Have you noticed the cutoff jean trend? It’s cute, short, and flirty. But having my ass hang out in back and pockets peeking out from the front isn’t my idea of practical mom style. And yoga pants don’t always cut it. I was searching for cutoffs that would keep me cool in the summer and serve as the perfect neutral for my tops. So I tapped into my inner 14-year-old and figured out how to make DIY cutoffs that fit perfectly.

I rarely wear shorts, because I can never find a pair that fits. They either make me look too old, or they squeeze all the wrong places. Premade cutoffs aren’t made for moms. The rise is usually too short, making any fluff you have from having babies rise out of your muffin top. As a mom, you also need shorts that don’t show everything when you bend over to play with your kids.

Plus, I have some major body image issues. Squeezing into ill-fitting clothing is the biggest mistake you can make when you don’t love the way your body looks to begin with. But when I slide on these shorts that fit like a glove, I actually feel like a hot mama. For the first time in a long time.

Here’s the Secret:

DIY Cutoffs mom jeans

You have to make your own DIY cutoffs. And you have to make them from mom jeans. It’s super easy, and you can make them in 5 minutes.

Ok, they don’t have to be that bad, but here’s what you’re looking for:

  • A loose waist that sits well on your hips without squeezing
  • A somewhat higher rise than what’s available at Forever 21

That’s it. It doesn’t matter what they look like on the bottom. I wish I had a “before” picture of the jeans I bought to make DIY cutoffs from mom jeans, because they were ridiculously hideous. They were cropped and oddly cuffed.

One pair even gave me a penis. You know, the saggy fold-over crotch? Yep. And they had funny side pleats in the pockets. Not even kidding you.

Tips for Buying Mom Jeans for DIY Cutoffs

The thing is, it doesn’t really matter what the crotch area does when the pants are in jean form as long as they:

fit without squeezing or pinching.

Once you cut them, the weight and stiffness of the jean will be released, and they will hang better.

Get your mom jeans at the goodwill.

If you’re only spending $3.49 for a pair of jeans, if they end up not working out, you won’t be too upset.

Go UP a size or two.

I know, I know. You’re already four sizes bigger than you’d like to be. But suck it up and go up a size. You will feel so much better about your body when you can move freely in cutoffs that accentuate your curves than in cutoffs that dig into your gut every time you sit down.

How to Make The DIY Cutoffs

Now that you have your jeans, it is going to take you about 5 minutes (plus washing time) to get your fit-like-a-glove mom cutoffs. Here’s the one tip to keep in mind when cutting:

You can’t un-cut the jeans.  If you’re unsure, start with a longer cut. You can always shorten them.

1). Start by folding them in half. Pull out the crotch so that you can see the curve of it, and make sure that the jeans are folded along the seam that sits inside your leg. The outer seam won’t match up. That’s ok. Cut in a slight diagonal, starting a few inches below the crotch and ending up by the hip. Cut only one leg at a time. Use the first cut to guide the second cut on the bottom leg.

fold jeans for DIY cutoffs

2). Now, refine the side of the leg. If you curve the edges up at the hip, you’ll elongate the leg without making the shorts too short. See the red line on the shorts below? Just a subtle rise on the side, meeting at a point at the seam. Work on one edge at a time, starting with the front.

Shape your diy cutoffs

3). Try them on. If you need to shorten them, just take them off and take off a little at a time until they’re perfect.

4). Throw them in the wash. The more you wash them, the more they will fray. Feel free to cut off long strings after each wash.

Voila. Those chicks who have never had kids ain’t got nothin’ on you!

Thank you to my very pregnant friend from GRUB who took the photos yesterday!

P.S. These pics are of a real mom. No models were harmed while taking these photos. Obviously.

DIY cutoffs for moms

DIY cutoffs for moms

DIY cutoffs for moms

DIY cutoffs for moms

DIY cutoffs for moms