For the longest time I’ve been a skinny jean devotee. I love how easy they are to wear and how they make my legs look longer. But spend enough time on Pinterest and Instagram, eventually your eye begins to wander. You start to think — is there a world out there beyond squeezing your feet through narrow ankle holes and doing a little dance to get your jeans all the way up?
The idea of mom jeans crept into my awareness a few years ago, but I wasn’t sure if they were for me. As a short girl with wide hips, I had no clue how to style mom jeans with my body type. Could I make them flattering? Were they worth the risk?
I bought my first pair ever this past year and I can officially confirm: yes to all of the above. I now own two pairs of mom jeans that I love and wear regularly. It’s taken a few tips, tricks, trial and error, but I’ve figured out how to style mom jeans in a way that works.
In this post, I’ll share with you my tips for styling mom jeans this summer, especially if you’re shorter or curvier. Petite girls, I am you and I’ve got you! I’ve put together 5 cute ways to wear mom jeans that’ll inspire you to take the plunge toward this throwback look.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you shop through these links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me through these links! For more information, check out the disclaimer here.
For these looks, I’m wearing my absolute favorite mom jeans from Zara. I wear them in a size 6 and I typically cuff them at the bottom (the fellas love a little ankle) (just kidding, it just makes me look taller), even though the length uncuffed is great on me. I have them in black and blue (but am totally eyeing the light blue for an extra vintage look.
Look #1
For this first look, I styled my favorite Zara mom jeans for going out. I tucked in a satin and lace leopard print cami for a little touch of glam. Then, I accentuated my waist with a black and gold belt, topped it off with a gold necklace, and tied it all together with my comfiest low heels. This is my favorite way to style mom jeans for going out, because it’s comfortable but still feminine.
Jeans: Zara | Top: Nordstrom (similar) (black version) | Shoes: Target | Belt: Priceless | Necklace: Express
Look #2
For this look I wanted to style these mom jeans in a little more of an elevated casual way, chic with a “Chessie from the Parent Trap” vibe — simple but cute. It’s 90s but it’s super wearable for today. I feel like it’s one of those outfits you could wear anywhere. I paired these mid-wash mom jeans with a soft and light button down shirt, tucked in, as always, to remind people I do in fact have a waist. Under the button down I layered my favorite Free People dupe lace bralette. I finished with these neutral strappy sandals that I am fully in love with this summer.
Jeans: Zara (similar) | Shirt: Abercrombie (similar) | Bralette: Priceless (tons of stores make this free people dupe) | Shoes: Marc Fisher
Look #3
Dipping even deeper into casual waters, this next mom jeans look is great for those super relaxed days. I threw on an oversized boyfriend tee that I knotted up, some simple sandals, and tossed my hair back in a scrunchie. The easiest look ever!
Jeans: Zara | T-Shirt: Aerie (similar) (plain white) | Sandals: Target | Scrunchie: Aerie (similar)
Look #4
This look is a full 90s throwback, peak vintage mom jeans aesthetic. It gives me major Monica Geller in season one of Friends energy. For this look, I wore my mom jeans with a simple cropped cami (this is one of my faaavorite basics) and some woven mules.
(A small pro tip about mom jeans: if you have wide hips like me, they’re probably always gonna wind up bending or creasing at some point in a way that makes it look like you’re packing something. Just go with it. It’s not worth trying to fight it.)
Jeans: Zara (similar) | Top: Free People | Shoes: Sam Edelman
Look #5
This last look is a sporty spice moment! My forever go-to is a cropped crew neck with a high waisted bottom, so I figured why not transition that into a mom jeans look? My sweatshirt is technically “vintage,” as in I’ve had it since high school. I just cut the bottom off recently and I highly recommend anyone do the same. It is an INSTANT LOOK. I paired this with some slip on vans and threw my hair up in a bun. It might be too cold at an actual hockey game, but with an eagles crew neck I think it’d be the perfect early-season gameday look.
Jeans: Zara | Sweatshirt: Old (similar) | Shoes: Amazon
I hope these looks gave you some inspiration for styling your mom jeans! And tag me on Instagram @goforkady if you have any more ways to wear mom jeans I should see!
