Style | 11/07/2008 9:20 am

Are 'Mom Jeans' Back?

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

NBC "Saturday Night Live"

Are "Mom Jeans" a fashion trend — again?

Today "Mom Jeans" — those high-waisted pants that can be pulled up to the point where they might actually meet your bra straps — is one of the top search terms on Google. This could mean that people are searching to buy a pair. Please, don’t. With 40 shopping days until Christmas, let’s keep away from purchasing such unflattering pants (some even come in pleats).

The term "mom jeans" reached peak popularity in 2003 — as part of satirical skit from "Saturday Night Live." The memorable tag line: "This Mother’s Day, don’t give Mom that bottle of perfume. Give her something that says, ‘I’m not a woman anymore. I’m a mom!’"

Watch the "Saturday Night Live" commercial for "Mom Jeans":

Tell us: Do you wear "Mom Jeans"? Recommend below your favorite pair of denims.

Read more about: Fashion, Humor, Lifestyle, News, Shopping, Style, Trends

18 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Ha! Call them what you will, but at-the-waist styles work best for me (emphasis on “work”). I love them and always look for them when I’m in a purchasing mood. I can bend over without a worry. I can stand and walk and do my work all tucked in and neat. I can put stuff in their deep pockets … Benefits abound. Hey, maybe when I was under 30 I’d have bought hip huggers, but no need for that kind of showing off — or showing all — for me now — and never low-slung jeans for children (that is not a good idea)!

By rocky rocky on 11/07/2008 11:42 am

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I’m also into elastic waist pants. There are a lot of us out there who wear their blouses and tees outside the pants so who cares if the “mom jeans” go high as long as they are comfortable. As we age comfort is more important than looking trendy. Trendy is just a ploy to sell more clothes.

By Judy K. on 11/07/2008 11:56 am

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Gosh…I sure hope they are back…at 55 I am experiencing a bulging stomach and quite frankly…they are more flattering to those of us with a little extra weight…

By Faith Rossell on 11/07/2008 12:25 pm

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the jeans that go below the waist really don’t look good on anyone because they emphasize the lower stomach - even on super skinny girls those jeans actually make them look heavier than they are so sitting just above the waist works - maybe we are taking back the fashion world to the over 45 demographic that is now the majority dressing younger doesn’t have to mean dressing dumber

By Chips AHoey on 11/07/2008 1:56 pm

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YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAyyyyyyyyyyyy !!! I’m hoping that jeans come back that FIT the human over 45. That low-slung stuff just slips down on me leaving my roundness (meaning my tummy) hanging there without anyone taking care of it. Clothes that fit and are comfortable get my attention. From 45 to 90 is the better half of my life, and I intend to be comfortable. From 25 to 45 it was all about fashion-at-all-cost… skirts waaayyy up to here, blouses through which one can view almost anything, jeans so tight one had to lay on the bed to get into them and like that. It was fun, but comfort had nothing to do with it. Glad I have my senses back.

By Patrice Baldwin on 11/07/2008 4:42 pm

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I just turned 60 and I still don’t want the “mom” or “grandmom” jeans. I am not very big (barely 5’) and look silly with them. I don’t have a muffin top to hang out over so I feel ok in ones that sit a little lower. And it gives a little bit of a stretch to me. My biggest problem is finding a proper length. I go on e-bay and watch for petite 0 or 2 with a 30” in seam. Can get some great deals on brand new jeans.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 11/07/2008 5:27 pm

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Mom jeans are kinda like abortion. It may not be something I would choose, but y’can’t make it illegal. And you can’t tell me a cute back side isn’t a cute back side…no matter what kind of jeans you put it in. Or that a bongo butt looks any better in a different cut of denim. I should know. I’ve had both.

By Ms. Dee on 11/08/2008 10:13 am

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“Mom jeans are kinda like abortion. It may not be something I would choose, but y’can’t make it illegal” Best laugh I’ve had today, along with this whole thread ! Personally, I don’t wear jeans, the closest I come is black stretch fabric “jean-like” pants from Chico’s. If I were 5’8” with long skinny legs, MAYBE …. but blue jeans ?…. teens, twenty’s, maybe optimal thirty’s, but not at 60 ! then again…. y’can’t make it illegal ! BUT you should be forced to look into a backside mirror before you walk out the door !

By EKA - on 11/08/2008 3:49 pm

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Good morning, Ms. Sayers, always proud to serve in the lol department. I hope it doesn’t offend anybody.,,even though, I realize it could. But I am always impressed by your posts, so it’s fun for me to wake up to a favorable response from you. It’s turning to winter here. Hope you’ll be having a “Sweet Sunday” wherever you are.

By Ms. Dee on 11/09/2008 7:32 am

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LOL, as long as guys look at my backside (happened today) I’ll keep wearing them at 60. I’m the opposite, I have a problem with stretch type fabrics. We each have our items we are comfortable wearing.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 11/09/2008 5:12 pm

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There are every style of jean out there today. if you want them you can have them. I know because I buy them all! i have some low slung (although i’m sort of “over them), some just below the waist (which work best on me), some really high (rib cage). Ive got straight leg, huge flare leg, sort of flared leg, boot cut… Jeans with holes in them, jeans I could wear to work if need be… Elaine collects shoes and I collect jeans! I wish i knew all the wow ladies in person and could go shop for jeans for all of you who have a hard time finding them…

By Chrome Toe on 11/08/2008 1:23 pm

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HMMMM…..Mom jeans! Or this is just a euphemism for “my body is shifting in places we won’t mention, but I need to fit my hips into them anyway” clothing. Frankly I spent many years mourning the lack of Gloria Vanderbilt 70’s jeans because they FIT and fit WELL. Only in the last year have I discovered that some DKNY styles give me enough coverage to keep me happy. For someone who threatens excessively to live in long flowing robes ( and buys Eskandar because his clothes hide a multitude of sins), finding jeans which fit well and and have a certain “street cred” is a small joy.

By gladys fernandez on 11/08/2008 4:08 pm