Yea! I really don’t like the low-low rises where I have to watch my “plumber’s line” each time I bend down. On the other hand, I like not having to tuck in my shirts – I’m hoping that will continue to remain an option for a while even for fitted shirts.

well, I am so short waisted that the mid-rise pants Ihave been wearing these days, sits right where these high waisted pants are pictured! So maybe I am a trend setter without intending to be! If I went for a full on high waist, they would definitly sit above my belly button. Yuck!

Angie,
Does this mean we can still wear our low-rise jeans and pants this fall or are they out? I’ve come to like both looks!

Re: Marlene’s Comment: I was thinking the same thing, although I didn’t realize that I was short waisted. Most regular (read, not ultra-low rise) rises hit me at my belly-button. I end up with a saggy rise because they are also too big for my waist (e.g., I’m wearing a pair of JCrew boy-cut jeans, short length, and if I pull them up so that the seam is where it should be (if you know what I mean) then they hit way above my belly button and the waist is too big–which is doubly unfortunate since they are the smallest size they make).

Back to this trend, Angie, do you think that it depends on one’s body type? I saw Jessica Simpson and Mischa Barton both sporting this trend, and I thought it looked hideous on both of them. They are just too reminiscent of mom jeans.

Hmm, I am VERY short-waisted–no waist at all and insanely long legs considering my height….however, I still get the plumber’s crack and gaping in the back even w/ mid-rise jeans. A few weeks back I decided to update my denim wardrobe and one of the pairs I got was the DKNY Soho, which was refreshingly higher up. Unfortunately it still gapes in the back and I bought the smallest size they have, but hopefully that should be an easy alteration to make.

I’m ready for the high-waist pant craze to pass – and just as glad to be seeing fewer and fewer plumbers’ cracks around town. I prefer mid-rise jeans any day. I’m all for options, but some of the extremes people have gone to… well, not even the celebs with perfect bodies look great in them.

I agree with you – above the hip bone, but below the belly button. But isn’t that mid-rise then? Otherwise, where does mid-rise stop and high-rise begin?

Mid-rise is a little lower than the new higher-rise. Usually, there is little indication of your waist with pants that are mid-rise. High-rise pants begin to mould shape at the waist which you can clearly see from the pictures (but they are still just below your belly button). 80’s high rise pants sat above your belly button and were pleated and tapered as well. Highly unflattering (pun intended)

Mary – you can absolutely wear both mid-rise and high – rise pants and jeans this season. I’ve also grown to love both looks and I enjoy mixing it up.

Sabina – you’ll also be able to keep fitted shirts stylishly un-tucked with higher rise pants.

Christie & Marlene – it sounds like your rises are petite and this is why you’ve got mid-rises hitting you higher than they should. You could go low-rise and alter as an option. Also, J. Crew is famous for its generous fit and this is obviously not for you Christie.

There are high rises and high rises. The “Mum jeans” that you were referring to on Misha Barton and Jessica Simpson were unflattering (rises were too high), but I think that Kate and Sienna pull off their high rise jeans well. Body type will always play a role, but so will fit. The cleaner the look; the better the fit.

The problem with petite pants (and maybe Marlene has this problem, too) is that the pants length is too short. I have one pair of trouser corduroys (again from JCrew) that are petite, and even with flats they border on being high-waters. Angie, I wish I lived in Seattle, so you could help me find a pair of pants that fit. At 5′4″, I’m right on the border of petite/regular. Or maybe I’ll just buy midrise pants and pretend that they are high-rise.

Christie,

I have the same problem. I like Banana Republic because length is never an issue. Rather than wearing a petite inseam, I usually take their short inseam instead. If that doesn’t work out, you can get a regular inseam and have it altered by them for free! Gap has the same thing (except free alterations…if they have that I’m unaware of it), but BR is much better quality. The only downside is that they only carry short inseams online, but it’s a much better option than the highwaters

Well there you go Maya and Christie. BR does an incredibly short petite inseam (29 inches) which is shorter than other petite brands. “Shorts” are usually 30 inches at the inseam which is why they are working for you.

Stupid question – how do you know if you are short or long waisted? Is it a measurement thing? Is that the same as having a short or long torso? I always thought short waisted women were the type who looked great in boy cut jeans – that straight look. I am an hour-glass, so I assumed I was long-waisted. But like the other posters, I am 5′4″, not really a petite, and have the same problem of most pants sitting a bit high on my waist. Does this mean I’m short-waisted?

By the way Angie – thanks to these posts, I recently had a really great shopping experience at Nordstrom and bought dark wash jeans (DKNY SOHO) and some pretty girlie tops. The camisole has revolutionized my style of dressing! I’m in LOVE with the “flop proof” outfit. (I need to find the perfect fall blazer now.) You are amazing!

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