Let me start off by saying – I am biased. If I could life in yoga pants 24/7, I probably would. I have my nice daytime yoga pants, my fancy “going out” yoga pants and my stained and stretched jammie yoga pants. So, it’s safe to say, I love yoga pants! But I wanted to take some time to discuss this cultural phenonemon in America which is the controversy of mom jeans versus yoga pants. Where did it come from, what does it all mean – and what you can do about it.
Here at Practical Mommy, I like to keep things judgement free as much as possible. Everyone makes their own choices for their own reasons – so please understand I am not putting down “mom jeans”. In fact, I hope to prove that the term itself is meaningless. If you’re a mom and you’re wearing jeans, you’re technically wearing mom jeans. And if you are on the side of the style equation where you LOVE jeans and HATE yoga pants – well that’s ok too. To each their own. Let’s just all get along and wear some pants.
When I was younger and actually wore jeans, it was trendy to get the extremely low rise, “can’t bend over in them”, jeans. Moms jeans were the opposite – jeans that rode so high, you could rest your boobs on the seam. Nowadays, the term still refers to high-waisted jeans, but they’ve come into a bit more style.
As the Fashionista writes – “I was on the hunt for an item I’ve been casually considering for a while now: the perfect pair of high-waisted, light wash, straight-to-tapered-leg, heavyweight, non-stretch — that’s the key here — dungarees.”
I’ve seen celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Kim Kardashian try the mom jeans look and it’s obvious that they’re trying to make a comeback.
On the other hand, you’ve got other celebrities rocking the yoga look and totally making them socially acceptable at every level. For example, Kate Hudson’s new line of yoga wear Fabletics, which offers moms the fantastic opportunity to put their clothes shopping on automatic and have cute outfits delivered to their home on a schedule. Really, what could be better than not having to take a screaming toddler and/or infant to a shopping center for any reason?
Yoga wear has also been changing recently. Before, when it was exclusive to the gym, it may have been perceived as being boring and/or too provocative to wear skin tight pants and sports bras out in public. But now, yoga wear is made in a variety of colors and styles and includes full tank tops, tshirts, jackets and much more.
Also, about a decade ago (hard to believe it’s been that long) Juicy Couture and Victoria Secret made soft velour yoga pants with cute sayings on the butt popular. Moms who wanted to be “the cool mom” started wearing these pants. After a while, they evolved into what we know yoga pants to be today.
Why do moms love yoga pants?
#1 – they are super comfortable. Running after toddlers is not as easy to do in jeans that don’t bend. You have to be quick on your toes to grab those fast little babies.
#2 – they are cute. Patterns and colors are a lot more socially acceptable in a yoga pant than jeans.
#3 – dark denim has become an acceptable “going out” pants, because they can be dressed up or dressed down. They play double duty in your closet. But if you use them as “going out” pants, you want to keep them clean and looking nice, so you can’t wear them every day.
#4 – they hug your curves. They accentuate the good and downplay the bad, which every woman can appreciate.
#5 – they are casual. You can run errands, actually go to the gym and run after the kids without having to change clothes.
What do you think? Are jeans out and yoga pants are in? Do you love your mom jeansand would never be caught dead in yoga pants? Chime in and let us know.
Long live yoga pants! My body has changed, and continues to change, after having 2 kids. Yoga pants stretch; jeans do not. I feel better about my body and more confident when I wear yoga pants—jeans, not so much.
Yes! Yoga pants are very “forgiving”
Yoga pants all the way!
Yay for comfort!
Yoga pants every chance I get! No contest and for all of those reasons! I am so much more likely to hit the treadmill if I am already ready and I find that I engage and get down to the kids level more if I am comfortable and able to enjoy it.
So true! Having to “get ready” to work out can be such a great way to procrastinate.
I LOVE my yoga pants. In fact, if I put on jeans, my 3 year old gets all excited and asks where are we going!?!? HAHAHAHA!
That is so funny!!
I’m all about my yoga/workout pants! I often go to the gym in the morning, then head right out to run errands. With kids, I don’t have time to go and change. I only wear jeans if I’m going out because they are not that comfortable to me. Sorry, but comfort is key when you’re a mommy 🙂
Totally agree! Jeans are my “going out” pants. LOL
Kristen,
Great post! I live in my yoga pants now that I’m a mom to twins! But I also work from home so it just makes sense. I do still wear my jeans, but when I go out as a way to “dress up.”
Yoga pants are very stylish and popular so many moms don’t look out of place wearing them to the library or grocery shopping. Plus they are easy to get around when you’re chasing twins!
They are so comfy! I love my yoga pants.