Oh, maternity jeans. As if finding the perfect pair of jeans when you’re not changing shape on a daily basis isn’t hard enough.

Throughout both my pregnancies, finding a comfortable and flattering pair of maternity jeans became my search for the Holy Grail. In most cases, though, they were too stiff, too baggy or too saggy—and even when I would think I had found a winner, within a few months my body would change and they wouldn’t fit anymore.

More often than not, I found myself tossing the jeans back into the drawer in a crumpled heap and reaching for my favorite, tried-and-true maternity leggings instead.

Because, if I can be honest for a second? Leggings just get it in a way jeans usually don’t. They stretch without sagging while also holding you where you need support. They don’t pinch or ride up, and they’re ready for whatever new curves my rapidly changing body could throw at them.

Jeans? They just couldn’t keep up. Until I found the 1822 Denim Maternity jeans in their signature Butter fabric.

How do I begin to explain the magic of these jeans? First, let’s talk about the softness. It’s a pretty bold claim for any kind of denim to call itself “butter,” but this pair truly delivers. Soft and flexible with plenty of stretch, these jeans understand exactly what you need during pregnancy with a fit that feels exactly like your favorite pair of leggings. And did I mention the belly band? Silky soft, the band lays flat and holds your growing belly through every trimester (and even provides the extra support you need postpartum).

What I really love, though, is that they look like any regular pair of jeans from the waist down. The stylish ankle crop means I can wear them through any season, and the dark blue hue works for everything from running errands to a casual date night. The icing on the cake? They’re less than $60 bucks.

Over the skinny style? I hear you, and you’re in luck. There’s a whole collection of affordable 1822 Denim maternity jeans in the same leggings-adjacent fabric.

1822 Denim maternity jeans we love

They’re almost good enough to make me toss my maternity leggings forever (almost).

A version of this article was originally published on June 25th, 2021. It has been updated.