I read a lot of fashion and style-related news online, which will come as no surprise. The majority of these articles are benign and frivolous in nature, as they are mostly meant for entertainment on “soft” topics, nothing earth-shattering. However, when I see that the Washington Post and USA Today both have articles on the war between Gen Z and Millennials over jeans, I realize this entertainment topic is slipping into the real news!

Generation Z is defined as those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while Millennials were born between 1981-1996. I was born in the year of our Lord 1980 and have no dog in this fight. Jeans, like most clothing, are a form of expression, and denim is usually associated with youth and a more casual, if not rebellious, sense of dressing. The history of jeans is really quite fascinating.

Originally designed and manufactured in 1873 by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss (sound familiar?), denim pants were meant to be worn by miners and workmen. Today, they are still a work pant, but also a high-fashion item that the majority of Americans wear weekly if not daily — that is when they aren’t working from home in sweatpants.

You may be asking what IS the actual disagreement between Gen Z and Millennials over jeans? According to the reputable publications listed above, Gen Z-ers have denounced skinny jeans, declaring that they are out of style. How does this affect Millennials, you might ask? Well, for quite some time now, it was the Millennials setting the style standards, who were the trendsetters making skinny jeans, avocado toast, Pinterest, and Justin Bieber a thing. Millennials decided what was cool, which was the exact opposite of what was cool for Generation X, who it so happens used to decide what was cool, which was the exact opposite of what was cool to the Baby Boomers, and so on and so forth.

Every generation thinks they have or will solve the sartorial problems of the past. However, at the same time, fashion is cyclical. What was once out of style becomes vintage, then gets revamped to be back in style. With that in mind, what denim style is Gen Z purporting to be cool, fashionable, and a revolutionized take on jeans? Jeans with wider legs, tapered ankles, in a lighter wash, with a high waist, a.k.a. Mom jeans!

What was once considered the jean of choice for women past their prime has been embraced by twenty-somethings in increasing numbers. Their argument is that a looser fit with more coverage speaks to their needs, unlike the skinny jeans that can be uncomfortable, especially if you’ve put on any pandemic weight. Skinny jeans are now considered passe, which has some Millennials wondering why the younger generation thinks what they considered as unflattering jeans stylish?

Regardless of who is in their prime or not, Millennials’ real concern is being squeezed out of the market. Retailers always flock toward the preferences of the younger set. It starts with fads, moves to trends; then jeans get an overhaul, then dresses and suits. Before you know it, you’re no longer able to find the basics fits and silhouettes you have come to rely on in the stores you’ve come to trust. Millennials are aging out of the go-to brands as those companies turn toward Gen Z. My advice, pick up a few extra pairs of skinnies while you can and throw in some normal length V-neck t-shirts because their days are numbered as well.

On a final note, a few years ago, I was out to brunch with a Mom-friend a bit older than myself. We couldn’t help but notice the younger patrons around us all seemed to be dressed in a manner that I had personally avoided dressing in so as not to get teased in Middle School. Acid-wash, pegleg jeans, neon green cropped t-shirts, the dreaded Cosby sweater. It’s like every bad trend of the 90s was surrounding us, and we were the only ones to notice. We had to really keep from laughing. I say, let the young be young and let them have their ugly fashions. In 10 to 15 years or so, they will look back and hang their heads in shame, just as the Gen Xers did looking back at their fashion in the 80s, and now the Millennials are starting to do as they accept the middle-age they are closing in on.