I did not expect baggy, low-slung jeans to become the jeans I couldn’t stop wearing this summer.
But here we are.
The MOTHER Lemon Twist has quietly become one of my favorite denim silhouettes — and probably one of the most complimented pairs of jeans I’ve worn in a long time.
I started with the Rolling in the Dough wash and wore them constantly all summer. And the funny thing is, every time I wore them, someone seemed to ask me about them.
They’re loose. They’re slouchy. They sit low. And they have that slightly undone look that makes even the simplest outfit feel current.
Basically, they're everything my old “good jeans” weren't.
And now that we're heading into fall, instead of moving on to another silhouette, I want more Lemon Twists.
Darker denim. Richer washes.
And yes...
There is even a corduroy version.
Apparently I'm committed.
First, Let’s Talk About the Fit
This is important because the oversized fit is the whole point.
The Lemon Twist is part of MOTHER's SNACKS collection and is meant to have that low-slung, relaxed look.
I actually went down a size, and they're still oversized on me — which is exactly what I wanted.
I didn't want them fitted through the waist and hips with a wide leg underneath.
I wanted the slouch.
I wanted them sitting lower.
I wanted that I just threw these on look.
If you prefer your denim a little neater or want them to sit more snugly, I would definitely consider sizing down. For me, going down one size gave me the oversized look I wanted without feeling like the jeans were wearing me.
And after nearly 20 years of buying denim for my stores, I think this is one of those styles where you have to let the jean be what it's supposed to be.
If you try to make a low-slung baggy jean fit like your old straight-leg jeans, you're probably not going to love them.
Embrace the slouch.
Why I Keep Reaching for Them
There are plenty of jeans I think look great when I first try them on.
The real test is what happens a month later.
Do I actually reach for them?
With these, the answer has been yes over and over again.
Part of it is comfort, but I also love what the proportion does to an outfit.
Because the denim is loose, I don't feel like I need much happening on top.
All summer I could wear them with a simple tee or tank, add a good shoe and be done.
And now that we're moving toward fall, I can do exactly the same thing with a lightweight sweater, cardigan, blazer or jacket.
They're actually making the seasonal transition incredibly easy.
The Pair That Started It: Rolling in the Dough
THE SUMMER PAIR.
This was my gateway Lemon Twist.
I wore the Rolling in the Dough wash all summer, and this is the pair that convinced me the silhouette deserved a permanent spot in my closet.
There's something about a lighter, relaxed jean in warm weather that just works.
And the compliments surprised me.
Sometimes the pieces I think are the most fashion-forward get absolutely no reaction, while the thing I almost don't think about becomes the piece everyone wants to know about.
These were that jean for me.
TRIED + LOVED. ✓
SHOP THE LEMON TWIST — ROLLING IN THE DOUGH →
Moving Into Fall: Fresh Squeezed
THE FALL DENIM. 🍂
Same slouch.
Completely different mood.
The darker Fresh Squeezed wash is exactly where I want to take this silhouette for fall.
This is the beauty of finding a jean shape you really love: you don't necessarily need to start over every season.
Change the wash.
The darker denim immediately works with everything I'm craving right now — brown suede shoes, loafers, ballet flats, lightweight knits and jackets.
I'd wear these low with a slightly tucked white tee, brown belt and one of the brown Dolce Vita loafers I've been obsessing over.
Later, add a chunky sweater.
That's basically my fall uniform.
MADE MY FALL EDIT. ✓
SHOP THE LEMON TWIST — FRESH SQUEEZED →
And Then They Made Them in Corduroy...
This is where they got me.
Because if I'm already obsessed with a low-slung, baggy jean and you give me the same idea in corduroy for fall?
I'm listening.
Corduroy is one of those fabrics that immediately changes the feeling of an outfit. It has more texture, more warmth and a little bit of that '70s feeling without requiring you to actually dress like it's 1976.
I would keep everything else really simple.
Corduroy Lemon Twists + white tee + brown loafer.
Or a fitted knit + ballet flat.
Or a slightly oversized sweater with a clog.
This is the fun pair.
The one I'd put on a store floor next to the denim because I know someone would walk over and touch them.
MADE MY FALL EDIT. ✓
SHOP THE CORDUROY LEMON TWIST →
A Note About Baggy Jeans After 40
I don't think we need rules about which jeans women are “allowed” to wear at a certain age.
But I do think proportions matter.
And for me, the trick with a jean this loose is not making everything else equally oversized.
If I'm wearing a very slouchy Lemon Twist, I like something a little cleaner on top — a tee with a partial tuck, a fitted lightweight sweater, a shorter cardigan or a jacket that gives the outfit some structure.
Then I let the denim be the oversized piece.
And the shoe matters.
A loafer, ballet flat, clog or sleek sneaker keeps all that volume from feeling sloppy.
That's the difference between:
“These jeans are huge.”
and
“I love those jeans. Where did you get them?”
Would I Have Bought Them for Dear Lucy?
Absolutely.
And that's probably the best endorsement I can give something.
When I was buying denim, I wanted a mix.
You needed the easy jean everyone understood, but you also needed the pair that moved the assortment forward.
The Lemon Twist would have been that jean for me.
It's noticeably different from a traditional straight leg without being so extreme that you can't figure out how to wear it.
And most importantly:
I've actually worn mine. A lot.
That's always the test.
The Dear Lucy Edit
If you've been watching baggy denim from the sidelines because you're not sure you can pull it off, this is the silhouette I'd try.
Just don't expect it to fit like the jeans already hanging in your closet.
It's supposed to sit lower.
It's supposed to be loose.
It's supposed to slouch.
I went down a size and still got the oversized look I wanted — and that's exactly why I love them.
I wore my first pair all summer.
Now I'm moving into the darker washes for fall.
And apparently adding corduroy to the situation. 😂
One jean. Three very good reasons to keep wearing it.
SHOP MY MOTHER LEMON TWIST EDIT →
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