There’s one accessory that’s absolutely essential to successfully wearing mom jeans like a fashion insider, and it’s not the latest handbag or must-have shoe (though both of those things always help). No – the secret to how to wear mom jeans is all in the attitude; a certain ironic nod that signals the fact that you know exactly what you’re doing. Without it… well, one only needs to recall former President Obama’s attempt at the style to know how that scenario ends.
With their long rise, straight legs and relaxed fit around the waist, mom jeans can very easily veer into dowdy territory. Of course, this is exactly why fashion girls love them – indeed, no other style of jeans is quite as edgy right now. It’s for this reason that the mom jeans trend is best approached as a going-out statement, rather than as a basic denim option; this is a piece that truly does benefit from being styled rather than just worn. And with the right styling, you'll find mom jeans are ideal for many different occasions.
The Sunday session
It’s not always easy to nail the effortlessly cool look that’s required for a Sunday afternoon pub catch-up, but mom jeans can be an essential component of getting it right. Denim automatically denotes nonchalance, while the audacious (yet, ironically, oh-so-normcore) shape signals you know exactly what you’re doing. To test drive the mom jeans trend for an afternoon at Melbourne’s Palace Hotel, try a pair with a straighter leg, rather than a looser, baggier style – MiH Jeans offers some good options. Melbourne’s unpredictable weather means that layering on top is key, and knitted sweaters are essential if you plan to sit in the beer garden.
This is also a good opportunity to play around with denim textures, rather than sticking with the usual finish. A distressed jeans works well with a straight-leg pair, while some of the more adventurous street-style stars have started wearing their pairs in an edgy stonewash finish.
A fashionable feast
So you’ve assembled a group and made your reservation at Hubert’s Sydney CBD restaurant. It's the place to be seen, so your mom jeans going out outfit must be up to par as you walk down those stairs. Dress up your denim with the most delectable confection of a blouse. It might be ruffled or tied at the throat with a pussy bow; it could be made from freshly starched white cotton or silk that’s finished with a retro-inspired print. Gucci does some of the most show-stopping versions around, all with a hint of nostalgia that perfectly matches the style of the jeans.
Mom jeans were a favourite of the street-style stars at the AW17 shows, and almost without exception they favoured one simple styling trick: tuck the blouse fully into the waistband of the jeans (no loose tails or half-tucks) to visually create a waist. The jeans are naturally roomy around the zip area, so this will help to impose some form.
Finish with a pair of very high, pointed ankle boots with a stiletto heel. The sartorially daring will maximise the nostalgia by choosing a pair in pristine white leather.
Denim, bar none
When your plans involve casual drinks at The Bucket List in Bondi, look for a more relaxed take on the mom jeans trend with a style that’s verging on boyfriend jeans. A failsafe way to wear this baggier denim style is with pointed pumps or sneakers, but you could also opt for something different: a pair of low-heeled stiletto mules will help to balance out the more casual outfit in a fashion-forward way, as well as visually lengthening the legs.
Finish the look with a lace-trimmed silk camisole or one of the covetable crop of logo- or slogan-clad T-shirts. Just be sure to wear your top tucked in, to create a more defined waist. In cooler weather, a cropped leather bomber jacket over the camisole or a long-line slouchy cardigan on top of your statement T-shirt are both good options to beat the chill.
Girls on film
The long rise that is one of the defining features of mom jeans also makes them ideal for those occasions that call for sitting down for extended periods – no more waistbands that continually ride down; no more exposed strip of midriff! Consider these high-waisted jeans for a day of hunkering down at a film festival, where they will create a stylish off-duty look. Mom jeans can – and should! – be worn with blazers, however, if you’re concerned by an overall boxy silhouette, a slightly cropped style of jacket that hits right at the hip bone will prevent this. Alternatively, thrusting your hands decisively in your jeans’ pockets will also push back the tail of a jacket, creating a leaner outline, along with an extra dose of swagger.
Complete your film festival outfit with a pair of low pumps with an almond toe and a block heel, all the more practical for getting from one cinema to the next.