Navigating the jeans market as a mom and recovering millennial
Who else needs a little help navigating the jeans market these days? After all, the height of fashion in my youth was Britney Spears’ hip-bone-exposing low-rise jeans, and today my options are “almost at navel” and “covers navel.” Woof.
And while I’m a big believer in wearing whatever you’re comfortable in rather than chasing every trend, I did need some new jeans this fall, anyway, after so much time in leggings.
So here’s how my jean shopping expedition went. Please send thoughts and prayers to me and my fellow millennials during this confusing time.
Related: How do you wear a crop top in your 40s? However the heck you want!
High-waisted jeans: Can you wear them?
Yes, with one caveat! Those 1980s pop stars were onto something with their super high-waisted pants. They are incredibly flattering, helping to define your waist and lengthen your legs. But we have something they didn’t: stretchy denim.
The higher the rise, the more stretch you want in your jeans fabric.
I bought a pair of these high-waisted vintage jeans from Madewell last year, and while I love the look of them, I almost never wear them because they have zero stretch. But this year I ordered these equally high-waisted Perfect Vintage Jean in Melrose Wash some of Madewell’s in a stretchy fabric, and I basically never take them off.
Skinny jeans vs. straight leg vs. flared
Ripped vs. not ripped
Wash
I never thought twice about diapering my son with the eco-not-so-conscious disposable diaper. I have to admit, I thought that cloth diapers were still big cotton towels that required safety pins, manual dexterity, and a whole lot of free time.
Don’t get any sick ideas, dear readers. We’ve all seen our share of those softies and we certainly don’t need a stuffed one of THOSE laying around the house. 
When my 3 year old was a newborn we planned a trip to Europe and before I could say auf viedersehn, my brain pictured all the filthy traveling potties we would encounter while changing her diaper.