WTF - Horseshoe Jeans

[Delatron]

I’m still not over how bad Mom jeans look on most people. I accept skinny jeans are over, I am happy in my straight legged jeans. But all over my instagram feed are these new ‘horseshoe’ jeans. That basically make you look like you have bandy legs? Just why?

I know I don’t have to wear them I am just despairing of all these awful jeans trends.

I do love a flare. I shall stick with that.

Howdy pardners!

I ordered a couple of Mom style jeans from Next last week. I collected them today and tried them on while I was there. I can't believe how much they DO NOT suit my shape. I'm an hourglass which is a shape I thought they were supposed to look good on, but when I caught sight of my arse in those angled mirrors, JFC. They made it look enormous, and also somehow saggy and shapeless. I got back into my usual slim jeans and braced myself for what they looked like from behind, but thankfully all looked as expected.

It's been the same with every Mom pair I've tried. I don't know what it is about them. I'm stuck for ideas now as I'm not crazy about straight jeans, definitely not keen on bootcut, but I want something a bit loose and cropped for summer that is also fitted and shaping around one's arse.

What about some cropped wide leg or kickflare?

I must be really out of the loop because I hadn't heard of these.

I've googled pictures and the models all look like they have rickets, they're hideous and what a strange place to add volume to your frame.

Yes, I'm coming around to the idea of wide leg jeans. I had a wander around Next while I was there and got these trousers in black https://www.next.co.uk/g29257s2/319528#319528 which are fabulous and the shape really works for me, so some lightweight cropped jeans in that style could work.

I haven't shopped in there for years as I remember it went a bit shit, but they had some really nice summery linen and linen mix trousers. I'm a 10-12 in trousers normally but was surprised to discover I am a Next size 8.

I don't know where this "mom jeans suit hourglasses" myth comes from. Perhaps if you are a tall, slim, leggy hourglass whose hips are not actually objectively wide but if that's you, anything will look good. For hourglasses as we usually present, they're one of the worst bloody things we could wear. I think a lot of people think anything that emphasises all the curves in any way must look good but that's not how it works. There are ways and means!

In my experience, wide/straight leg and bootleg/kick flare work much better because they balance things out a bit (it's not going so far in at the lower leg and making the wide hips look really expansive and keyhole-like). I know not everyone likes those cuts but in my view they are usually much better.

I have a friend who is very slim with minimal hips and boobs and she looks really good in mom jeans. I’m slim but have clear hips and E cup and they don’t suit me at all.

@NonPlayerCharacter completely agree. Mom jeans unbalance the shape because they put all the emphasis on the already curvy hips and bum, making you look bottom heavy.

I'm gradually learning to dress for my shape, especially since starting HRT which has made my hips even more pronounced, and am amazed by the difference it can make. In summer I used to wear relaxed vest type tops like this https://www.argos.co.uk/product/tuc143900428, and then I realised they're the absolute worst shape for me because they hide my waist and hang off my hips, creating a tent effect and making me look several sizes larger than I actually am. So now I've started dressing in wide leg trousers with fitted tops that are either tucked in or short enough that they don't go past the top of my hips.

One of the problems I have with jeans though is the lack of room around the hips and thighs. For them to fit in those areas, they end up being too big around the waist and gape massively. Maybe this will be less of a problem with wide legs.

I’m wondering if it’s mainly very slim teenagers that look good in Mom jeans. The irony!

I was also musing that all the current trends basically suit that shape - baggy jeans and crop tops. The current fashions are mainly for the young.

I will wear wide legged jeans with a fitted top. I don’t think I look as good as I do in slim fitted jeans and a looser top but I do feel a bit dated in that look sadly. And I know I shouldn’t care. That’s just me.

I gave up on jeans completely and now never wear them. The most I would stretch to is denim palazzo trousers, if those count.

I’m reaching that point too. I didn’t start wearing jeans until I was in my mid 20s as I didn’t like the heavy scratchy feel of the material. And these days I can’t bear anything tight around me.

What shoes do you wear with trousers in the summer? And any idea what style of autumn/winter trousers would work with combat style boots? I tried them with wide legs but it didn’t look right at all.

Baggy jeans and crop tops scream early 00s to me, just need a chain for the full sk8er girl look. I’ve also noticed a lot of square neck tops in the shops atm which was a thing in the late 90s I think.

Baggy jeans and crop tops scream early 00s to me

They do indeed, but that was 20+ years ago and it's back for those too young to get the reference. The 90s were a rehash of the 70s but we didn't realise that!

Personally I absolutely love espadrilles, if they are the right style (they do vary!). I also like a ballet flat; can't normally wear them with my Californian redwood legs, but peeping out from under a full length loose/flowy trouser leg, I think it's OK. You can get heeled/wedge ballet pumps too. I don't really like having my feet showing so I tend to avoid sandals and flip flops but I have seen some pretty ones.

Trousers are hard for an hourglass and I'm not really a combat boots person so I'm probably not the one to ask. I think the best trousers are fitted at the top of your hip (so they don't add extra width) and then go straight down or flow loosely under that. Denim palazzos might work with the boots although I don't think they'd look good tucked in. Truth is I tend to avoid trousers in winter because they're just so hard to find, and stick to long or midi skirts with knee high boots.

I learned many years ago (and was thrilled when Trinny and Susannah confirmed it!) that as an hourglass I just can't really do very casual; jeans and joggers and loose tops just tent me and make me look shapeless and frumpy. I made peace with always having to look a bit smarter or at least a bit alternative. I don't mind a touch of boho.

Thanks. I like espadrilles too but don't find them very comfortable... can't do ballet flats for the same reason, possibly because I have high arches.

I agree that fitted around the waist and hip then straight down is the best shape. I also like high waisted with the pin tucks around the hips and then a slight taper, think they're sort of 1940s style.

I too realised years ago that I couldn't do very casual. I only do smart casual or smart (although dress like a total slob at home) but didn't clock this was because of the hourglass shape. It's the loose stuff hanging off the hips, looks terrible on me and adds inches and years. Also can't do low rise. Skirts don't work for me because of the waist/hip ratio again. If they fit on the hips then the waist gapes so much I can spin the skirt around maybe I just haven't found the right style of skirt.

Really interesting to chat to another hourglass. Gradually getting there with replacing my wardrobe.

Loose stuff hides your curves and adds more volume where you just don't need it. There's a reason the tight, wiggle dress, pencil skirt, vintage look is popular with hourglasses...it does work well on them.

I can do low rise because my stomach happens to be flat (just my build, nothing clever) and funnily enough, bare midriff with low rise stuff does work on me as I'm also short waisted and it helps to lengthen it...but I don't think I'm the right age for that look now!

And I don't care what anyone says, I love the dress/skirt over trousers look and never gave it up! It's a godsend for hourglasses and those of us with fat legs, and I always thought it was just like a western version of the salwar kameez, which I think is beautiful. More of a winter thing, though.

I suggest finding a friendly local seamstress to take stuff in for you...hourglasses aren't vanishingly rare but we are outside of the more common proportions and mass produced stuff is made to fit the greater number of people. I'd even look into getting a few key pieces made for you...it may not cost as much as you think it will, it'll actually fit and if well made, will last you much longer than the absolute rubbish that so many places sell these days.

Sadly my stomach is not flat thanks to endo and surgery, so low rise just provides a convenient shelf for it to rest on

I like the dress/skirt over leggings with boots look for colder weather. I was trying to find long jumpers/short jumper dresses last autumn but struggled, and the few things I did find were acrylic/polyester.

I've been considering finding a seamstress to take in waists. I need about a size 12 for it to fit the hips and thighs but with a 27" waist. I'm fed up of having to put up with the thigh discomfort for the sake of not having the gaping. I'd also quite like to have the hems of a couple of pairs of trousers taken up. I'm starting to have to buy petite length trousers for the first time as it seems like (non-cropped) regular length trousers are longer these days.

I like how I look in barrel legs and I'm an hourglass but I always make sure they are a bit cropped to show ankle and that they fit on the waist. I tuck in a black cap sleeved t shirt.

Basically this!

https://www.whistles.com/product/authentic-barrel-leg-jean-31806.html

I'm loving this post, lots of great advice, maybe I should start one for my shape, petite inverted triangle,