This Dorky Jean Style is Suddenly Red Hot

Why are the coolest girls in modeling wearing denim that look like castoffs from SNL's classic "Mom Jeans" skit? Relaxed-fit, light-washed, high-waisted jeans that practically have a "nine-inch zipper and casual front pleats" are covering tons of famous butts this summer. Vogue even floated mom jeans as the new model uniform in June, replacing skinny jeans (although some stylists say skinnies will never really die).

This mom jean denim style has been percolating for years (maybe it's the lovechild of the normcore trend and '90s craze). Quartz called it in 2016, declaring last year a breakout summer for mom jeans after the style popped up in 2014. In 2017, Pinterest reported that searches for mom jeans are up 227% year over year.

Stars like Bella and Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski's penchant for '90s-inspired jeans (both with a straight leg and tapered ankles) must be why this denim style is heading to the mainstream. See how these it-girls make dorky jeans look impossibly cool, although crop tops and major abs might do more of the heavy lifting, come to think of it.

Besides single-handedly bringing back bandana tops, our girl Bella is undoubtedly the queen of mom jeans for summer 2017. She never met a mom jean with rips she didn't love. And those drawstring jeans that look like something you'd wear to clean the garage? They're actually by hot label Off-White and retail for $900.

Bella's not the only top model wearing spendy mom jeans. Kendall Jenner wore $798 Monse jeans with an intentionally crooked button fly last week, a style choice that confused a lot of her fans. Kendall wears mom jeans constantly — accessorized with fanny packs, naturally — so this unique cross-over style switches it up a bit.

Bella must've clued her sister Gigi in on the whole mom jean thing. This summer, she's doubled up on boxy RE/DONE denim and somehow made baggy black jeans look preppy.

Upcoming model (and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills daughter) Delilah Belle is also a big fan of high-rise Re/Done jeans.

Victoria's Secret model Romee Strijd really had to cinch up her belt on these roomy light-washed jeans. Between those jeans and the glasses, we're guessing this look isn't going to be part of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Even you, Jennifer, with the ripped stovepipe high-waisted denim?

Here's Allure and GQ cover girl Emily Ratajkowski's passionate defense of mom jeans to Glamour: "I actually feel the best in mom jeans. I’m wearing mom jeans [to this event]. I love them because you can eat a lot [laughs]. They're always flattering." That's easy for you to say, Emily! Maybe that's why stars love mom jeans: it shows that they can make anything look good.