Mom Jeans: An Ode to the Fashion of our Moms

90s fashion is great. Mom fashion is great. 90s mom fashion is the stuff I live for. 

First, a little back story...

As I was perusing through old pictures, looking for something suitable for Instagram, I came across some snapshots of my mom, rocking Adidas tracksuits, running shoes and thick Oakley's. Growing up, I remember being so enamored with my mom. I sincerely believed she always looked amazing, that I needed to dress the same way. I would sneak into her closet when my parents were out, and try on all of her clothes––the turtle necks, chunky earrings, color blocked ski jackets, hush puppies––hoping that her greatness would somehow rub off on me. 

My mom was undoubtedly my first fashion icon, sadly replaced by Avril Lavigne circa Sk8er Boi, once I became "too cool" for her. 

A variety of today's most popular trends can be directly linked back to 90s mom fashion:

High waisted jeans

First seen on your mom (or in this epic SNL Clip) 

Now $90 at American Apparel

Overalls

Worn by your mom on a trip to Disneyland (probably with a fanny pack)

Now the single most popular item on every street style blog 

Running shoes and jeans 

A classic staple for a mom-on-the-go

Now worn by every hipster who hopped on the normcore bus a little late

Birkenstocks 

An item from your mom's "college days" praised for their comfort, often worn with socks

Now on my feet, with socks, of course 

90s mom fashion, a dominating force in the present day fashion scene, reminds us of three things: our moms are always right, certain clothes will "get fashionable again", and deep down, all of us got it from our mamas.  

So, if you are ever upset with your mom, just remember, she showed you the beauty of the Gap and bargain shopping. You wouldn't be the fashionable person you are today, without her. 

Olsenology

Growing up, the idea of having a twin captivated every twin-less child. Besides, the ability to switch identities with another person who resembled you in every way, was overly romanticized and dramatized as many times as Disney could get away with. From Zack and Cody to the eternal confusion that was Lindsay Lohan's faux twin in The Parent Trap, the "twin fantasy" ravaged the minds of those who arrived in this world s-o-l-o. 

No dynamic duo, however, ruled my childhood as much as the Olsen Twins. I spent countless hours vigilantly watching their movies: jam-packed with international jet-setting and–you guessed it–as much twin-identity swapping as possible. 

Nowadays, Mary Kate and Ashley are focusing on projects off screen, allowing for public attention in another capacity: fashion. 

If one thing is for sure, the Olsen Twins can dress. As a unit, their respective styles effortlessly play off each other; the same palpable synchronicity apparent in their joint acting roles. They dress with an unmistakable ease: always casual and always fluid.  Boyfriend jeans, large sumer trench coats, and cape dresses are not easy to pull off–especially on a 5'2" frame. Yet, they continue to sport oversized frocks exquisitely. They understand proportion and shape, tools learned from time spent as active members of the fashion community. Their style cannot be classified under one title: it is just as much boho as it is edgy, androgynous, and sophisticated.

Of course, as separate entities, the Olsens have their own individuality in fashion. Together, however, as street style icons and budding designers, they really don't miss a beat. 

Mary-Kate and Ashley's Resort 2015 collection for The Row is chock-full of all things minimalist, tailored, and oversized. Check it out aquí. 

Running Shoes Rule

As a child, I naturally developed an interest in fashion. This vague "interest" soon turned into a life-encompassing, competitive passion; I wanted to be the first to know about all trends and emerging icons. I picked up on serious fashion faux pas early, compiling them in a large mental list. At the top of that list? A collection of trends that are never acceptable: exposed bra straps, panty lines, and running shoes worn with a non-sportswear outfit. 

As I sat on the edge of my bed this morning, tying my thrifted, neon Nike Air Max sneakers, I recalled this list of rules I made as a smart ass pre-teen. Not only was I pairing my bright athletic shoes with a non-sportswear outfit, but I was wearing them with their ultimate fashion nemesis: blue jeans. It was in this moment where I thought to myself the age old question, "Aren't all rules meant to be broken?" (in a rhetorical, Carrie Bradshaw-esque way, no less). 

The answer is not black and white. In fact, nothing is black and white in the fashion world, except for maybe Jason Wu's Resort 2015 collection which is pretty flippin' fabulous if you ask me.
Fashion moves rapidly: collections showcased, products made, and a few months later, the same pieces find themselves destined for a life on the clearance rack.

Constant adaptation and an innate ability to fully live in the present is essential in staying afloat in fashion. Take Birkenstocks, for example. Those comfortable sandals have spent their life on a tumultuous fashion rollercoaster; finding themselves mocked by fashion elitists, loved by hippies, and, now, the most coveted shoe of the summer. Yet, I can't really recall a time when jeans and running shoes were ever acceptable, except for in our current, normcore crazed society.

I will without a doubt cringe while reminiscing on the fashion trends of 2014. For the time being, however, I am enjoying experimenting with my fashion choices. I can now see why so many middle aged adults rock the running shoe-denim look outside of the normcore realm–it's ridiculously comfortable.

If one thing is for sure, panty lines are still not ok. 

Hardcore Normcore

You think baseball hats, oversized hoodies, and sandals with socks are simply just standard components of your father's wardrobe? Think again. Fashion's biggest (anti-)trend has hit the streets, decking hip, young people out in "dad jeans" and white New Balance sneakers. Normcore has infiltrated the elite hipster world, while simultaneously perplexing the rest of humanity. 

According to the ultra reliable resource of Urban Dictionary, normcore is defined as "an exercise in irony. It's being cool through not being cool". It's an anti-trend by nature; the act of standing out in a crowd by dressing absurdly normal. This ultra-conformist fashion movement follows an equally routine progression of trends. In fact, many decade-defining trends are nothing more than counter-culture's active rejection of the ordinary. All trends follow the same fate: a reaction, later commodified, followed by imminent rejection and replacement. The 70's are characterized by the hippie movement, whose fashion and lifestyle functioned as a direct response to 50's and 60's consumer culture. In more recent years, grunge ironically emerged among the youth of the 90's during one of the most profitable eras in American history. Teens rejected the "greed is good" mantra that drove the decade, and dressed accordingly. 

Personally, I secretly love normcore. It's easy, comfortable, and refreshing among trends that were beginning to feel stale. Will normcore come to define our current decade? Only time will tell  However, if one thing's for sure, the perpetual battle against normalcy will never cease in driving future trend-setters.