My relationship with jeans has been…interesting over the past couple of years.
I’ve mentioned this struggle before. But I am determined to find a cool pair of baggy jeans for this fall that can be my go-to pair. I have a few pairs of casual pants I love (these are my fav baggy jeans right now), and they’re so great, but I used to be such a fan of jeans for my everyday outfits, and it’s made me frustrated that I can’t seem to nail down a pair I love lately.
The Struggle: Jeans, Bodies & Changing Styles
We’ve talked a ton about jeans and ever-changing jean styles over the years here on The Mom Edit and they’ve definitely gone through an identity crisis over the past 5 years, I’d say. Maybe I’m also going through a jeans identity crisis with them, lol. Ever since 2020 they’re just not the same and neither is my body, of course.
As a 47-year-old things have definitely shifted in the past few years, even though I’m doing lots of things to try to stay on top of my body changing (pilates, HRT, rest, supplements, etc.) But I think this paired with the really varied styles of jeans over the past couple of years has made it pretty tough to find those go-to pairs I used to swear by.
Jeans (29) | Sweater (M) | Clogs
I love the look of baggy jeans right now, but a super high-waisted pair with lots of fabric in the legs just does not work on my body. I have a shorter torso/upper body, pretty regular length legs, but am only 5’4″ overall. I’m not petite but almost in height, I have a strong booty from all my squats and my DNA and am straighter through the middle. So here I am, trying again to see what might work this year. I found a couple of pairs below that really made me feel hopeful. Let’s get into it.
1 | Citizens Of Humanity Brynn Drawstring Trouser
WHERE TO BUY: Nordstrom | Revolve | Bloomingdale’s | Evereve | Anthropologie (diff wash)
PRICE: $298
SIZING: Offered in 23 – 34, TTS
COLORS: Portola (wash above), Atlantis (dk blue) and Burnished Quartz (at anthro)
FABRIC: 70% Lyocell, 30% Pre-Consumer Recycled Cotton
Ok, so of course I’d love one of the most expensive pairs (what can I say I have good taste?) but they really are great. Shana recently included them in her jeans try-on, too. I love that they sit on me like a true mid-rise style. I so often have trouble with a high rise because it highlights my midsection poorly or has too much fabric that poofs out or is just too long in the rise and looks ridiculous. These fit beautifully all over. I am wearing a wooden clog here, so they definitely run long, which I like the look of, but I would need to hem them a bit.
Jeans (29) | Sweater (M) | Clogs
2 | Levi’s XL Baggy Straight
WHERE TO BUY: Levi’s | Free People (blue) | Zappos | Revolve (blue)
PRICE: $108
SIZING: sizes 23 – 34, runs small. Wearing a 30, 1 size up from my usual
COLORS: med blue, dark blue, black, grey
FABRIC: 100% cotton
Hey-o, Levi’s coming in hot at another top favorite here. I always love Levi’s and my heart will forever be a 501 fan, but for these baggy styles those just don’t cut it. This XL Baggy was a bit of a surprise because I thought they might be too wide leg/too much fabric, but they aren’t. I love these. They also fit well around my tough-to-fit areas…hip, butt, rise. I typically always size up in Levi’s that aren’t stretchy and one size up here was perfect.
Jeans (30) | Tee (M) | Sneakers
3 | Hidden Jeans Oversize Wide Leg Baggy
WHERE TO BUY: Nordstrom
PRICE: $93
SIZING: 24 – 29 (selling quickly), true to size, pretty high waisted.
COLORS: this wash only with panels, same cut also with rhinestones (ooh lol, those here)
FABRIC: 73% cotton, 27% rayon
These Hidden jeans were almost perfect and really comfy. They’re a fabulous lighter-weight denim, which I like these days many times. But I didn’t love how they fit at my stomach and the lighter fabric highlighted that area more than I wanted. The panels are really cool, but unlike on some other brand like Rudy Jude and Rachel Comey they started up too high for my liking.
Jeans (29) | Tee (M) | Sneakers
4 | GAP Midrise UltraSoft Baggy Jeans in Bordeaux Purple
WHERE TO BUY: GAP
PRICE: $89.95
SIZING: 23 – 35 Regular, Tall + Petite
COLORS: a ton of washes and color options
FABRIC: 55% Cotton, 40% Tencel, 5% Recycled Cotton
These Gap jeans aren’t bad and I loved the fun color option (they come in a ton.) And while they fit pretty well at the waist and butt, I didn’t like the shorter length. I feel like there’s some inconsistency there or I got the wrong pair (I didn’t order a Short or Petite length) but I just did a Gap try-on and the same cut in a different color was longer. Hmm. Be sure to double-check which options you choose on these.
Jeans (29) | Sweater (M) | Shoes
Because when I put them on with clogs they looked silly to me. And I want to be able to wear a few different shoes with the jeans I choose, even though I know it’s hard to always expect a flat shoe AND a platform shoe to work. It’s tough to tell here in this still photo but when I walked it was like two bells ding-donging over my clogs LOL. I don’t know how else to describe it, but since most of us don’t just stand still when we wear jeans I thought it important to share. It bugged.
5 | Citizens of Humanity Ayla Baggy
WHERE TO BUY: Revolve | Free People | Evereve (med blue) | Nordstrom
PRICE: $258
SIZING: sizes 24 – 34, true to size but a little tight in the waist for me, fits a bit like a trouser.
COLORS: tons of washes
FABRIC: 100% regenerative cotton
I feel like I’ve tried this pair in the past and liked them, but this time around I did not. I’m just over a high-waisted jean right now and these fit to snug on the midsection. They’re a beautiful jean if you do like a high waist though, and want a wide baggy leg. They come in a bunch of really great washes, too. (Citizens usually nails that.)
Jeans (29) | Sweater (M) | Clogs
6 | GAP Midrise UltraSoft Baggy Jeans in Washed Indigo
WHERE TO BUY: GAP
PRICE: $89.95
SIZING: 23 – 35 Regular, Tall + Petite
COLORS: a ton of washes and color options
FABRIC: 55% Cotton, 40% Tencel, 5% Recycled Cotton
These are the same cut as the purple Gap jeans above, but in a different style with no true waistband. Yeah, I should not have tried that style again and I knew it lol. I hated these. They looked cool online, but I don’t like how they highlight my stomach again and I don’t love the wash all that much. I do like the taller hem at the bottom, though.
Jeans (29) | Sweater (M) | Shoes
I’m torn between the Levi’s and the Citizens (the first pair.) Which is your pick?
xo,
L
