I Searched for the Perfect Mom Jeans for Thick Thighs and Here is What I Learned…

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A stack of jeans sitting on a blue velvet couch

Searching for the Perfect Mom Jean

You want to know something that average to curvy size people aren’t talking about? They are absolutely forgetting to mention how hard it is to find mom jeans that fit perfectly. Honestly, I spent the greater part of my life believing that my body was just not meant to wear the cool-girl denim style. High-waist jeans, while trending, need to be styled correctly! However, I’m both an advocate for dressing for your body type and also for wearing whatever makes you happy. The contradiction to both those beliefs that I kept finding while shopping for mom jeans was that they were neither flattering nor making me happy (both pivotal arguments for the standards). After coming to terms with the fact that mom jeans were not made for women with thick thighs, I largely gave up on the quest. That is, until recently when I went on a spree and tried on 35+ different pairs of trousers in 3 hours in hopes of finding the exact fit my body needs. While I found out a lot about what I didn’t like, I also narrowed the search down to 6 pairs of jeans that are perfect for thicker thighs and curvy ladies like myself!

What I Learned About Styling Mom Jeans

The Perfect Price is between $40-$150

Interestingly, I happened upon a pattern while trying on all these jeans. Going into this search, I told myself I would not hold back on any jeans, regardless of their price. After asking for your thoughts on Instagram Stories, I found some of the suggestions were on the pricier end jeans ($275). Even though that felt like breaking the bank, I was willing to compromise price if the jeans were going to make me feel amazing for a good while. As it turns out, most of the jeans that I tried on above the $150 threshold couldn’t hold a candle to the more affordable pairs. They seemed to be less inclusive of curves and different body-types (even Good American jeans)! Now, some of you may think that $150 is too much to spend on jeans; I understand because I used to be in that same camp. As I have gotten older, I’ve realized that sometimes denim prices are higher to cover the cost of quality. You’ll find out what I mean as you read on! Not to worry, though, most of the jeans I am recommending are on sale!

Traditional Denim Sizes Don’t Matter

Most of the time, you go into a store knowing what size you’re looking for. When shopping for mom jeans and straight leg denim, it is a whole ‘nother ballgame! For one, most of these styles have zero stretch (there are exceptions). Another reason? To get the more classic loose fit, you have to be willing to move up in size. As I poured myself into a myriad of non-stretch cotton denim, I told myself to stop looking at the size and to start looking at the fit. After awhile, I started taking in 3 pairs of the same jean in different sizes into the dressing room. It became crucial to my mission that I forget about the number on the clothing that was holding me back. If you enjoy this post, be sure to check out swimsuits for thick thighs as well.

Results: The Perfect Straight Leg Jeans for Thick Thighs

Lauryn Hock from Lauryn cakes wearing TOPSHOP Dad Jeans and a pink blouse in her kitchen mirror

TOPSHOP Dad Jeans

Coincidentally, I happened upon these jeans while perusing the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and fell in love. The coincidence? They weren’t a part of the sale but were to me shortly after! What I love above the TOPSHOP Dad pair of jeans is the button-up closure! This type of closure is great for two reason: holding you in and allowing you to get tight jeans on while still having a tight waist. The jeans offer minimal stretch, but aren’t completely rigid. I sized up two sizes to get the fit I wanted.

SHOP DAD JEANS

Lauryn Hock from Salt Lake City Utah wearing American Eagle Curvy Fit Mom Jeans and rating/reviewing them on her fashion blog

American Eagle Curvy Fit Mom Jeans

Unlike the previous pair of jeans, the American Eagle Curvy Fit Mom Jeans provide ample stretch! While they don’t offer the “loose AF’ look of vintage denim, they fit really well to my body. This is a pair of high-waist bottoms you should get if you worry about the dreaded “gap”. These jeans hug tight at the waist and won’t slink down when you bend down. These fit true to size! (P.S. they are on sale right now!)

SHOP CURVY MOM JEANS

Lauryncakes wearing Madewell Perfect Vintage jeans in a mirror selfie

Madewell The Perfect Vintage Jean

As I started on this journey to find my perfect fit, Madewell was already on my mind. They restored my hope in humanity a few years ago when I tried on their 10″ rise jeans, so I had high hopes for a pair that would deliver a similar fit in a different style. Of course, many of you (on my InstaStory polls) also felt the same way and recommended the brand extensively! They carry both The Perfect Vintage Jean and The Perfect Curvy Vintage Jean (touted for it’s lack of gapping); the styles I was looking for! I ended up with the non-curvy pair  because I found the right fit in the sale section! Unlike the other, more stretch-fit jeans from Madewell, I had to go up a size because the jeans are indeed stiff! My favorite part was the expertly placed distressing that make the pants look “lived in”. These vintage jeans are one of Madewell’s more affordable pairs, and are on sale right now. It is also worth noting that Madewell has excellent customer service and has always repaired zippers or price matched coupons for me.

SHOP VINTAGE MOM JEANS

Lauryn Hock from Lauryncakes reviewing Zara high-rise straight jeans in a denim blog review

Zara Hi-Rise Straight

In full transparency, this was my first pair of Zara jeans I had ever tried on! My first experience in a Zara store was in London, England and I was mesmerized! This light wash pair of jeans immediately stood out to me as I walked by them. The straight jeans don’t offer a lot of stretch and are a more rigid denim at 100% cotton, but interestingly, I didn’t need to go up in size! Gapping in the back wasn’t a huge issue because this pair is tight, but they aren’t a pair I would wear all day long.

SHOP STRAIGHT ANKLE DENIM

Lauryncakes in Zara culottes trying them on for a blog review

Zara High Waist Culotte

Now, I didn’t intend to go looking for culotte pants, but this pair surprisingly gave me more of the look I was going for! The Zara High Waist Culotte is the perfect color and wash! This pair is unfortunately out of stock (unless you find it at your local store like I did). However, below are a few similar pairs I found online at varying price points!

SHOP WIDE LEG JEANS

Lauryn Hock trying on a pair of Old Navy straight jeans for a try-on review

Old Navy Straight

Another big contender in the suggestions from Instagram was to check out Old Navy. I’m a all about their Rockstar pants and thought they might be promising! After trying on countless styles, and feeling unsuccessful, I walked away with this straight pair 3 sizes bigger than my normal size. Normally, I would have said no because the gapping in the back was a bit much and the fit wasn’t absolutely perfect, but they were in the sales rack for a killer price! Ultimately, I’d pass on Old Navy if looking for good mom jeans!

SHOP MOM JEANS UNDER $50

Which pair above is your favorite? Have you had a hard time finding the perfect pair of mom jeans like me?!

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15 Comments
  • Stephanie
    July 22, 2019

    You put so much effort into finding the ideal cut and style for your shape, and I love that because not only does it benefit YOU – but it’ll help so many others find their perfect pair of mom-style jeans too!

  • Erin
    July 23, 2019

    Jeans are so hard for me to find a good fit for my hips and my short frame. I’ve been dying over my cropped jeans from Hollister!

  • Riah
    July 23, 2019

    Yaaayyy thank you for this post! As a thick thigh girl, I’m always on the hunt for jeans that fit and can survive the chub rub. This is perfect and I’m so excited to check out these jeans.

  • Kileen
    July 23, 2019

    I love that you put this post together and found the jeans that fit the best! Love the Zara Hi-Rise straight jeans!

    Kileen
    cute & little

  • Nataly
    July 23, 2019

    Thank you for this! I have been struggling to find a good pair of mom jeans too! I think I love the American Eagle ones the best. I might need to get them out for myself.

  • Lily
    July 24, 2019

    Finding the perfect jeans in general is hard!

  • Tonya Morris
    July 24, 2019

    You found some amazing pairs! Awesome research. I want to try the Zara one!

  • Helena Marz
    July 24, 2019

    I sometimes I have a hard time finding the perfect jeans that I like on me and how it feels as well. I find that the older I am I prefer stretchy jeans since it feels so comfortable like you are wearing yoga leggings! Glad you found a couple pairs of jeans that fits perfect for you! ❤️

  • Deborah
    July 25, 2019

    Great picks – LOVE the Madewell one and that link led me down a rabbit hole for other Madewell sale stuff haha!

  • Taylor Aube
    July 25, 2019

    I love all of the cuts of these jeans. Mom jeans are my favorite and I actually need a new pair. Thanks for sharing all of these brands and styles!

  • Delia Atenea
    July 26, 2019

    Girl, I think my favorite are gonna be the Zara jeans, but I’m probably the wrong person to ask because I buy ALL my jeans from Zara! I’m obsessed with cropped mom jeans right now too!

  • Morgan Tyner
    July 28, 2019

    All the feels for this post!! Finding jeans can totally be a challenge. I got a pair recently from a small business called Blue Delta Jeans! They fit like a glove! I am a huge jeans person, but sometimes hate trying them on — because they always fit different depending on style/brand. This is such an awesome, informative post!
    Xx, Morgs*

  • Megan Elliott
    July 29, 2019

    Oh wow. You are seriously rocking these mom jeans!! While I don’t have thick thighs, it can definitely be very difficult to find great jeans being so petite!

  • Paul
    March 17, 2020

    Thanks for explaining your positivity posting. Love you too

    • lauryncakes
      March 19, 2020

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