Mom vs Teen: Is Free People Actually Cute or Just Confusing?
My 16-year-old daughter and I have sometimes have very different opinions when it comes to fashion. What I think is effortlessly cool… she calls “so millennial” (and that is apparently not a good thing 🤔)
So we decided to put it to the test and rate some of the most popular pieces from Free People — one of our favorite (and sometimes confusing) brands.
The rules were simple:
✔️ “Cute” = we would actually wear it
❌ “Not Cute” = absolutely not
😬 “Debatable” = depends on the day (or mood… or TikTok trend)
The Viral Miranda Sweater Set
Mom (45): “Cute in theory, but maybe not in practicality? Could look frumpy or could be side boob galore.”
Daughter (16): “Cute. For the beach.”
Final Verdict: ✅ Cute in the right setting
💡 Why it works: Matching sets are having a major moment because they’re easy but still feel styled. Even moms are loving them because they’re actually wearable in real life. I would be willing to give this a try.
👉 Shop the Miranda Sweater Set
The Hot Shot Onesie
Mom: “Nope. BUT it looks comfy.”
Daughter: “No. Ugly. It looks like a skinned kangaroo with a pouch.’”
Final Verdict: ❌ Not Cute
💡 Reality check: While it looks comfy, it is definitely not for everyone.
👉 Check out the Hot Shot Onesie on Free People here.
The Barrel Jean
Mom: “Super cute! Love it and would totally wear it. I actually own similar ones I wear and love.”
Daughter: “Cute.”
Final Verdict: ✅ Cute
💡 Reality: They are comfy and currently fashionable. Might not be in style for a long time though.
👉 Shop the Free People Barrel Jean
The Ruffle Bottom Bloomer Jeans
Mom: “Hard pass. Those are definitely not part of my journey and slightly confusing.”
Daughter: “Probably cute on Rylee Arnold, but not on basically anyone else.”
Final Verdict: ❌ Pass on anything with the word bloomers in it.
💡 Translation: Rylee Arnold can look cute in anything, the rest of us basically not so much.
👉 Shop the Free People Ruffle Bottom Bloomer Jeans
The Fringe Festival Top
Mom: “It says it’s a top, but it looks like a scarf.”
Daughter: “It looks like a rug that is falling apart and she is wearing it’s a top.”
Final Verdict: ❌ We aren’t fans.
💡 If you are at Coachella it seems totally doable.
👉 Ship the Fringe Festival Top Here
The Slouchy Striped Sweater
Mom: “Cute, but I prefer a more elevated sweater, this one kinda looks like it’s one breath away from falling apart.”
Daughter: “Cute, I’d wear that.’”
Final Verdict: 😬 Cute, ish.
Shop the striped slouchy sweater on Free People here.
The Barrel Jean Overalls
Mom: “I think these are super cute, but I just don’t think I could pull them off.”
Daughter: “Cute! I would wear those.”
Final Verdict: ✅ Cute
💡 Crochet is trending again thanks to festival fashion and summer styling trends showing up across new Free People collections.
👉 Shop Free People Barrel Jean Overalls Here
Final Thoughts: Who Was Right?
After rating all of these, one thing is clear:
👉 Free People is either effortlessly cool… or completely confusing depending on your age.
- My daughter thinks I dress like “a millennial”
- I think she dresses like it’s 2002 again
- And somehow… we’re both right
Here are some other posts you might like:
7 Free and Fun Ways to Get Fit Without a Gym (or Spending a Dime)
Beginner Running Gear: What You Actually Need (And What You Don’t)
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