Bootcut jeans - feeling mumsy and back in the 90’s

[Honestandraw]

I used to wear bootcut jeans 25 years ago, would wear ankle boots with them. Looking back I probably was the epitome of frumpy young mum. Then I switched to skinny jeans which I felt were more flattering, despite me being a 5ft 2 size 16/18. I felt slimmer in them.

I’m now 50 and recently picked up two pairs of Evie Marks and Spencer bootcut jeans after my daughter pushed me to get them as they are back in fashion apparently? They a gorgeously comfortable and fit so well. I’m still a size 16/18 and obviously not grown any taller.

I feel even more dowdy in them though, I wear flat boots (can’t do much more than a 2 inch heel) - so my question is how do you style these now? What time of shoes / boots should I wear with them? I hate how they almost swish about after years of skinny jeans. I love them for comfort but not for style. 😫

Eva bootcut sorry!

Don't wear them if you don't like them.

Tell your daughter to wind her neck in.

Don't wear something that you don't like because your teenager told you to.
Take them back and find something comfortable and pleasing to you.

Wear what you like.

Having said that, I don't consider bootcut frumpy. I love them.

I should clarify, my daughter didn’t force me. I tried them on and she was with me, in the changing room she said ‘they are lovely mum and back in fashion now, get them’. Poor DD, she didn’t insist I got them.

I think that’s a really good question - which boots? I’ve kept pretty much all my boots and shoes bought over the past 30 years or so and I just can’t decide which ones to wear now. None of them feel right with current jeans shapes and I always resort to skinnies with Chelsea or hiking type boots.

And I’ve always talked about clothes/music/books/films/food/everything with my children, certainly since before they were teenagers. I loved hearing about their new ideas - they were great kids and I respected their opinions. They’re now fully grown adults with their own children and so I could do with a new batch of fabulous teenagers/young adults!

I’m wearing bootcut with a pointed toe loafer. Mine are cords though not jeans.

Trainers

Like this.

Bootcut look far more flattering that skinnies which have only ever looked good on tall slender people. A pair of chunky Dr Martens or brogues look great, or a pointy toe flat.

Love bootcuts (including the eve ones), I wear them with trainers.

I don’t feel frumpy! but if you don’t like them, don’t wear them.

… I’d have a Google and look on some Insta style accounts. Lots of ways to style them. I think they will make you look more current than skinnies, so give that a whirl before you give up.

I look and feel frumpy in a bootcut. The suggestion of a pointy toe sounds good to balance out the proportions.

I wear mine with converse ….I have a lovely pair from river island….patch pockets on front…..i don’t think one style of jeans makes you look any slimmer than another really……I’m older than you OP……but taller and slimmer .
if you like them wear them with whatever you prefer

I've dug out some of my old bootcut jeans recently and it is definitely something to do with the footwear that makes them feel "right" rather than "frumpy". For me' the shoe/boot/trainer has to be a fairly chunky style otherwise I just feel wrong (although I'm sure I used to wear them with converse before!)

Im a size 12 jeans and 5 foot 1 and they make me look too wide. Wear what you feel comfortable in. I see lots of younger cool looking people in skinnies even now

I hate skinny jeans. And jeggiings!

Only wear bootcut, with sandals, trainers or boots.

How about a wide leg ? I’ve got some and love them with trainers. I have young adult DDs and that’s what they wear or flares or cropped wide leg. Def no skinnies in their wardrobe.

I got a pair of skinny bootcut ones from M&S a while ago, there is definitely a difference between bootcut of old and this style. Basically they're figure hugging with a bit of a bootcut at the bottom but not a huge one. I'm a size 14.
I got them in short as a) I have short legs and b) it means I can wear trainers rather than boots with them, which keeps the look a bit more modern.

I think bootcut look better on taller people. I'm tall and I suit them, despite being pretty chunky atm 😬. But I hate them training in puddles OR being too short 🤢.

So they aren't my favourites. I wear straight jeans the most. M&S do nice ones called Sienna

I have them too and can only wear with trainers. Boots just feel wrong.

Similar to you, they looked great at 24 but now at 44 I don’t feel I look that good in them. I think I’ve shrunk too so I need a decent heel but then my feet are killing me. Back to the skinnies.
Op if you can wear converse with them without them dragging on the ground I’d go with that.

What about chunky trainers? Something like adidas or new balance. I think that’s maybe more modern? I have the M&S wide leg cords in chocolate and I wear them with my white and pale pink new balance.

I can't bring myself to wear bootcuts this time around. It's not just the look but also the memories of the hems sloshing around in puddles.

I've found that slim/ straight jeans are a good compromise - they look more current (to me) than skinnies. But I'm 47 and aim for "looking basically nice" over "looking bang on-trend"

Don't keep them if you're not sure and they don't make you feel nice, OP.

I bought some 6 months ago. Wore them once. I really liked them, but they just didn’t feel right. I’m 59, and currently homeless regarding jeans.