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Wearable Modern Jeans For Women Over 50

Itā€™s no secret that I love a great pair of jeans. A peek into my closet reveals them in all colors and washes. More often than not, my casual lifestyle has me reaching for a cozy sweater and some denim this time of year, so today, Iā€™m sharing a few ways I like to style modern jeans for women over 50.

woman wearing cashmnere sweater, wool fedora and paige jeans

If you check the internet, you’ll see lots of articles exploring if we’re too old to wear jeans after 50. What do you think? At what age should you stop wearing jeans?

I think we should ditch wearing jeans whenever we feel we’re ready. If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions:

  • do they still fit my lifestyle?
  • do they send the message I want my clothes to send?
  • are they comfortable?
  • do they make me feel like myself?

Jeans come in so many silhouettes, sizes, washes, and leg shapes; there is a great pair of jeans out there for any woman who wants to wear them.

So let’s look at some modern styles and ways to wear them.

Straight Leg Jeans

A classic straight-leg is my current favorite. They’re looser than a skinny but not sloppy. They are usually fitted through the hips and drop straight to the ankle, giving nice room in the thigh area.

SIMILAR STRAIGHT-LEG JEANS / LOAFERS / WHITE SHIRT SIMILAR / CARDIGAN / SHOULDER BAG

Petite Jeans

If you’re petite, shop your bootcut and flare jeans in the petite department. The act of shortening them removes some of the width from the bottom of the leg, which can ruin the shape. You can find great petite jeans at J. Jill, Loft, Talbots, J. Crew, Madewell, Banana Republic, and Anthropologie.

Related – How to Shorten Your Jeans and Keep the Original Hem

Flare or Bootcut Jeans

Boot cut jeans are universally flattering on all body types. Their timeless silhouette looks great with a flat shoes, low heels, or, not surprisingly, booties. They provide a great balance for all body shapes and add balance for wider hips, broad shoulders, or full tummy. These can be snug or skim the thighs and then widen from the knee down.

QUILTED JACKET / SIMILAR WHITE SHIRT / FLARE JEANS SIMILAR

Skinny Jeans

Are they dead? Should you care? It’s no secret that the skinny jean trend has been phasing out over the last few seasons. I expect they’ll remain a wardrobe staple for many women because the tight calf makes them the best jeans to tuck into knee boots. Are you wearing skinny jeans?

Versatile Jeans

JACKET OLD SIMILAR / WASHABLE STRETCH SILK BLOUSE size M / WIDE LEG JEANS size 6 reg / SIMILAR PEARLS

I find dark-wash denim easier to dress up than lighter washes. How about with a silk blouse and pearls? This machine-washable silk blouse was a delight to find. I’m not sure how Quince manages to produce such high-quality pieces at the prices they do, but I’m thrilled with them. This blouse comes in twelve colors. They also make a notched collar version here that’s in my cart in coastal pink. The petites were too short in these wide-leg jeans, so I bought the regular length. The website shows them really short, which I think looks sort of goofy.

See also- What Length Should Your Pants Be?

High-Waist jeans

These sit at or above your natural waistline. High-rise jeans are great for camouflaging tummy bulges and preventing muffin top. If you have a short torso and/or are petite, you may get the same benefit from mid-rise jeans. Low rise is currently out of style, but I am hearing some nasty rumors of their return.

Canadian Tuxedo

DENIM JACKET OLD similar / $50 CASHMERE SWEATER / HIGH-RISE WIDE LEG JEANS / PENDANT NECKLACE / SIMILAR CHAIN EARRINGS / SIMILAR BROOCH ON SLEEVE / SIMILAR BOOTIES

We can’t talk about jeans and not remember the Canadian Tuxedo. Popularized by Bing Crosby, wearing double or more denim pieces in a single outfit will be a big trend going forward into 2023. I’ve always loved the look and simply vary the wash, so I don’t look like I’m wearing a suit…although I have nothing against that either.

DENIM JACKET OLD similar / $50 CASHMERE SWEATER / HIGH-RISE WIDE LEG JEANS / PENDANT NECKLACE / SIMILAR CHAIN EARRINGS / SIMILAR BROOCH ON SLEEVE / SIMILAR BOOTIES

I love, love these Loft jeans! They’re so affordable and have everything I want. A high-rise, slim through the hips, has a nice wash for spring, a finished hem, and they’ve got enough spandex to be super comfy. I tried on the petite, which was a smidge too short, so I bought the regular and will wear them with these block-heel boots or hem them if they don’t shrink.

Affordable Jeans

I must be a reverse snob when it comes to jeans. I’ve had very expensive pairs that ended up with twisted seams after the first wash. I’ve also got jeans that are super affordable and look like a million bucks. I say buy what fits the best in the budget you can afford.

Extra tips about jeans

  • The lower the back pockets, the longer and lower it makes your butt look.
  • Medium-wash denim will be more timeless than trendy washes
  • White jeans are in style all year
  • Back-gapping in the waistband is common for curvy women and can be helped by a flat belt like this.

Thanks for reading, and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.

75 Comments

  1. In the Midwest everyone wears jeans! It doesnā€™t matter if they are babies or 90 years old. It must be the Midwest uniform. šŸ˜‚

  2. Christi S. says:

    When are women too old to wear jeans? When they are dead! LOL As you have said: Women should wear what makes them feel confident. Best advice. Thank you for the great columns.

  3. I tend to keep jeans forever and fortunately have not varied much in size for years. I recently got out a pair of wide-leg trouser jeans I bought about 15 years ago, I am so excited to wear them again! I’ve had good luck with Universal Thread jeans from Target. Good price and they haven’t fallen apart yet.

  4. Thanks, Jennifer, for this post. I live in jeans and hope they continue to be as popular as they are now. A couple of points: 1) I can’t embrace the boot-flare-wide leg trend — I’ll be 80 next month and I well remember Bell Bottoms, which I was glad to see go away. I’m happy as can be with slim/straight legs. But 2) Although I’m 5’6″, I have very long legs and find that even if retailers offer Tall or Long inseams, they just don’t make enough of them to go around. I’ve learned that Chico’s ankle jeans in Tall work as full length for me — hooray! And a word for all you fortunate petites: Thank your lucky stars that you can shorten … I’ve yet to find a way to add a couple of inches to too-short jeans. PS — I plan to wear jeans forever!

    1. Great point! My tall daughter needs all the length I don’t need.

  5. Judi Baker says:

    My current favourite style is slim ankleā€¦with small legs they look like straight style, and fit beautifully over my Blundstones, which are pretty much my staple winter footwear. I still like my skinnies, though, to wear with a couple of favourite oversized sweatersā€¦at 5ā€™4ā€ with a short torso and long legs that seems to keep the proportions in balance, and at 68, Iā€™ve started to feel ā€œ underdressed ā€œ in leggings.

  6. The only thing that slows me down in wearing jeans is that sometimes the texture of the denim fabric feels really rough on my legs, so I’ll wear other types of pants. When I shop for jeans now I try to find softer denim. Thank you for including the information on hemming jeans – I have a pair that needs hemming and I will use your technique!

    1. Elizabeth says:

      I don’t like rough feeling jeans either. I use fabric softener on them (the unscented type.) They are the only clothing I use it on. It really makes a difference. The jeans drape on the body better, too. Don’t look so stiff.

      1. Thatā€™s a great idea. Thanks, Elizabeth.

  7. I’m 73 and never even considered I might be too old for jeans!! I do like joggers a lot as find them so comfortable and easier to fit than jeans, but jeans will always be a mainstay in my wardrobe. The wide-leg jeans you featured from Loft are calling my name!!

    1. I’m so happy with them and they’re currently on sale šŸ™‚

  8. Really? People still ask this question? 40 years ago I read an article telling us that women over 40 should only wear dark wash jeans and no, we shouldn’t wear black leather jackets anymore either. I’m 81 and I currently have 18 pairs of jeans. Two pair of Paige are in the summer closet because they are currently too small. My favorites are Joe’s, but I have NYDJ, Chicos, and just bought some LL Bean that fit well. My body has changed over the years, but I can still find great jeans. Finding a decent pair of dress pants is far more difficult. I don’t like wide-leg jeans or clingy skinny jeans, but I do have several pairs of well fitting skinnies.

    And if I don’t wear jeans, where am I going to keep my phone?

    Just gave away my black leather jacket because it no longer fit. Next fall I’ll look for a replacement.

    1. YES! I always carry my phone in my back pocket too šŸ™‚

  9. I love my jeans and donā€™t see myself stopping wearing them anytime soon. Iā€™m 69 and they are my daily uniform. I donā€™t know if the day will come when I feel too old for them, or they are no longer comfortable. My neighbour feels 60 is too old. To each, their own.
    My preference is straight leg. Skinny now seems very dated so Iā€™ve donated mine. I wear dark or medium wash and black. Iā€™m loving the higher waist. Iā€™m tall so low rise always felt like they were falling off of me. šŸ˜³
    The nice thing about straight leg jeans is you can wear any kind of footwear – flat or heel, pointy toe or rounded, runners or booties. I feel with bootcut you need a pointy toe boot. I am on the hunt for the perfect bootcut.
    I donā€™t buy the really expensive jeans. They just seem like a waste of money for jeans that I wear cleaning the house, gardening, walking my dog, running errandsā€¦I look for a good fit, no rips or distressing and good pocket placement.

  10. I avoided jeans for about 10 years when low-rise was a thing. Now I can wear jeans again, thanks to high-rise options. Every body shape has its own needs, and these are it for me. I have a long torso, high waist and pear body shape. I’m a high-rise jeans girl forever!

    BTW, Jennifer, what do you think of the recent declaration in the fashion world that the pear body shape is out of style? It’s not as if I can change my bone structure. I’m stocking up on high-waisted pants and jeans to carry me through the next few years. Do designers really think they can dictate genetically-determined physical traits?

    1. I haven’t heard that declaration, but my reaction is quite simple, what utter bullshit! It infuriates me that anyone would make such a preposterous proclamation. Women, and older women especially, are constantly reminded that we are not enough. Body shaming is rampant and this smacks of much worse to my mind. Where did you read this?

  11. I’m a long-waisted petite apple, and my current jeans challenge is finding petite mid-rise styles. The high rise are too high, have too much fabric in the rise, and slide down. (I’ve worn the flat belts for years, and they definitely help keep my jeans from sliding down my straight hips and flat butt!) I’ve had good luck with Talbots slim ankle jeans but have decided recently that I look better in a straighter style to balance my heavier top. I have a couple pairs of NYDJ Marilyn straights that I’ve worn for years that fit pretty well, and I have a pair of NYDJ boot cuts on order to try. At 66 years young, I can’t imagine NOT wearing jeans for my casual lifestyle. My 91-year-old mother is still wearing her knit jeans from Land’s End!

    1. I think youā€™ll like the bootcut for your shape. Talbots also makes one. They say the rise is high, but in petite, itā€™s more like a mid rise on me. Called the barely boot.

      1. I’ve seen those barely boots on Talbot’s site but assumed the rise was too high for me. Thanks for the info!

  12. Iā€™ll be 80 this year, and yes, I still live in jeans. It never occurred to me that I am too old! My favorites are Macy’s Charter Club in black and dark wash. My uniform. At 5ft 6in 125 lbs, I prefer a slim, straight leg ā€¦ don’t think Iā€™ll be wearing flair wide legs any time soon. (But never say never ā€¦šŸ˜‰)

    1. Way to go! I love this.

  13. I love the post by Susan BK. We truly are a trailblazing generation. I have many pairs of jeans in all styles and plan on wearing them for a long time. I prefer straight leg and skinny jeans. Iā€™m not comfortable wearing leggings so the skinny jeans work. My Mother was still wearing jeans at 90 y/o and looked great! I hope I will too!

    1. Susanā€™s comment is fabulous! I expect I will be too.

  14. I’ve never posted here but Celia Bass’s response was priceless! I got a big laugh about her polyester pants! I’m 72 and have lots of colors of denim pants. If they fit, I love them! IF is the key word – they fit when I first put them on but later in the day I have a lot of waist space with several of them. I need to read everything about them before I buy them!

    1. That belt I mentioned will fix your problem. I have them in lots of colors.

  15. OMG, too old to wear jeans? I never heard that before, and Iā€™m a little shocked that thatā€™s a thing. My parents, both in their mid-80s, wear jeans. My sister and I are in our early 60s and wear jeans. I honestly canā€™t imagine what ā€œtheyā€ think may be more appropriate. Maybe polyester pull ons as one reader suggested – but, seriously, why? Apologies for the rant! As always, thanks so much for starting an interesting and informative conversation, Jennifer! Iā€™ve put the belt in my Amazon cart! šŸ˜Š

    1. Lol, I love the conversation. ā€œWe are woman, here us roarā€ comes to mind šŸ˜

      1. I loved jeans and wore them for most of my life. However, my shape went from an hour glass to an apple in the last decade. I am 5ā€™2ā€ and lately am 142 ish pounds. I am 78 and would wear jeans if I could find a pair that wouldnā€™t cut me in the stomach when I sit down. My waist is up from 24ā€ to 35 inches! I am disabled with osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy so also limited in shoes. I find structured pants like jeans are way too big in my hips and thighs if I get them t big enough for my waist. So my beloved jeans were all donated. I prefer straight leg or I look like a wide, no leg long waisted larger busted person. Inseam is 29 as I like my pants to touch my shoe soles in the back. Is that jeans unicorn out there?

      2. It is out there. We just have to kiss a lot of frogs to find them šŸ™‚

  16. I’m not going to start with your question, but with a rant. Not a rant towards you, Jennifer, but the question that’s so often posed, “Should women over 50 wear ect., etc., ect? Maybe this sets me off because there is a well known and expensive brand of clothing that starts an ad for jeans with the headline, ” I’m 60. My daughter told me to wear these jeans.” Of course, the model in the ad is a twenty something. Arggh!! It makes me want to scream. Listen, we over 60 women are trailblazers. We were often the first in our families to graduate college, graduate school, law school, med school. Our days began with getting kids off to school, followed by running a business, running someone else’s business, filing court briefs, seeing patients. In the evenings, we made sure everyone was fed, looked over homework, did our homework, and got everyone ready to do it all again. We in the over 60 crowd are bad a** women. If you want us to buy your jeans, do not reach us like a bunch of imbeciles who cannot dress ourselves. OK., got that out of my system.

    You’ll be happy that I’ll get to your question. Yes, I still wear jeans, but I tire of them. They work best in fall/winter, as you suggested. I look forward to spring and summer when they are often replaced by cotton or linen pants.

    Again, my rant was in no way directed toward you, Jennifer, but to manufacturers and “influencers” who feel the need to tell us what to wear.

    1. Yes!!! Thank you for writing this, I agree with everything! I shall wear whatever jeans I like best, as did my late mother and late auntie who died with her jeans on at 94!

      1. Thatā€™s awesome!!

    2. Susan ā€¦ you speak for LOTS of us!

    3. I LOVE your rant! Thank you for stating it so eloquently. That Ad would send me running in the opposite direction too. We are trailblazers and have been doing it all, forever. Iā€™m not about to let a brand talk down to me.

    4. Wise women of a certain age are still written off by the men who run large corporations and advertising agencies. They have not come a long way, baby. They are age-shaming, body-shaming men, telling smart women what to do. Now they use “influencers” to do it for them. No thanks. I live in the 21st century.

      1. The size inclusive customers got attention when they demanded sizes be available beyond size 12 and shown on “plus size” (which essentially means non anorexic ) models. This cohort demonstrated they had the means and would buy clothes from companies that didn’t insult them.

        Maybe we take a lesson from our plus size sisters.. As for me, I am going to write a message to the brand that informs me to ask my daughter what jeans to wear that I suggest an ad copy showing a twenty something model that reads ” My mother told me to wear these jeans.” And, when I see it, I’ll buy.

        Our generation made a lot of change when we spoke up. Time to do it again.

      2. Please tell me what brand that is. I need to write to them too! I’m tired of being dictated too and talked down to as those I am feeble.

  17. This is a fabulous post Jennifer! I am a reverse snob when it comes to jeans as well. I have tried the expensive ones (I honestly don’t mind paying $$$ for something that gives one so much bang for the buck), but I have never found any that I love. I love jeans and hope they never disappear. You always provide so much information and value to your readers (and me!). That is why I love doing these posts with you.

    1. I think Iā€™ll always wear jeans. I grew up in them and see no reason to change.

  18. Ordered the belt. Had one years ago that lasted a long time but is wearing out. I like straight leg jeans except the are hard to find since I need a 31 or 32 inseam. Usually run a bit shorter and the long/tall lengths are about 34…too long. I’ve been wearing mostly bootcut this winter because the length runs longer. I’ve also been in an aircast since Thanksgiving, so the boot cast is less noticeable in the bootcut. The changes we have to make as we get older!! lol

    1. Sorry to hear about your bootcast. Bootcut jeans are perfect for camouflaging feetšŸ˜

  19. Never too old for jeans – just continue to find ones that fit well and flatter. Love my jeans!

  20. I wonder whether the question is not whether we are too old to wear jeans but whether we are too old to wear certain fits? I wear jeans most days, but let’s be honest, most brands are not making them sustainably, so I am changing what I purchase as my old jeans wear out. I love boot cut but why are they so long? My days of stepping on torn hems is long over. Most Petite bootcuts are too long to wear with heeled boots, never mind flats, if you are under 5′ 3″ tall. (Jennifer, I’m glad that as a Canadian you are not offended by “Canadian tuxedo.” I’ve heard it only in Burlington, VT, and it’s not said nicely.)

    1. Jeanne Claire says:

      My favorite jeans are a 10 year old pair of NYDJ black Marilyn jeans. They have the best fit for meā€¦5ā€™2 and curvy. They are so comfortable and always look great. They have barely faded after many washings. My second favorites are Talbots jeggings from about three years ago. Love the pull on style and these area dark wash blue so can be worn casually or dressed up a bit with booties. I recently donated almost all the rest of the jeans!

      1. I have those same jeggings from Talbots. Theyā€™re great!

    2. I always read the inseam when purchasing online. I think theyā€™re making them long enough to wear with platforms this year.

    3. A national TV morning show recently aired a segment explaining the “Canadian tuxedo” to Canadians. This look was originally worn by an American visitor, and most had never heard of it, decades later.

      Then again, we say “hockey”, never “ice hockey”, so terms like that just serve to identify where someone is from.

  21. Jeans are like my haircut. At 70, I’m still searching for the perfect one! I am thrilled though that high rise jeans are in. I’m long waisted so it’s hard to find jeans that come up high enough. Plus, I have hips with a small waist so many jeans gap in the back and I find myself yanking them up all the time. But I will always have them in my wardrobe. I’ll have to look into the belt. Thanks for the tip!

  22. I will always wear jeans. I like skinny high waist jeans right now to wear with boots. For some reason I find so many that fit me at Nordstrom Rack. I’ve found many different brands. Because I’m only 5’1 the ankle style are regular length for me, lol.

  23. Thanks for mentioning petite size retailers. I have been on a search for flare or bootcut & the demand is higher than supply! I finally found some in stock at Loft. My usual jean retailers have nothing left in my size. I tried wide leg but they do not work with my short torso, 5ā€™0 frame! Leave deconstructed or ā€œmomā€ jeans to the younger crowd. Semi skinny or bootcut in dark wash are the most flattering for my body type & age (68). Never too old for jeans if they are styled right.

    1. I have 2 pairs of jegging/skinny jeans I wear with sandals in warmer weather and vacation. My body is plumper than it used to be, however I think they look great. An easy outfit you donā€™t have to think a lot about.

      1. Thatā€™s one of the great things about jeans!

    2. QVC brands offer petites in almost every style of pants or jeans. They even have petite in plus sizes.

      1. Thanks for letting us know!

  24. I have and love two pairs of skinny jeans – one is a Chico’s dark wash and the other is lighter from Soft Surroundings. Neither is skin tight so not a true skinny, which is fine by me, and both are pull on to avoid the lumpy zipper/fly under tops. I usually wind up taking tucks at the waist as I have a small one compared to my hips. Tempted to try a curvy fit style (I see Talbots has quite a few) when these wear out – which might be never, ha. Jeans seem to last forever.

  25. Celia Bass says:

    When I read that some people think one may be too old to wear jeans, I thought ā€œ then what would they wear?ā€. My immediate thought then was perhaps polyester elasticized pull-on pants which I do not think Iā€™ll ever wear. I am 76 years old, and live in a warm climate ( South Georgia) where I wear jeans all year. I know there are ladies older and younger than I am who never wear jeans, and I always wonder why. I live in my jeans, and think I always will.

  26. Thank you for this post! I am also a jeans lover and wear them almost daily. Like you, I feel if theyā€™re comfortable and you feel good in them then wear them regardless of age! Also thank you for the tip on the invisible belts! I never knew they had such a thing but I am buying a couple immediately to wear with my jeans.

    1. They also keep the button and front waistband from poking out. I wear them all the time.

  27. At 70, I think Iā€™ll always wear jeans though mostly in winter since I live in southwest Florida. I am keeping a pair of light wash and dark wash high rise skinny jeans. My favorite jeans now are Mother Hustler which I have in dark wash, light wash, white, and black ā€” the fit is amazing. Iā€™m so happy that high rise are still in style!

    1. My Mother hr hustlers are my fav fit too!

  28. I have a love/hate relationship with jeans. Seems if I buy the right size for my hips/thighs, then the waist is a bit large and they ā€œslipā€ā€¦Thanks for this informative article, Jennifer. It should help my in my search!

    1. Itā€™s always best to buy for hips and thighs then have the waist taken in. Any seamstress can add a small dart at the back of your jeans.

  29. My mom is 90 and still lives in her favorite jeans. I suspect I will be doing the same, although I have multiple styles. šŸ˜Š

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