Mom Jeans: The History + The Revolution
Denim first came about in the 1800s when miners and workers needed a more durable pant option. It definitely wasn’t a fashion piece and I don’t think then Levi or Strauss would have guessed that in 150 years denim would be a worldwide staple and icon - and that the styles would become as diverse as they have.
Miners wearing jeans in the 1800s because they needed a more durable fabric that wouldn’t rip. Source
John Wayne and other Western movie stars started wearing jeans in the 20s and 30s. Source
James Dean and other American counterculture bad-boys started wearing jeans in the 50s . Source
Women finally got their pair on the big screen in 1952 when Marilyn Monroe wore a pair in the film “River Of No Return”. Denim for women arrived on the scene.
The 50s continued to play around with boxy, cuffed jeans while women’s high-waisted + cropped skinny ankle pants remained a classic staple at the same time. (A valuable lesson here that fashion trends repeat in cycles, occur simultaneously; and that timeless fashion trends never go out of style.)
Marilyn Monroe for “River Of No Return”. 1952
Audrey Hepburn for “Two For The Road”. 1967
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As denim moved into the 60s and 70s the bootcut + slightly boxy cuffed style stuck around, and actually entered the fashion runway for the first time in a 1976 Calvin Klein show. But as the years went by legs got more and more flared at the opening and waists got higher and tighter; free-spirited hippies and anti-war protestors embellished their denim and continued to paint jeans as a symbol of counterculture.
The early 80s marked the era of Brooke Shields’ Calvin Klein ad and Claudia Schiffer’s Guess ad, which pushed a heavy message towards sexy, slimmer, boot-cut styles in their marketing.
But on the flip side came the rise of hip hop- and baggy denim styles along with it. In the mid 80s what we now know as the Mom Jean was born — and though they weren’t called that yet — the style was much more a nod to figure-flattering rebellion, a more rock n’ roll lifestyle; and was a trend driven by fearless fashion icons like Madonna.
As the 80s marched on people played around with acid-wash and destroyed denim. As we turned to the 90s boot-cut, mom jeans, and baggy jeans stuck around - in light and dark washes, traditional and non. Denim by this point had become a closet staple for everyone in America.
Madonna rocking cuffed + ripped baggy mom jeans and a white tee with a leather jacket.
Winona Ryder in baggy boyfriend jeans in the 90s.
Drew Barrymore all about the mom jeans in the early 90s
I think calling them “mom jeans” was one of my biggest hurdles to get over in getting on the MJ train. The name alone has implied for decades that they were dorky. As an 80s/90s baby myself, when I think “mom jeans” I immediately picture the SNL sketch with Tina, Amy, Mya, and Rachel wearing MOM Brand Jeans. . . “with a comfortable twelve inch zipper!”
(Look at these comedy queens: they look like babies!) Would this sketch register today in 2020? No probably not so much. Nothing against my main SNL ladies. . . I think they’d agree and, like me, would be quite happy to see that our culture isn’t quite as. . . Christina Aguilera “Dirty” now as it was then.
But mom jeans — or high waisted, straight leg jeans have been around for women and men SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DENIM.
When Marilyn rocked her denim jeans in 1952 the high-waisted style was designed to accentuate her waist and famous hourglass figure.
Fashion over the years goes in cycles and gets influenced by lots of outside factors (be they good or bad) like music, movies, popular culture, counter culture, and even politics!
For example:
This SNL sketch came out in 2003: when women were running around with dangly pierced bellybutton rings wearing velour sweatsuits that read “JUICY” on the ass. (Yikes)
The rise of mom jeans in 2020 is more than fashion currently loving the retro 1980s and 90s throwbacks. . . it’s just as much an influence of what’s happening in our culture and on the forefront of our sociopolitical climate.
Thankfully we’ve moved forward a few steps in 2020. We females have entered a much more self-aware, body positive era; and have (I hope) taken a few steps away from popularizing sex and objectifying ourselves the way we did during my formative early-2000s years. I’d much rather see girls idolize beautiful, powerful women like Lizzo and Billie Eilish; and learn that they are comprised of so much more than the cookie cutter mold society wants to fit them into.
This era we women are currently navigating through is partly why mom jeans are back, and hopefully— why they’ll be here to stay.
For me at least, mom jeans have the power to represent a zero-fucks-given mentality.
They represent an irreverent independence.
that fashion is about more than being in tight or revealing clothing.
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My journey aboard the mom jeans (+ wide leg) train:
When I saw mom jeans re-surface in 2019 I couldn’t believe it. I remember seeing them advertised proudly on a storefront mannequin with signage that said MOM JEANS and truly laughing. I wasn’t opposed to them - but calling them mom jeans seemed like a laughable marketing failure: no seventeen year old would want to wear mom jeans. (And like I mentioned before - I can’t hear mom jeans and not think of the SNL sketch!) But thankfully, I’m not seventeen anymore and also happen to adore the comedy queens of SNL. So when some of my girlfriends from work started rocking them and looked cute in them and went on and on about how comfortable they were. . . my slight skepticism turned to slight interest.
I hunted for a proper vintage pair that tapered at the ankle and searched at several thrift stores. . . but with no luck. While FaceTiming with my parents one night and telling them about my denim quest, my dad told me he had several pair of old Levis that were too worn out or ripped up from working in the yard. He sent three or four pair to me and though some are weather worn with dirt stains on them, they’re pretty awesome. A little long, but cuffed + rolled up is in style anyway. They’re old, torn, tattered, and frayed, and I love having them that represents a piece of him. I wore them out and someone complimented me, saying “Oh, I love your mom jeans!” I was pleased to respond: “Actually, they’re my dad’s old jeans! So. . . I guess they’re my dad jeans!”
They were comfy and made me feel hip and carefree. Now I was hungry for more. While shopping for basic white tees on Old Navy’s website, a pair caught my eye. While they didn’t have the mom jean tapered ankle (they were more of a high-waist wide-leg) I scooped them up anyway; not knowing then that I’d fall in love and never turn back.
My new jeans came in and I excitedly ripped the bag open, put them on, and was super impressed — all skepticism instantly washed away. I went back and bought the second color, and I wear them all the time now. They’ve inspired me to pull out all my not-comfy-enough jeans that I’ve amassed over the years and to whittle my denim pile down to only my favorites.
(When I am looking for a denim skinny jean for my outfit — while we’re talking about denim — I always wear Prana’s Oday Jeans, which are high-waisted with an amazing fit and stretch. I love their denim and definitely give it five stars for fit, comfort, and looks. Plus they’re blue-sign certified, aka sustainable!)
But I get it now. . . I was late to jump on the train- but I get it. Once you get accustomed to the gloriousness of wearing a pear of wider legged slacks or looser jeans, you’ll never want to wear an uncomfortable pair of pants again.
So here I am, and I’ll never look back. Hello mom jeans. Hello dad jeans. Hello boyfriend jeans. Hello paper bag trousers. Hello culottes. I see you and I love you.
Jen. Classic in the 90s. Classic now.
Here are some of the pairs that I scooped up this season,
with styling tips and suggestions:
Old Navy’s High Waist Wide Leg Jean. This was my intro. I didn’t want to invest too heavy in case the style wasn’t for me. I think they were on sale from $40 to $20, so I was skeptical they may not be great, but I love them and get SO many compliments on them! I went back and ordered them in the darker blue wash as well just for more options to kick around in.
SHOE STYLING: I wear them with Birkenstocks, my Kino leather flip flops, sneakers, or my Blundstones. I haven’t dressed them up with high heels yet but they look great the way they’re shown here and would be really cute with hip slides, wedges, or espadrille platforms, too! You can do a lot with these jeans.
TOP STYLING: A shorter cropped tee, or a regular t-shirt French-tucked or fully tucked if it’s paired with a more dressy blouse as shown below. I have a lot of cute little short sleeve collared button up blouses that look cute with a French tuck. I also like how they pair with a white tee and a casual bomber jacket, or lots of my oversized, boxy, cropped sweaters as well!
Patagonia Stand Up Cropped Pant. I bought them in this Umber Brown color shown here, and I love love love them.
SHOE STYLING: I’ve been wearing them with Birkenstocks, my Kino leather flip flops, sneakers, or my Blundstones. I think these would look cute with some hip slides or espadrilles, too.
SHIRT STYLING: These pants are super versatile and can be paired so many ways! I’ve been wearing them with a cute graphic tee with the sleeves rolled up a little or a basic white tee. I’ve also worn them with a short sleeved button up blouse; sometimes with a short sleeved or lightweight sweater.
Prana Sancho Pant. I kind of fell in love with the look of these instantly and ordered both colors, the pinky Champagne on the left and the golden Toffee on the right. The fabric is a little more lightweight than my jeans or the Patagonia Stand-Up Crops shown above, which will be great for summertime when the heat sets in!
SHOE STYLING: I’ve been wearing them with my Birkenstocks or flip flops, or slides kind of like the ones pictured below. I think you could pair a lot of cute wedges, platforms, and fun summery sandals with these cute pants!
SHIRT STYLING: A classic white tee or cute summery tank as you see styled below. I’ve been wearing mine with a cute graphic tee which I usually French tuck (only the front gets tucked in) and the sleeves rolled up a bit. I also like it with a short sleeve button up blouse or some of my eyelet cotton blouses or cute linen blouses. Natural fabrics are the way to go with these babies.
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What do you think about mom jeans and wide legged pants being all the rage right now? Are they a favorite classic style, or just another recycling trend that will come and go?
Denim jeans have come so far in such a short history; if you love fashion trends like I do it’s fascinating to watch styles cycle and recycle over the decades - getting tweaked, reimagined, and sometimes renamed along the way.
There are some colors and cuts I could take or leave (sorry, acid wash) — but I have to say that for me, I’m glad to see the more casual wide legged fashion styles make their resurgence and I’m happy to add them back into my vocabulary. The mom jeans, dad jeans, boyfriend jeans, flare jeans + bell bottom jeans, paper bag trousers, joggers, culottes, gauchos. . . Bring them on.
I’ll just leave this here. . .
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