Fans Lose It As Matriarch Michelle Duggar Breaks Family Tradition To Wear Leggings

The Duggar women are kissing traditions goodbye and embracing a new trend!

The family rose to fame for their TLC series "19 Kids and Counting," a show that followed the Christian clan's devout lifestyle. Under the guidance of parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, their large brood was raised to observe fair values.

One of such conservative traditions enforced by the family's heads was not allowing their daughters to wear trousers. However, in a recent gathering, the matriarch broke her dress code alongside her older daughters.

In a recent Instagram update, Jessa Seewald (née Duggar) revealed that times have changed in her family. The reality TV star shared a group picture of herself posing alongside her mother and eight sisters at a reunion gathering.

In the snap, the older Duggars broke their modest dress code, trading their usual skirts and dresses for trousers. The shocking part, however, was that matriarch, who previously ensured her kids followed the strict rule, donned black leggings for the family event.

However, it seemed the 56-year-old could not fully break the years of tradition as a closer inspection revealed a second outfit. Michelle paired the figure-hugging material with a black knee-length skirt and completed her sporty vibe with a chambray top.

Following their mother's new style, daughters Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, and Joy-Anna happily ditched their skirts and proudly rocked trousers ranging from jeans to sweatpants. On the other hand, the younger Duggar girls stayed true to their family's rules.

Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie, dressed conservatively per the clan's tradition and wore loose dresses and skirts. Despite their different dress codes, everyone shared a bright smile for the camera as they had not met in some time.

"The older everyone gets, the busier life gets— which means it's always extra special when we manage to get all 9 of us sisters + mom together again in the same place at the same time," Jessa revealed in the post's caption. "Last week was golden."

Following her social media update, fans flooded the comment section with their reactions to the picture. "Michelle in pants ????" a fan exclaimed. "Happy for you all."

Another added: "Wow! Look at all the pants. Times have changed," A third chimed, "All the older girls are wearing pants." Others expressed shock to see the matriarch ditch her loose-fitting clothing for a figure-hugging outfit, "Is Michelle wearing pants? Did I miss something?" Someone wondered.

"Notice all the grown girls wearing pants 'cause they realized there's nothing wrong with them," a fan pointed out. "But the younger girls still have to wear skirts." Another person echoed similar sentiments, subtly criticizing Michelle's choice.

"So the girls living at home still wear skirts, but now mom wears tight… and yet the little one can't," the individual observed, while another person teased: "Michelle in PANTS!! Jim-Bob is quaking."

To those thinking the matriarch completely disregarded her rules, a few fans clarified that the 56-year-old paired her leggings with a skirt. "I thought Michelle was wearing leggings and about lost it," an eagle-eyed follower confessed. "Loving all the pants in the photo."

A fellow fact-finder penned, "Sorry, you all. That's not pants. It's an athletic skirt with leggings attached underneath. Take another look!" A third person shared similar sentiments, writing: "Look closer; she is wearing leggings with a skirt."

Michelle seems to be following in the path of her daughter Jessa who openly spoke about breaking free of her family's strict dress code. In January, the 29-year-old got candid about her decision to start wearing trousers as an adult.

The mother-of-two explained that because of her family's beliefs, she believed the modest dress code was the only way to gain God's favor. "I thought I had to wear only skirts and dresses to please God," the Arkansas native confessed.

The "Becoming Free Indeed" author explained that she followed these rules out of fear of inciting God's wrath. In her words: "If I step outside of what I think is expected of me, I would think God's going to be so displeased with me, and it could bring harm on myself."

The conservative tradition spawned from her parents' membership in the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Disgraced minister Bill Gothard established the organization in 1961, where women were taught to be subservient to their husbands and shun modern culture like dating.