This year’s must-have denim trend? A high-waist mom jean in a classic blue wash with no distressing. And unlike days of yore (we’re looking at you, low-rise flares and wide-leg crops), fall 2021’s hottest silhouette is actually flattering for any and every body type. To prove it, we had 10 women of varying sizes, shapes and heights try the same trendy, affordable pair of American Eagle mom jeans. Read on to hear their thoughts and see their glamour shots.
Do These $50 Mom Jeans Look Good On Everyone? We Had 10 Women Put Them to the Test
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Published Sep 28, 2021
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American Eagle Outfitters
First off, The Jeans
These easy mom jeans are made from a super-soft, yet supportive blend of cotton, modal and recycled polyester with just a hint of Elastane to provide some stretch and to hug your curves. They come in two blue washes, a crisp white and a faded black, and have a seriously impressive size range. AE’s jeans run from size 00 through 22 with five inseam lengths—x-short, short, regular, long and x-long. All this combined with a $50 price tag makes them a pretty obvious fall fashion pick, in our book.
courtesy of Sarah Mizes-Tan
1. sarah, Wearing A Size 2 Short
Fashion blogger @areasontogetdressed
Sarah was already a fan of mom jeans with comfy sneakers, but not so crazy about the break-in period. “I was a little worried, but these jeans miraculously already felt like I'd been wearing them for years right out of the box. They're super soft and comfy.” Even better is the fact that the Short option comes with both a petite-friendly hem and a waist that’s adjusted to fit a smaller frame. “They sit right at that sweet spot on my waist, the perfect high rise!”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Sea top ($245); The Pink Reef earrings ($120); Madewell bag ($148); Veja sneakers ($160)
courtesy of Kristina Zias
2. kristina, Wearing A Size 16 Long
Curve model and fashion blogger
Fans of boyfriend and straight-leg denim, like Kristina, will likely find the transition to mom jeans easier than die-hard skinny jeans lovers. Especially if you opt for a pair with decent stretch. “These jeans fit great and are super flexible, and you can definitely wear them all day.” At 5’11”, she opted for the Long inseam for a slightly cropped look, but said she’d love to have an X-Long pair as well to wear with different shoe styles.
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); The Drop jacket ($60); Skims top ($34); Adidas sneakers ($85)
courtesy of Julia Kondratink
3. julia, Wearing A Size 10
Fashion blogger, @humidityistheenemy
Mom jeans happen to be Julia’s go to. “I actually own this same pair in a few different washes, so I’m familiar with the fit—and these jeans fit perfectly!” she raves. “They’re comfortable enough to work in all day because they have stretch—when buying jeans, I always check the material to see if they have any Elastane.” That stretch allows the jeans move with you, not against you, and helps them keep their shape even after a few days of wear.
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Y.A.S. cardigan ($85) and top ($50); Nike sneakers ($160); Mure & Grand sunglasses ($26)
courtesy of Catrina Yohay
4. catrina, Wearing A Size 6
Managing editor at PureWow
“In true millennial fashion, I usually stick to a basic dark-wash skinny jean with minimal stretch,” says Catrina, “But I’m excited to try mom jeans and more relaxed fits this fall!” And while she’s still on the fence about whether these are the It pair for her, she was super happy about how comfortable they are. “I love that I can sit, stand, move around without the waistband digging into my stomach. The denim itself is also super soft but still feels structured and less spandex-y as compared to my other stretchy jeans.”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); 525 sweater ($88); Cuyana bag ($295); Vans sneakers ($40)
courtesy of Alison Zupancic
5. alison, Wearing A Size 20 Long
Fashion blogger, @curvygirldc
“I am shocked. These jeans fit surprisingly well and the sizing is on point!” The 5’9” blogger found the Long to be the perfect fit, with enough length to roll the cuff and show a little ankle. She tends to stick with high-waist skinny jeans, but liked that this style is loose without being baggy. “I wear a lot of comfy and oversize tops, so it helps balance out my outfit [with a slimmer fit on bottom].”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Brook & York necklaces ($130); Ellandemm cardigan ($60; $48); Brandon Blackwood bag ($165); Frye boots ($181)
courtesy of Chelsea Candelario
6. chelsea, Wearing A Size 10 Short
Chelsea isn’t typically a huge fan of jeans. “As a short gal with a big behind and a chubby stomach, I have a hard time finding jeans that check off all those boxes. I was so happy that there was a short option online, so the length was perfect, and I didn't have to worry about bunched-up fabric near my ankles.”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Scotch & Soda cardigan ($168); Etsy top ($23); New Look boots ($47)
courtesy of Dominique Hobdy
7. dominique, Wearing A Size 10 X-long
Fashion editor and boy mom, @d_hobdy
“I really and truly love the fit of these jeans,” says Dominique. “They have just the right amount of stretch and made me feel super curvy.” At 5’10” it isn’t easy to find jeans that don’t look cropped short, but the X-Long length even allowed for a small cuff above her ankle boots. “This outfit came together at the last minute, but it's been something I wanted to try for a while. I'd love this for a wine bar date with my friends. I can definitely wear these all day...and I have.”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Simonette knit top ($95); J.Crew button-down ($80); Telfar bag (from $150); Ted Baker boots ($250)
courtesy of Ali Brown
8. ali, Wearing A Size 6 Long
Audience development strategist at PureWow
“Shopping for jeans is always a little tricky for me as a 6-foot-tall woman,” says Ali. But the fact that AE jeans come in not just Long, but X-Long lengths means she didn’t have to resort to constantly rocking a cropped look. “In retrospect, I wish I had gotten the extra long as the long is still a little short for me.”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Free People blazer ($168); Universal Standard turtleneck ($88); Dr. Martens boots ($150)
courtesy of Katherine Gillen
9. katherine, Wearing A Size 2
Food editor at PureWow
Katherine also wished she’d gone with a different size. “I think these jeans would be cute but I definitely chose a size too big because I wasn't sure of the fit. Shopping online I’ll typically order a few different sizes and return what doesn’t work.” One aspect she loved? The length. Just like Ali, Katherine appreciated multiple inseam lengths. “I’m fairly short (5’2”) but surprisingly the regular length is perfect for me!”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Billabong sweater ($60); Roxanne Assoulin necklace ($150); Gucci loafers ($830)
Courtesy of Abby Hepworth
10. Abby, Wearing A Size 8 Long
Editor at PureWow
“I don’t often wear high-waist jeans because I have a short torso and long legs, so finding a pair that fits me well on both ends is a real challenge. But these manage the job, hitting the right spot at my ankle and not going so high as to make friends with my bra band. These will definitely be my new go-to for fall.”
Shop similar styles: American Eagle jeans ($50); Anthropologie top ($120); Charlotte Lebeck earrings ($265); Roxanne Assoulin bracelets ($115); 42 Gold sandals ($120)
