How to Wear Mom Jeans, According to Street Style Pros

Updated on 5/31/2023 at 9:54 AM

Fashion is currently experiencing a revival of past trends, from '70s-style flared pants to Y2K-inspired tops. Not surprisingly, retro outfits with mom jeans are also of the moment, as mom jeans are beloved for their wearability and comfortable denim silhouette. With a high rise and semibaggy leg, mom jeans present an alternative to the popular boyfriend jeans and consistently deliver elevated, off-duty style.

Worn with a jean jacket, for example, they make a strikingly cool daytime uniform. You can also work them with your favorite bodysuit for a sleek night-out look. While mom jeans lean on the casual side, they can also easily be incorporated into dressier looks. Teamed with a satin blouse and matching kitten heels, a dark-wash pair will exude effortless sophistication at the office or on a date. Or try layering them under a blazer and finish with low mules for a polished ensemble.

While mom jeans typically come in solid colors with minimal details, this season abounds with vintage, ripped, edgy, and all-around-cool options for your styling pleasure. Fashion designers from Diesel to Loewe have pushed the envelope and reworked denim in exciting new ways, so you can plan to shop these reimagined pants well into next season. For now, turn to cult-classic labels like Agolde and Levi's for top-rated pairs you'll cherish for years to come.

What Are Mom Jeans?

Similar to boyfriend jeans, mom jeans embrace a relaxed fit and baggy silhouette, but they differ in that they typically sit higher on the waist. The retro cut is often loose around the thighs and tapers down, but the overall design blends structure and comfort together seamlessly. Try rolling up the hems above the ankle for an edgy look.

How to Wear Mom Jeans

To keep the focus on your mom jeans, consider tucking in your favorite silk camisole, graphic shirt, or pussy-bow blouse. For a more defined silhouette, you can also add a belt and finish with strappy heels for a sleek touch, or choose flats or ankle boots for a relaxed feel. The good news is, your mom jeans will pair well with all your current closet staples and accessories, making them a reliable foundation for your essential capsule wardrobe.

If you're still unsure how to style them or what shoes to wear with mom jeans, scroll ahead for some stylish outfit ideas to bookmark.

— Additional reporting by Sarah Wasilak

Keep It Cool With a Jersey Shirt and Ball Cap

Heading to a sports game? Tuck your jersey into a pair of black mom jeans, throw on a ball cap, and you're ready to rep your favorite team.

Master Business Casual With a Slouchy Blazer

Wear your blue mom jeans with a cool blazer for casual Friday at the office. Complete the look with loafers.

Get Festival Ready in a Printed Shirt and Bucket Hat

Whether you're attending a festival or checking out a local flea market, stay comfortable and look effortlessly cool by leaving a shirt unbuttoned over your mom jeans. Finish with a pair of bright sunglasses, sneakers, and a tiny bag.

Convey a Sense of Effortless Cool in a Tank Top

The humble tank top will lend an easygoing feel to any look. Finish your mom jeans and a tank with low pumps and a polished shoulder bag.

Embrace Color in Bright-Yellow Mom Jeans

Embrace an eye-catching palette in a rich-yellow pair of mom jeans, styled with a yellow sweater, a vivid blue trench coat, a bag, and shoes for maximum visual impact.

Create a Striking Monochrome Denim Moment

"Denim on denim" is a timeless style hack that delivers a memorable entrance every time. Whether you leave your jacket open or close it, you will look bold and confident in this mom-jeans outfit.

Add Edge in a Leather Jacket and Clogs

Give your blue mom jeans an edge by teaming them with a leather jacket and matching clogs. Stay on theme with a bucket hat and smoky eye makeup.

Amp Up the Sophistication With Leather Accessories

Wearing straight-leg mom jeans with a classic denim jacket can seem a bit mundane, structurally speaking, so adding sculpturally striking accessories in black and white leather will immediately add appeal to your outfit — and make your accoutrements pop.

Go For a Bohemian-Western Vibe With Belts, Scarves, and Boots

A slightly baggy-fit jean feels effortless, just like free-flowing bohemian accessories such as a paisley-print scarf, knit tank, or wearable belt. Think of your mom jeans as the more casual replacement for a long maxi skirt, and take it from there.

Cater to Seasonal Trends With Cutouts

Since mom jeans are a classic staple, let them work as the foundation and add on the must haves du jour. Whether it's a multi-cutout top, electrifying mules, or a designer bag, you'll look cool without overdoing it.

Complete Your Mom Jeans With a Chunky Dad Sneaker

The most appropriate shoe to wear with mom jeans? It has to be a chunky dad sneaker, making for an outfit that's beyond comfortable and also sort of normcore. An exciting element like a rolled-over waist or a cropped denim jacket helps to add a touch of personality.

Cater to the '90s in Pinstripe Workwear and Flip-Flops

While the look may be business on top and surfer cool on the bottom, the resulting combination is rather smart — and there's no denying the comfort of this mom-jeans outfit.