Found: The Only Jeans That Make Me Feel Hot One Year Postpartum
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I guess “hot” is an overstatement, but yes: I have a pair of jeans that make me feel hottish for the first time in two years. And they’re the Levi’s Wedgie Straight Ankle. A style that’s not considered “cringe” by Gen Z and Alpha, and a style that I can dress up or down when I’m forced to go to at the office or at the farmer’s market (or whatever social event I tell myself I’ll commit to when it’s finally the weekend).
Y’all! This is a huge accomplishment! To provide some context: I’m one-year postpartum and my body has changed tremendously since getting pregnant. I’m not going to sugarcoat it—I miss fitting into my old clothes, specifically my jeans. I am so grateful to my body for creating and bringing life into this world, but I want squeeze into some denim, ya know? I’m not going to get into body image, because that’s a lot to unpack. The point is this: These jeans are magical and confidence-boosting. They make me not resent putting pants on.
So with that said, enter Levi’s Wedgie Straight Ankle jeans that are low stretch. The key word being “low” because you get the look of a classic, rigid, crisp pair of jeans, but the fit of something with a little more give.
Sizes: 23-34
As someone who wants to love baggy jeans, I’m just not totally sold yet (I said it!). I prefer something that’s tighter and hip-hugging even though I sit in a desk chair all day long. I know it would be too much to ask for the skinny jean to come back in vogue, so I’ll settle for the straight leg. It’s got similar motives as the skinny jean: It accentuates your hips, thighs, and butt, and makes styling (IMO) your whole look a little easier of an endeavor.
Launched in 2016 due to the popularity of mom jeans, the Wedgie is the ultimate mom jean style (straight leg, high waist, tight in the thigh and butt area), reminding me a lot of what Princess Diana used to wear on her days off from royal duties. What was cool in the late ’80s and early ’90s (and again in 2016) proves to be a timeless wardrobe staple. And now that I’m an actual mom to a human baby, I get it.
I now have more “junk in the trunk” as they (who are they, even?) say. I need a jean that’s snug but forgiving. I want to feel pretty and cool at the office and with my friends. I want to be able to wear all my shoes without feeling weird or too styled. The Levi’s Wedgie is that jean that checks all the boxes. I’ve been wearing it a lot with my Adidas Sambas, but I’ve also paired them with ballet flats and boots so far—and all my ensembles have been very good, if I do say so myself.
The Wedgie is designed to especially make your butt look good: Rounder and more lifted, like your butt but better. Thanks to its low-stretch cotton fabric, the tight and lifted fit stays consistent all day long, too—you never have to deal with saggy crotch/ass. Plus, even though the Wedgie is billed as high waist, it offers more of a mid-rise, which is personally more flattering and comfortable.
I’m wearing the “Unstoppable” wash, but I’ll be purchasing several more pairs now that I unlocked the secret to feeling good in jeans again. (Now that is a good slogan Sydney Sweeney should have run with.)
