Everyone is talking about it. You might be having an identity crisis because of it. Chances are, you’re wondering what you’re going to do about it. 

YES, it’s true, I’m talking about the TikTok heard ‘round your millennial group chats. Skinny jeans are, apparently, out. “Mom” jeans are in. 

I wanted to dedicate my outfit roundup this month to the one pair of “mom” jeans that were marketed to me and purchased under such terms, even though I’ve been experimenting with the style for some time. Because this feels…personal.

When bootcut and flare styles were hot, my college friends and I wore high-waisted pants to costume parties and ROLLED LAUGHING over how ridiculous we thought the style was. Haha, get it…“MOM JEANS”? We wondered, Why DO these moms have such a hard time staying with the times? Why don’t they change up their hairstyle every once and a while? How hard could it be??

Well. I’ve come to understand that time can be cruel and what you said when you were young and careless will sit in the back of your mind and haunt you as you move into middle age. 

And that is what makes this style shift feel like such a blow to us aging millennials—many of us now moms to young children, grasping to find the pieces of who we once were, reshaping them to fit the different puzzle of ourselves, one with many more complex pieces and moving parts. 

So. If you are curious about how another aging millennial would tackle the trend, this post is for you. And if you’re sticking with your skinnies, you get a salute from me too. 

The Jeans

These are my favorite pair of jeans that I’ve purchased as of late. (A heads up that the jeans are currently low in stock, but there’s a similar pair available here!) Most of my other “mom” jeans were purchased in the men’s section at the thrift store. The fit of those is often just a little “off,” sometimes in a good way, sometimes not. What I LOVE about these jeans is that they give a great shape to your leg—a very non-skinny jean look with a wider fit, but still with enough of a defined ankle to give your leg shape. They are a great “starter” pair of mom jeans if you’re having a hard time wrapping your head around the style. 

Outfit 1: Textured jacket and ballet flats (shown above)

This outfit is a different, more structured take on the baggy top/baggy bottom combo. I like the shape of this jacket a whole lot.

Product Sources: H&M jacket (no longer available), similar here from H&M | Vintage Chanel flats, similar here from Vestiaire Collective and here from Sam Edelman

Outfit 2: Bright sweater and sneakers

What I like about wearing a loose sweater with these jeans is that it provides a subtle tweak to a standard, go-to look. The wider leg of the jeans makes the style look a bit more relaxed and casual. I paired mine with white socks to highlight the shape of the pant and some “dad” trainers (not pictured, but the link is included below!) for a nod to my partner in middle-aged crime: Joe Peters, lover of sneakers fits. 

Product Sources: Similar sweater here from H&M | New Balance 990v5 sneakers

Outfit 3: Blazer and heeled sandals

I usually like to pair this navy blazer with a black top and bottoms, because navy and black are one of my favorite pairings. This is an outfit where I feel I would naturally gravitate away from skinny jeans. The silhouette with mom jeans here feels more modern to me, but that doesn’t mean the same outfit with skinny jeans wouldn’t look great on you!

Product Sources:  Vintage navy blazer, similar here from H&M | Vintage cream sweater, similar here from & Other Stories | Vintage heels, similar here from Chelsea Paris and here from Jeffrey Campbell

Outfit 4: Statement collar with black booties

No surprise here…I love a good statement collar. The jeans are surprisingly really great to tuck tops into, even though I always feel self-conscious about my C-section pooch. I can only assume this is one reason why the style became so popular with…moms?

Product Sources: Zara top, similar here from ARKET | Vintage YSL booties (not pictured), similar here from & Other Stories

Outfit 5: Button-down with knee-high boots

A simple button-down looks great casually tucked into these pants. And, you can channel a Lady Diana Spencer look with some vintage boots worn over your jeans.

Product Sources: Similar button-down here from Madewell | Similar boots here from & Other Stories | Similar baseball cap here from UNIQLO

Outfit 6: Cold-weather comfort

The statement collar strikes again, paired with a sweater, long coat, and sneakers for the ultimate in cold-weather comfort.

Product Sources: Similar coat from H&M | Similar lace collar from Sea | Similar sweater from A.P.C | New Balance 990v5 sneakers | Alima Pure lipstick in Stella

What have your favorite outfit staples been of late? I’d love to hear in the comments!

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Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.