In the '80s and '90s, mom jeans were cool. In fact, they weren’t technically "mom" jeans because everyone wore them, including celebrities and socialites. However, during the early 2000s, they quietly faded into the background. This transition coincided with the shift to low-rise bootcut jeans (think of the Britney Spears era). Low-rise jeans were deemed “in,” and they were popular with the younger generation.
In recent years, mom jeans have reemerged as an incredibly popular and widely criticized fashion trend. These high-rise denim pants have served as the punch line of numerous jokes, including a Saturday Night Live ad, internet memes and general distaste.
Aired in 2003, the SNL skit is a pseudo-commercial for JCPenny’s mom jeans. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and a few other mom actresses engaged in “mom activities,” such as driving their kids to school, hosting picnics and attending soccer games — while a pleasant sounding narrator advertised the nine-inch zipper and casual front pleats that often accompany mom jeans.
At the conclusion of the video, the narrator even suggests, “this Mother’s Day don’t give mom that bottle of perfume. Give her something that says, ‘I’m not a woman anymore... I’m a mom!’” It was this video that actually coined the term “mom jeans.”
Last year, a Cosmopolitan article titled “Fashion Trends That Need To Die in 2017” ranked mom jeans as the first style that needed to go. The article continued to label them as frumpy and unflattering.
As far as definitions go, mom jeans tend to be light or medium wash, have a high waistline and are made out of real denim or cotton. They also typically have a relaxed fit and a slightly tapered leg. There is a distinctive contrast between mom jeans, popular mid-rise skinny jeans and the even tighter, stretchy polyester-blend jeggings.
Contrary to popular belief, mom jeans can be fashionable. They look great with cropped blouses or sweaters. They’re the perfect item for those who want to try crop tops but are apprehensive about revealing their midriff. In addition, mom jeans are incredibly versatile. They can be dressed down with a T-shirt for a casual look, or they can be dressed up when worn with a bodysuit and accessories.
Former President Barack Obama even sported a pair of mom jeans (or dad jeans) when he threw the first pitch at the Major League Baseball All-Star game in 2009.
So why do people hate mom jeans? Because they destroy the notion that women need to conform to societal notions about sex appeal and allure. In today’s society, women are often objectified and are expected to wear the aforementioned skintight, curve-hugging jeans. The SNL spoof further instilled the idea that women lose all trace of womanhood by wearing shapeless and comfortable jeans. Mom jeans serve as a powerful cultural statement and a mild act of rebellion.
Mom jeans are empowering, and they’re pretty much the most comfortable piece of denim that will ever grace your thighs.