Mom jeans are not just a silhouette, they are a lifestyle. They’re the kind of pants worn by a person obsessed with oat milk, mid-century dressers, fig trees, and are currently thinking about joining a pottery studio. Any denim aficionado knows there are three things that make the best mom jean: 1) a high-waist that elongates your legs; 2) a straight-leg fit through the thigh with a delicate taper at the ankle, and 3) a heavy-weight fabrication that holds you in, but allows for a full range of movement. Mom jeans have come a long way from actively representing ‘90s moms—that SNL sketch is 15 years old—and since their induction into high fashion, now they’re pretty much just…the most basic pair of jeans, in the best way possible, and an absolute closet staple.
To help you identify the very best brands, we rounded up 17 of our favorites, including the return of a certain 2000s-loved designer, a pair of editor-loved Amazon jeans, and some pairs that defy the FUPA, below.
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Best Budget Mom Jeans
H&M
Mom High Ankle Jeans
Sizes
0–18
Colors
Black, Denim Blue, Light Denim Blue,
Rise
High
Inseam
“Ankle length”
Best Neutral Mom Jeans
Madewell x Donni
Low-Rise Loose Jeans
Sizes
23–33
Colors
Cream
Rise
Low/Mid
Inseam
30”
Best Plus Size Mom Jeans
Levi’s
Ribcage Straight Ankle
Sizes
14M–24L
Colors
Ojai (Light Wash), Samba Done (Light Wash), Black Sprout, Worn In Black, Jazz Pop (Medium Wash)
Rise
High
Inseam
27”
Best Classic Brand
Levi’s
501® ‘90s Original
Sizes
23–34
Colors
Deconstructed Indigo (Medium Wash), Firestarter (Black), Sketch Artist (Medium Wash), Drew Me In (Medium Wash), Worn In Light Indigo (Light Wash), Mad Love (Medium Wash)
Rise
Low
Inseam
30”, 32”
Editor-Loved Brand
AGOLDE
90s Pinch Waist Jean
Sizes
23–32
Colors
Stone wash
Rise
High
Inseam
28.5”
Best Sustainable Mom Jeans
Everlane
The Way-High Jean
Sizes
23–35
Colors
Coal, Washed Black, Vintage Indigo, Folsom Blue, Light Indigo, Distressed, Spring Blue, Cali Blue
Rise
High
Inseam
25.5”, 27.5”, or 29.5”
Best Petite Mom Jeans
Reformation
Petites Cynthia High Rise Straight Jeans
Sizes
23–31
Colors
Black, Blue
Rise
High
Inseam
26”
Best Light Wash Mom Jeans
RE/DONE
90s High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans
Sizes
23–32
Colors
Light wash
Rise
High
Inseam
31.5”
Best Distressed Mom Jean
SweatyRocks
Distressed Wide Leg Jeans
Sizes
XXS–XXL
Colors
31 options (!)
Rise
High
Inseam
N/A
Best Black Mom Jeans
Zara
Mom Fit Authentic Z1975 Jeans
Sizes
25–32
Colors
Deep Blue, Blue, Indigo, Light Blue, Mid-Blue, Black, Gray
Rise
High
Inseam
N/A
Best Ankle Length Mom Jean
Mother Denim
The Rambler Ankle
Sizes
23–34
Colors
Medium Blue, Dark Blue, Light Grey
Rise
High
Inseam
27.5”
Best 100% Cotton Mom Jeans
Citizens of Humanity
Emery Crop Relaxed Straight
Sizes
23–34
Colors
Licorice (Black), Passage (Medium Wash), Old Blue (Medium Wash), Crescent (Medium Wash)
Kia Goosby Kia Goosby is a Fashion Editor for Hearst Fashion Group, who forever loves Atlanta, R&B music, believes butter with a side of bread makes everything better, and just so happens to cover all things in fashion for her main 9 to 5.
Justine Carreon
Justine Carreon is the market editor at ELLE.com covering fashion, Dutch ovens, and fashion again.
Meg Donohue Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Meg Donohue is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com.
