Boot-Cut Jeans Perfect for Over 40

I consider it one of my great fashion missions in life to get middle-age women out of their "mom" jeans (those high-waisted, peg-leg jeans that age you by a decade.) This doesn't mean, however, that I think we should be wearing the same jeans kids are wearing.

Hanging out this weekend with my teenage nieces reminded me of the great divide between what we consider to be acceptable jeans and the jeans of a younger generation. One niece wore a pair of jeans so tattered and torn (a.k.a boyfriend jeans) that I asked her if she wanted me to spring for a whole pair of jeans. Then when we saw some young guys wearing painfully skinny jeans with droopy bottoms so low that their butts were about at the back of their knees, I told the other niece that those boys looked ridiculous; she said they looked hot. Go figure.

I'm about as forward-thinking as a middle-aged woman gets. But when it comes to jeans I am picky and think extreme styles look best on kids. Over the years, I've tried just about every incarnation imaginable, from those early, beloved button-fly Levis to newer styles with undetectable stretch.

Although jeans are still part of my everyday wardrobe — I have everything from slim jeans to dressier trouser cuts — my favorite jeans are boot cut.

The boot cut has been around for years and there's a reason it has so much staying power: it helps balance out thicker thighs and hips (and most of us can use that help.)

My favorite jeans right now are from Gap, which offers a premium jean for a fraction of what you'd pay for contemporary labels. I like the Long and Lean line from Gap because it seems to have a forgiving fit through the hips and thighs, a slightly low-waisted style that flatters your bottom without being too young or trendy.

If it's looking slimmer that you're concerned about, nothing works better than a dark-dye jean with a boot-cut leg. Want to look even skinnier? Buy a longer pair than you'd normally wear and put on a pair of tall wedges or heels. You'll look long-legged and gorgeous. And that's always a good thing.