"During my pregnancy, I challenged myself to buy only one piece of maternity wear. I stuck to that plan and am happy to report I was able to make a surprising amount of my clothes work even in the third trimester. Even better—none of my clothes stretched out and are still wearable today. The only thing I couldn’t make work was jeans. Luckily, that one pair of leggings got me through my pregnancy in one piece (the support band is a game changer once baby starts to get big). However, after wearing those leggings non-stop for months, I was dying to get back into my jeans.
As any mom knows, it takes a while to fit back into your old pants. I waited eagerly for the moment I could effortlessly throw on a pair of jeans again. Which is why I should have been thrilled when that day finally came. This was the moment I waited almost a year for. But suddenly, I found I had an aversion to stiff, tight denim. I needed flexibility and easy movement more than ever.
So one day I left baby home with dad and headed to Nordstrom. It was a denim lover’s dream. With all the back-to-school shopping, there was a sea of denim waiting for me. There were so many jeans to choose from, the air smelt like denim. Sadly, I felt too overwhelmed to sift through what felt like hundreds of styles. So I went to try on some very stretchy SKIMS pieces (a brand I relied on heavily while pregnant) instead.
Because my hunt for the perfect jeans continued, I went home and got to work. Before diving into the odious process of trying on jeans, I wanted to do some research. I hadn’t bought new jeans in a few years and decided to widen my net past my go-to’s. I dug through every major online retailer to find the jeans with the best reviews—particularly looking for the most comfortable jeans.
How I chose the most comfortable jeans
I only considered jeans that had detailed customer reviews—not just stars. I wanted the inside scoop. My search specifically focused on reviews that used words like comfortable, stretch, bend, and movement. Many online retailers allow you to search online reviews by specific keywords, which can help you find the feedback you will benefit from. If I was looking at white T-shirts, I would search reviews for keywords relating to how the shirt washes or if it is too sheer. For jeans, I set my sights on anything that could give me the confidence I would want to spend an entire day in those jeans.
Whenever possible, I also sorted the retailer’s denim offerings not from my usual choice of “low to high”, but by “highest ratings”. This isn’t to say jeans without reviews won’t be any good. But as a busy mom, I don’t want to waste my time when helpful citizens already did so much of the work for me.
What to look for in the most comfortable jeans
- Fabric contents: Finding a shirt or dress that is 100 percent cotton is a total win, but with denim, a little polyester or elastane in the formula can give it some stretch. This isn’t a must—I found some great 100% percent cotton jeans that reviewers swore were nice and stretchy. But it can make shopping easier.
- Buttons: I love a fun use of buttons—in theory. In reality, I don’t want a row of stiff buttons going up my stomach. Keeping it simple can make it easier to bend, squat, and sit in your jeans.
- Silhouette: As a millennial, skinny jeans will always hold a special place in my heart. However, I never found them to be the most comfortable jean style. If you’re still craving a sleek silhouette, try cigarette jeans that won’t grip onto your leg, but still have a streamlined look. Or go for a bolder, wider leg for even easier movement.
The most comfortable jeans to shop now
Now without further ado, after hours of combing the internet for the most comfortable jeans, these are my top picks.
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Cropped Lightweight Jeans
Teenage me wouldn’t believe me if I told her how much I love to wear “mom” jeans. My theory on the Levi’s 501 cut is that if they worked for my mom 30 years ago, they would work for me today. This style also happens to be one of the top selections at Nordstrom that falls under the $100 price point. This jean is mostly cotton but contains 23 percent Lyocell. This semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp, is known for its softness, breathability, and stretchiness.
The Levi’s website has a solid amount of reviews about these jeans. This review sold me: “These jeans are so soft and comfortable and extremely well made. I went over every inch of the stitching and not one thread is loose. Yes they are $100 but they are well worth the money, you can dress them up or down but they are a must-have for anyone to have in their wardrobe.”
Madewell Kick Out Crop Jeans
When it comes to jeans, finding the perfect fit can make all the difference when it comes to how you feel when wearing them (both physically and mentally). As a new mom, I don’t have time to run to the tailor every time I buy a pair of pants (short gal problems). I love that the Madewell Kick Out Crop Jeans come in petite, plus, standard, tall, and taller sizes.
The brand describes the fabric as, “vintage-y stretch denim that hugs the body and bounces back like a pro (AKA no 3pm bagginess).” The fun pockets caught my eye, but this review convinced me these jeans were a good find. “These jeans are soft and comfortable and can be dressed up or down. A great addition in your closet moving into warmer weather.”
J.Crew Mid-Rise Relaxed Demi-Boot Jean
I’m a big believer that white jeans work all year round (you can’t convince me that white jeans and a gray sweater aren’t the perfect fall look), so of course I had to include a white pair. Like Madewell, many J.Crew jeans come in a few styles (petite, classic, and tall for this pair).
As flattering as high-rise jeans are, they can also feel tight on your stomach and don’t allow for even the tiniest bit of bloat. This review gave me hope that these jeans could be a great fit for me. “These are my new favorite jeans. I thought I would only wear a high-rise, but I love the rise on these so much. The denim is thick, but not rigid. They have a laid-back vibe and are so comfortable and very chic. I get compliments every time I wear them. I would buy these in every color if they offered more than the white.”
sizes 23 – 37; 3 lengths
Everlane The Way-High Jean
With three inseam choices and ten washes to choose from, it’s no surprise that the Everlane The Way-High Jean has so many positive reviews. With over 1,600 reviews (952 that are five stars), this review stopped me in my tracks. “Feeling like a cool mom! White jeans four months postpartum? Yes, apparently! These have enough structure to flatter the post-baby body and enough stretch to play with baby. Whether they withstand baby stains remains to be seen but I’m loving how these make me feel!”
AG Farrah Boot Crop Jean
AG is a new-to-me brand, but it caught my eye because its jeans consistently rank highly on the Nordstrom website. The tradeoff is those high rankings come with an equally high price point. I grew up in the age of designer denim, so high jean prices shouldn’t surprise me.
So, what are the reviewers saying about these pricey pants? The reviews are pretty impressive. According to one very thorough reviewer (thank you friend!), these jeans are worth the money. “I have so many pairs of AG Jeans because every time I try a pair on, I’m just like… YUP. These are soft, stretchy, and great length. I am 5’3 123lbs. I got a 27. Maybe I could have done 26 because of the stretch, but it’s not an issue enough to switch!”
Abercrombie High Rise Taper Jean
Thanks to my early aughts upbringing, it’s not a surprise I can’t think of where to find the best jeans without at least giving Abercrombie a shot. The brand has had a total makeover in the past few years. Multiple of my friends swear by their jeans, so I had to take a look and found a beloved pair of jeans on sale. You can choose between five washes and three different lengths. The silhouette is very modern and might be too baggy for some, but you also can’t deny they look easy to move in.
If you aren’t sure about a looser fit, let this review ease your mind, “I love these jeans so much! They’re perfectly oversized without being too baggy. I’m a shorter girlie (5’1) and I got size 24 regular. They’re long on me but I love that I can wear them with boots or heels or roll them up and wear them with sandals.”
Target Wild Fable Low-Rise Seamed Flare Jeans
With sizes ranging from 00 to 30, you’re sure to find your perfect fit with these Target jeans and because they are so affordable you don’t have much to lose by giving them a try. Specifically, you’ll only lose $13.75 if you don’t end up wearing them as much as you hoped.
A mix of cotton, polyester, and spandex give this jean a lot of movement. They are low-rise, which I know isn’t always a fan favorite cut, but hear me out. I wish I had a pair of low-rise jeans in the first trimester of pregnancy. Well before I gained any baby weight, I experienced a lot of bloat and a low-rise pair of pants would have been much more wearable.
I appreciate how honest this reviewer was about her struggles with fit, “The jeans are comfortably stretchy (without feeling like they stretch out or look unflattering), true to size, and a unique design. I was a little worried about how flattering/unflattering the design would be and also if the size would be right as I… am sometimes a size 10, sometimes 12, and sometimes still fit into 8, or I go between M and L in bottoms depending on fit. … The size 10 fit me. I wouldn’t say these are the ultra low-rise of some jeans in the aughts, but they are lower than a mid-rise nowadays and hit below the belly button on me. I often feel ‘meh’ in pants and these feel cute and comfortable. Go with your regular ‘standard’ size.”
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Jacqueline DeMarco, Contributing Writer
Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer based in Southern California who graduated from the University of California Irvine with a degree in Literary Journalism. She has written on a wide range of topics including finance, travel, and wellness for publications such as The Everygirl, Coveteur, Girlboss, and Apartment Therapy. When not whipping up articles, she works with consumer brands like Gorjana, Voluspa, Underclub, The Well, and St. John to help tell their brand stories.