Here are some ideas to help you get a jump start on your spring closet cleaning and to feel fabulous in your 40s and beyond!
- Inexpensive basics.
- Super loud colors.
- Ill-fitting underwear.
- Clothes covered with logos.
- Anything too revealing.
- Mesh or sheer clothing.
- Drugstore glasses.
- A worn down purse or briefcase.
If you have an hourglass shape, high-waisted jeans are naturally a great fit for you, as they accentuate your narrow waist and help trim more defined hips. Try a distressed pair with minimal stretch, like these from Gap, for an exceptionally flattering and on-trend style.
We are half-joking, but in fact, they got their name precisely because they were the type of jeans that moms wore in the 70s, thus labeling them as such. In regards to their style and cut, mom jeans are high-waist jeans, with wide-cut hips and crotch, that have straight-cut legs and sometimes an elasticized waist.
No matter the decade, fashion trends have proven mom jeans will never go out of style. These high-waisted jeans were originally fashionable in the late '80s and '90s, and are now making a comeback.
If you're confused about what's really the difference between the mom and the dad jean, it's very simple. The mom jean has tapered legs and is only ankle length, while the dad jean is a wider straight leg and can either be full inseam or also ankle length.
But what's the appeal of them in the first place? "Mom Jeans are so comfortable and easy to wear, and offer so many new outfitting possibilities," Lara Knight, VP of denim design at American Eagle told InStyle, adding, "Size up for a looser vibe, or try a longer inseam for a more throwback silhouette."
But what exactly are dad pants? For starters, they're way more comfortable than mom jeans. Dad pants are trousers that are pleated at the waist with a looser fit through the leg—though it's worth noting that they aren't bootcut or wide-leg. They're just a loose, straight cut.
Mom jeans are meant to sit high on your waist. When picking out a new pair, try them on and see how the waist fits — you don't want the jeans too tight or too loose.
As for the question of what mom jeans actually are regarding their style, they are high-waist jeans that are cut to fit wide at the hips and crotch area, with straight legs. Typically, to provide a better and more comfortable fit, mom jeans come with an elasticized waist that makes them easier to wear.
Their large, tapered legs are usually ankle-length but they can also have pre-rolled or rollable hems. On the other hand, girlfriend jeans offer more options for better wearability. They are available in different leg cuts, from full length to cropped.
1. Girlfriend Jeans. This feminine version of the boyfriend is just that: more feminine. Girlfriend jeans are cut to sit higher on the hips and have a slim straight leg fit. Designed to hug your curves, the girlfriend style will emulate the boyfriend style but still show off your shape.
Called normcore and going hand-in-hand with gorpcore, itself pulling from outdoor and hiking wear, “dad†style involved these high-waist, often stonewashed or faded tapered jeans, plus a striped or solid-color relaxed button-front shirt, chunky sneakers reminiscent of a pair of New Balance cross-trainers, and
The “boyfriend†style of cut originates from the first true blue jeans created in 1873. Marilyn Monroe began the boyfriend jeans craze in the 1960s after being spotted in them on the set of Misfits. She would often wear loose-fitting jeans in contrast to her extremely feminine looks and create a more masculine beauty.
Indeed, denim looks are ideal for everyone, starting from petites to models, average women to plus size ladies. There are many different ways to style jean staples with other type of clothes. But this year is all about denim on denim trend. So you can wear a cool chambray shirt with dark jeans.
Mom jeans were first known referred to as normal and were popular in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. The trend started with the Brooke Shields' controversial “Nothing Gets Between Me and My Calvins†but in the early 2000's celebrities started wearing the opposite. They Wore tight low rise jeans with a three-inch zipper.
Typical clothing for preppies of the 1990s included khaki chinos, navy blue blazers, Oxford shirts, brogues, Keds worn with everything especially leggings, slouch socks and oversized sweatshirts, sweaters and tees, boat shoes, ballet flats, coach jackets, baseball jackets, mom jeans, shortalls, jeans worn with a
Denim jackets: Denim jackets for women became popular in the 70's, but the 80's gave rise to the classic short-waisted denim jacket for women. Worn with tight jeans and paired with a t-shirt or ruffled blouse, the 80's stone-washed denim jacket has become unbeatable as part of a classic American look.
The 1980's were the reigning decade for high waisted jeans and the new washes and styles available meant people were wearing them more than ever. The brand Guess produced a huge marketing campaign in the 80's and everyone wanted a pair. The jeans were very tight fitting and reminiscent of the styles in the 50's.
Sasson jeans, which were known for being very tight, were incredibly popular in the late 1970s.
High-waisted jeans are one of the most popular styles because they are comfortable and form-flattering. They give you a balanced silhouette, making them appealing to almost all body shapes and sizes, including tall, apple, hourglass, curvy and athletic.
Some wore flares so wide they were referred to as “elephant bells.†When celebrities such as Sonny and Cher wore the style, it further cemented it into mainstream culture. The 1980's brought the return of the skinny jean, and many thought the flared style was gone for good.
Top 10 Fashion Trends from the 80's
- BIG HAIR. Perms, perms, and more perms – you could have sailed the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria in some people's flows.
- SPANDEX. Lycra changed the world, and the 80s made sure it knew.
- RIPPED KNEES.
- LACEY SHIRTS.
- LEG WARMERS.
- HIGH WAISTED JEANS.
- NEON COLORS.
- MULLETS.
How to Wear Mom Jeans
- To streamline your silhouette, wear a slim-fit T-shirt or rollneck to lengthen the body.
- If it's cold outside, opt for fishnets under your ripped jeans for a high-fashion twist.
- Keep it casual with a pair of kitten heels and a sweater during transitional seasons.
Mom jeans suit more people, regardless of stature, and are generally more versatile. You could throw on most tops with a mom jean and the style would be passable. The high-waist and tapered leg combo delivers a flattering silhouette, and if you're partial to a bit of 80s or 90s nostalgia, mom jeans are a real winner.
Two: it has to show off your ankles — roll the hems up once or twice if they're too long. And three: the top shouldn't be so tight that they fit like skinny jeans. There should be enough room (think an inch in all directions) that you can comfortably sit down (and eat lunch) without cutting off your circulation.
Length wise, a mum jean should fall around the ankle, or slightly higher, "to show a bit of skin – it's flattering. It's a good jean to show off a heel or a killer boot." Length wise, Gallagher says a mum jean should fall around the ankle, or slightly higher, "to show a bit of skin – it's flattering.
If your jeans feel like they are falling down or you have to wear a belt to keep them up, then they are too big for you. Too Tight - If the waistband feels snug on your waist (and not in a good way) then your jeans are too tight.
Mom jeans are known for being super comfortable, but they also tend to have extra room, especially in the butt and upper thighs, which can make them less flattering on someone who is petite and have shorter legs. That is why it's so important to look for slim fitted design, in order to look good on petites.
Whether You're a Size 2 or 24, These Jeans Will Look Great on You
- Levi's 501 Original Cropped Jeans.
- Everlane The Curvy Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny Jean.
- Good American Good Legs Skinny Jeans.
- Citizens of Humanity Daphne Crop High Rise Stovepipe Jeans.
- Madewell 10-Inch High Rise Skinny Jeans.
