Two words for you: Mom. Jeans. Here’s how to avoid, avoid, avoid!
(Long Island, N.Y.) Yep, spring has sprung and it’s officially warmer-weather shopping season. Every gal’s wardrobe should be outfitted with some great denim choices. But how to you avoid the very cringe-worthy “mom jeans” look? (The horror!) Well, in order to keep my fellow moms from falling into the dreadful mom-jean trap, I turned to two very savvy experts. Shana Draugelis and Molly Dynan are mom-style experts and co-contributors of Ain’t No Mom Jeans. I asked and (thankfully!) they answered.
Shana: What are your top three tips to avoiding the “mom jeans” look?
1. Start with actual jeans! Jeans must have working pockets, a real button and fly, and be made primarily out of denim (denim/stretch blends are OK…100% stretch is not). Real jeans do not have elastic waistbands or pleats.
2. You should be happy with the way your bum looks. Unlike, say, khakis, or (even worse) swimwear…a great pair of jeans should make your bum look its best. Jeans should hug your curves and the rear view should make you jump up and down with glee. In fact, a really great pair of jeans should make your bum look good while jumping up and down with glee. Keep pockets in proportion to your size. In general, the tinier the pocket, the larger the bum looks.
3. Get the length right – I’m surprised by the number of moms running around with too-short and too-long denim! For boot cut or flare denim, the hem should hit the middle of your foot – roughly an inch from where your toes meet your foot. For straight-leg denim, the hem should just touch the shoe. And skinny jeans? The most flattering hem length is at or above the ankle bone. When having your denim tailored, we recommend first washing and drying at least once. For an authentic look, be sure to shorten denim with its “original hem,” where the hems of the jeans are snipped off and reattached (about $20). It’s also easy to take in the waistband to avoid gaping ($15-$20)–your tailor can hide a small seam in the waistband under the back middle belt loop.
Molly: Why do you suppose when you hear the word “mom fashion” our minds quickly go to MOM JEANS? Do you think we will ever shake the style stigma?
It’s hard to forget the cornea-searing imagery of the Saturday Night Live “Mom Jeans” skit when you think about mom fashion, but we can absolutely shake the frumpy-dumpy image of motherhood. For thousands of years, personal care and appearance have been strong indicators of self-worth, but over the last 20 years, there has been an insidious trend towards casualness and comfort–one we think has gone too far. And, as is the custom, moms are taking the brunt of the ridicule. Moms can help reverse this detrimental trend simply by taking a little much-deserved time for themselves, and remembering that looking good and being well put together is not an indictment of our mothering skills!
