February 23, 2021
Everyone’s talking about how skinny jeans are out and straight leg jeans are in. But how do you wear straight leg jeans without looking like a teen?
Today’s Trendy Tuesday Tip is how to wear straight leg jeans!
I’m so excited to introduce a fun new series on Merrick’s Art called TRENDY TUESDAY. There are lots of new trends floating around all the time, and it’s hard to figure out how to incorporate them into your style without losing your style AND looking immature or too trendy. Today’s TRENDY TUESDAY is all about how to wear straight leg jeans.
I just did a 4 Ways to Wear It post with straight leg jeans last week, but today let’s deep dive for a second about this trend and how to best incorporate it if you’re over the age of 23.
Get the right fit with your straight leg jeans
Fit with jeans is going to vary from person to person, but a pair of jeans that fits you well is always the key to a good jeans outfit. So let’s start here.
- Look at the length of the jeans: This style of jeans should hit around your ankle bone, no matter your height. Longer than ankle length with a straight leg jean is going to hide your ankle and go right into your shoe, which gives a blocky leg look. So keep it ankle bone length or shorter. Avoid TOO short though because they’ll start to feel like “capri pants” of the 90’s and we don’t need those.
- Lots of tailors hem jeans for only a few dollars, so if find the perfect pair, but they’re too long, get them hemmed.
- I also have two hemming tutorials on the blog (how to hem and keep the original hem, and how to shorten your jeans with a raw hem)
- How does the waist fit?It’s trendy right now for younger kids to wear oversized clothes, including jeans. So you see a lot of young girls wearing jeans with the waist gap in the back. If you’re a grown woman, you can wear the trendy jeans, but skip the trendy ill-fit.
- If you have a pair with a waist gap and need to fix it, I have a post right here.
- Should they be snug or loose on your legs? The fit of your jeans will be personal preference, but keep in mind that straight leg jeans look amazing on young girls and models who often don’t have a woman’s hips. So if you have hips, be mindful of how these straight legs accentuate or don’t accentuate different parts of your body.
- What about that booty? The long, flat booty is typical in a pair of “mom jeans,” but there are some ways to avoid it (or at least minimize it).
- The shape and size of the back pockets makes a huge difference in how your backside looks.
- When the waist fits well, the booty will always look better.
- Fully tucking in your shirt will help accentuate your waist in the back and give a nice curve so you don’t get as much “flat mom bum.”
Here’s a little chart to show you a few fit options and how they work with different body types:
How to wear straight leg jeans and still look my age:
This is the question of the moment! We all see GenZ’s wearing straight leg jeans, but we’re not sure how to wear them without looking like a teenager.
- Choose your footwear wisely. Lots of GenZ-ers are wearing clunky 90’s boots and chunky sneakers (like this) with their straight leg jeans. To keep your outfit feeling age appropriate and mature, try one of these shoes:
- Accentuate your waist with a full or half tuck. With straight leg jeans, it’s easy to lose your shape. So accentuating your waist isvery important, and keeps your outfit looking polished instead of scrubby.
- Half tuck your shorter tops (long tops will get bunchy in the back when half tucked into a high waist)
- Fully tuck your longer tops and blouses
- Try a body suit
- Add classic accessories: Classic jewelry, a chic neck scarf, a classy watch, a nice leather belt, or another classic accessory will help your outfit feel age appropriate and chic.
Three classy outfit ideas with mom jeans
These are the straight leg jeans I’m wearing
they’re true to size, but I cut the hem off of mine to make them a little shorter on me.
If you have any other questions about straight leg jeans, leave a comment here or over on my Instagram post this morning!
IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE POSTS
When to half tuck or fully tuck your shirt
The 2021 Winter Style Guide
4 cute straight leg jeans outfits
You may
also like
- 5 Dressy New Year’s Eve (Or New Year’s Day Sunday) Outfit Ideas
- 5 Monochromatic Holiday Outfit Ideas
- Save vs. Splurge Comparisons on Wardrobe Favorites
- How to Wear A Skirt or Dress in the Winter
8 Comments
Jac says:See AlsoHow To Find Your Perfect JeansSizing | How To Find Your Proper Inseam SizeHow To Measure Inseam On Jeans: w/ Photos & Video | Tall PaulCheap Vs. Expensive Jeans: Key Denim Differences | Gentleman's GazetteApril 20, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Thank you merrick! I love you sooo much!
Reply
August 10, 2021 at 1:03 pm
[…] straight leg jeans seen on Merrick’s Art hit right at the ankle so you can see her short ankle […]
Reply
February 17, 2022 at 2:09 am
[…] Download Image More @ http://www.merricksart.com […]
Reply
October 6, 2022 at 2:09 am
[…] https://www.merricksart.com/how-to-wear-straight-leg-jeans/ […]
Reply
- Ashley whitehead says:
February 18, 2023 at 7:44 am
Thank you so much foe your content! I look forward to your emails every day ans think your tips are so helpful. What do you suggest if you are wanting to branch out into straight leg jeans but aren’t comfortable with tucking? I love the look but with weight in the middle i just never feel like it looks good on me!
Reply
- Jenny says:
February 19, 2023 at 8:50 pm
cutting the hem off to make them a little shorter and edgier is a great idea!
Reply
April 10, 2023 at 1:48 pm
[…] Trendy Tuesday: How to Wear Straight Leg Jeans How to Style Straight-Leg Jeans When You Hate Everything Else in Your Closet How To Find Your Perfect Jeans How to Style Straight-Leg Jeans: Your Dependable Denim Guide […]
Reply
Jac 
Ashley whitehead 
Jenny Leave a Reply
Alright, so we're diving into straight leg jeans and how to rock them without feeling like you've raided a teenager's wardrobe. First off, the fit is crucial. Length matters—a lot. You want these jeans to hit around your ankle bone, no matter how tall you are. Too long, and they'll drown your ankles; too short, and you're back in the 90s Capri zone.
Waist fit is another key element. Unlike the trendy waist gap, which younger crowds sport, a well-fitted waist is classically stylish. And hey, if your jeans come with a waist gap, there are fixes for that.
Now, let's talk about the legs. Straight leg jeans might look killer on models, but if you've got hips, finding the right fit is a bit of an art. Those back pockets? They play a big role in how your booty shapes up in these jeans. And here's a tip: tucking in your shirt can work wonders for accentuating that waist and avoiding the dreaded "mom bum."
But the real challenge? How to rock these jeans without feeling like you're trying too hard to look young. Footwear is key. Skip the chunky sneakers; opt for sleek options like white sneakers, block-heeled boots, or classic flats.
To keep the look polished, play with the tuck of your tops. Half-tuck shorter ones and fully tuck longer ones. And don't forget the power of classic accessories—think timeless jewelry, a classy watch, or a chic scarf.
For those unsure about diving into straight leg jeans, there's hope! Don't feel comfortable tucking? No problem. And if you're worried about a little extra weight around the middle, there are ways to make these jeans work for you without compromising on style.
And if you're hungry for more on this trend, there are posts out there delving into styling tips and outfit ideas. Ultimately, it's about making this trend your own without losing your sense of style or feeling like you've borrowed clothes from someone half your age.
