level.
My advice to anyone struggling with the fit of jeans is to get them tailored. It makes all the difference! You can wear them with any top you usually pair with jeans, but one tip is to fully or half-tuck in your shirts to create a more polished look.
To accentuate my curves, I like to pair mom jeans with crop tops, bodysuits, or fitted tops. Anything too loose or bulky just doesn’t work for me. Here are five styles I love pairing with my mom jeans:
1. Olive + Oak Travis – White Sweater Top
2. Free People Runaway Bodysuit
3. Missguided Cream Horn Button Bodysuit
4. ASOS Design Body Suit
5. Boohoo Twist Front Crop Top
Footwear is also important, depending on the fit of your jeans around the legs. I love wearing sneakers with ripped styles and ankle boots with frayed hems.
If you’re ready to give your skinny jeans a break this fall, try a pair of mom jeans. Here are five flattering, affordable styles to consider:
1. ASOS DESIGN Farleigh High Waist Slim Mom Jeans
2. Free People Mom Jeans
3. Levi’s Wedgie High Rise Jeans
4. ASOS DESIGN Farleigh High Waist
5. Mom Jeans
I hope this “How to Style Mom Jeans” post was helpful. Let me know in the comments what kind of post you’d like to see next!
Comment: “Very helpful! I also struggle to find flattering cuts for my body type. I’m going to try out your top recommendations. Thank you!”