Are low rises really back? Where should I start to look? - YouLookFab Forum

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Are low rises really back? Where should I start to look?

SarahD8

Veteran

As you all know I shop mostly secondhand for my clothing. A big reason is that i am short with a disproportionately short torso and an even more disproportionately short rise. So, I need low-rise bottoms and they haven’t been available!

I’ve heard rumors around the forum and elsewhere that low rises are on the way back in. But by now I’m utterly devoid of any knowledge of the retail landscape!

I’m wondering if any of you who are more plugged in to which brands are offering what might suggest any promising places to look for low rise styles?

What low rise means to me:
For skinny pants up to 7.5 inches in front
Less fitted but still structured pants e.g., boyfriend jeans 8 or 8.5 inches
Loose pants like palazzos and knit joggers no more than 10 inches

Because of the height and shape of my torso I don’t have much wiggle room. The rises need to be pretty exactly what I’ve stated or they won’t work. (Repeats “I am too old to wear pants with the waistband folded over” mantra)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Shopping

37 replies

Latest reply was from jussie

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes! Do you read my trend posts by any chance, SarahD8?

https://youlookfab.com/2022/02.....nd-themes/

"True to late ‘90s fashion, low rises are coming through, but are not mainstream. They are achieved by wearing bottoms with low rises, or by wearing slouchy higher rises with waistbands that rest on the hip bone. High and very high rises are strong, but mid rises are once again gaining momentum. This might be the first time that ANY length of rise is on trend"

I am seeing them come through in retail. For example, I tried these white jeans a couple of days ago. MUCH lower rise.

My trouser jeans and red pants were purchased a year and two years ago - and they have a much lower rise too.

NYDJ Teresa Ankle Wide Leg Jeans

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Theory Demitria 2 Stretch Good Wool Suit Pants

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LJP

Veteran

Gap and Old Navy both have new low rise options . They look SO good . Also IWTBLH did a good denim feature today that mentioned low rise .

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Here are some:

Rag & Bone Dre Low Rise Boyfriend Jeans

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Teen Low Rise Vintage Boot with Washwell

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Low-Rise OG Loose Jeans for Women

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Low-Rise OG Loose Jeans for Women

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Mavi Jeans Serena Low Rise Super Skinny Jeans

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BDG URBAN OUTFITTERS Puddle Low Rise Cargo Jeans

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BP Low Rise Wide Leg Cargo Jeans

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BDG URBAN OUTFITTERS Low Rise Washed Corduroy Flare Pants

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EDIKTED Asha Low Rise Cargo Pants

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EDIKTED Aya Camo Print Low Rise Cargo Pants

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PAIGE Sonja Vintage Low Rise Wide Leg Jeans

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Low-Rise OG Loose Black Jeans for Women

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Low Rise Stride Jeans with Washwell

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Low Rise Stride Jeans with Washwell

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Rag & Bone Dre Low Rise Slim Boyfriend Jeans

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Dee

Veteran

Nooo…. Not my favourite at all!!
It will be back to muffin tops and those long belts to keep them up.
Darn, it’s always one extreme to another, it’s been high rise for quite a while now but what about us mid-rise lovers?

Sorry SarahD8 for my rant and for being no help to you.

slim cat

Veteran

Low rise is showing up but you need to read carefully description - it could be not accurate ( for the lack of better word ). I have read low rise description like "sit on hips with slightly dropped crotch" ( EXPRESS jeans - about 9 1/4" in my size 0 ) and low rise on some GAP jeans with 10" exactly - lol.
I ordered a few times hoping for 8 1/2" rise with no success - however I'm straight in hips so curvy or loose fitting pants/jeans are out of option for me ( tried EXPRESS, Urban Outfitters, Anthropology ).
Dre Boyfriend fit Rag and Bones is true low rise but not suitable for straight body like mine. I haven't tried ON or GAP jeans in person - protect for next month .
BTW - some low rise jeans are mid rise in real life - so not to worry about missing on mid rise. Mother jeans are now more available in mid rise too - Bloomingdales carries a few of those.

SarahD8

Veteran

Angie, yes! You probably put the idea in my head now that I think about it. It's been percolating! Thank you SO much for all these great links!

LJP, ooh, good tips. The ON ones look especially good to me. I know, I know, "less but better" -- but if they're right, they're better for me. I do suspect I should try the Rag & Bone Dre finally...

Dee I VERY much hope that Angie is correct and all rises will be available now! I don't wish for high and mid-rises to disappear, just for a few low rises to be around for the oddly proportioned like me.

SarahD8

Veteran

slim cat, yes, that's kinda my worry is that low rise doesn't mean what it used to. Or doesn't mean anything at all really! Ok, ok, I've delivered that rant before and will refrain from doing it again. I appreciate the tips about the brands you've tried!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am seeing all rises at retail online. But you do need to read the fine print. My personal fave is mid rise so I hope we also get more of those.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Sarah I do believe lower (not necessarily low) rise are going to be coming on strong. As Angie says, it is not the only option, but from what I see it is definitely the incoming wave. I am pretty excited about this actually because it is very hard for me to wear high rise with my proportions. From a second hand shopping perspective, look for older boyfriend styles. I am wearing my old boyfriend jeans (I never stopped but am wearing them more) and feel the lower rise and wider legs makes me feel as current as I need to feel.

SarahD8

Veteran

Very good point about the fine print, Suz!

I like mid rises too but for me that almost certainly means something marketed as low rise. "Sitting on my hips" and "just below the bellybutton" are one and the same location for me. :-/

Jaime yes! I am happy to keep shopping secondhand. I just thought, since I have changed/may be between sizes, and the necessary proportions might be more available now, it might be time for some retail reconnaissance.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

If you look at the company web sites for some premium denim brands (e.g., Citizens or Paige) you can search their current styles by low rise. It gives a sense of what is coming out now.

I agree that the definition of low rise (which I like, also for short torso reasons) has very much shifted over time and that reading the descriptions is key.

Laurie

Veteran

Thank goodness low/mid rises are making a return! I have exceptionally good luck with the fit at Old Navy lately.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I tried the OG Old Navy (not the low rise version, but a high rise loose jean) and did not care for it because I didn't like the fabric. But the "dad" jeans I got earlier (high rise, not low rise) were terrific for me. In other words, it might be worth heading into a store and feeling the different fabrics as well as trying on a few different styles. It will give you a sense of the range.

I also like UmmLila's idea to check out high end denim online -- to see the styles and even read the rise measurements.

You might be able to score designer denim in low rises at second hand before the tide completely turns. Low rises are hard for me (I have a long rise, opposite problem to yours) but my favourite low rise jeans were always Citizens of Humanity Racers. And now, I'm wearing my CoH Emersons on repeat. They are a slim BF style. I have two pairs -- one is a size larger than my usual and it is very baggy. Needs a belt. The other is my regular size and less baggy but still has plenty of ease. There are not low rise but mid rise.

KMM

I could cry with joy that low rises are back. I’m short and short waisted, high rises and even higher mid rises literally give me heartburn. It’s been rough!

Anthropologie has some Pilcro jeans and cords in the 8.5-9” range. I think Boden may have a small selection. I never buy unless the rise is specifically listed. Sometimes if there’s a petite length the rise is a smidge lower.

Minaminu

Veteran

I really wish there would be variety in the cut and rise of jeans. There was a time when skinnies were the only thing available on the market (OK, I may be exaggerating but they were the majority).

elpgal

Veteran

@Angie, the white jeans in your first post are listed as ‘high rise’ by Nordstrom. I wish they would provide measurements!

@Sarah, I am glad you asked. Low-rises have been out of stock for so long finding them used is also becoming challenging. I recently found some Editor pants at Express that were low rise although probably not as low as you need depending on the size.

LaPed

Veteran

I am seeing quite a lot of high rises worn low for a hipslung look, plus a smattering of low rises from brands that I associate with the younger set: Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie, etc. If it's hitting mall brands, I'm sure it's present in designer lines as well, I just don't really have a place to window shop designer labels.

I'm wearing my lowest rise pants today! Probably 9-ish inches, but they sit right on top of my hips. I can't go much lower, so I've been enjoying the past few years tremendously. Would be nice if retailers would stock a variety of rises and inseams all the time instead of cycling through them like they're just trends!

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Anonymous

You can have my share!

SarahD8

Veteran

UmmLila, thanks, great tip to check out the websites of premium brands!

Laurie, thanks for the ON endorsement. To Suz's very good point about fabrication, I will see if I can check some out in store and see what might work for me.

KMM I know just what you mean about heartburn! Agree that knowing the measurements is a must. I feel like the shorter rise in petite cuts was more common in the past -- now it seems more common that they just change the inseam. Another pet peeve/rant of mine!

Minaminu I am with you, it would be great if more rises in more cuts were available. The previous low-rise era was also a time when skinnies (to a lesser degree bootcuts I suppose) reigned supreme, it seems to me -- I like skinnies, but that has made it harder to branch out to other cuts when shopping for low rises secondhand.

elpgal thanks for the Editor tip. And seconding your wish for measurements!

LaPed if you are seeing them multiple places maybe I should just hit the mall with tape measure in hand and do a little poking around! I don't fancy the hip-slung/dropped crotch look on me unfortunately, I really want something where the waistband and the crotch point will *both* hit at (what feels to me like) the right spot.

suntiger and you may have my share of high rises!

Runcarla

Veteran

I’ve always been a high-rise person, and a discontinued jean called ‘the Hanna High-rise’ was my jeans cut of choice back when I joined YLF 10 years ago! The rise was 10-11 inches and they came in a variety of leg widths and styles. Discontinued, alas.

FWIW, charity shops in my area are carrying pants with low rises and mid rises. Most legs are slim ankle crops, medium boyfriend, and some bootcut/flare. No high rises. No wide legs. I’ve had to take a ‘pass’ on a lot of pants at thrift, and those few I have brought home, had mid rises.

When I was searching jeans online last month, the rib cage and high rise jeans were on sale. I paid $69 for the high wise wide leg crops I picked up. Mid rise and a smattering of low rise were the first offerings to load as ‘new’. Like LaPed and others have mentioned, sized up mid rise jeans worn low on the hips is a ‘thing’. Looks good in editorial pics, but gives a low crotch and saggy bum IRL.

There’s a bit of everything out there because everything is in flux ATM.

I foresee the return of belts though

Sal

Veteran

No particular advice as not in the US but support a variety of rises being available. High rise can be mid rise on some people as can mid rise be high rise.

Just putting it out there - have you considered men’s jeans. Or does that not work for your frame?

SarahD8

Veteran

Runcarla I wonder if those late lamented discontinued jeans would still be your favorites if they were still available today? (Not saying they would or wouldn't be -- just interesting to ponder)

Sal, yes! Appreciate that so many fabbers bat for Team Diverse Cuts for Diverse Bodies. I haven't tried men's jeans but am certainly open to them. My first assumption would be that rises would be higher, since the crotch point needs to be lower to, um, accommodate. Curious what you think makes them a promising strategy? (That's a genuinely curious question, not a hostile/argumentative one )

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So....along the lines of Sal's suggestion, I wonder if girls' sizes could potentially be an option? You are slim and not tall so it doesn't seem out of the question. I don't know why the rises would be lower than women's, on the face of it -- but wouldn't it be great if they were? Much less expensive!

I've never really tried girls' sizes for pants but I do have a girls' denim jacket that works for me. And a few boys' gear tops.

SarahD8

Veteran

I actually do have a pair of pants from the girls’ department! So I’m definitely open to that strategy. I’ve found the rises to be not reliably lower than women’s but am happy to snap them up when they are.

Funny timing of your suggestion, I have been low-key coveting your new ivory sweatshirt but it’s sold out in smaller sizes. I was poking around and it turns out there is a girl’s version and was seriously considering it. It’s not on sale tho so in this case it’s more expensive than the women’s version!

Sal

Veteran

Haha Sarah - my thinking was that men's jeans are typically mid rise and straight cut- it has been a while since I wore them but I liked the fit- probably mid rather than a low rise in truth though

I am taller though (5 ft 8) so it might be easier with lengths

(still no fullstop on my keyboard - it's run away with my comma for an extended vacation)

Runcarla

Veteran

@ SarahD8 - I tend to be brand loyal when I find a fit that works. It might be lazy, but when I find something that works for me, I stick to the brand. When the HHR was available, I had it in dark wash, white, black, straight leg and boot cut. When ragged hems were a trend, I hacked a few pairs I had. I know I wore them from 2013 through to 2018 when they wore out. I did a series of Calvin Klein jeans, but have recently found a good fit with Levi’s. All 4 jeans in my closet are Levi’s. As is my lone jean jacket.

When Angie, or someone else posts about a jean trend, I pop over to the Levi’s site to see if they have a version of the trend. Then I search my two main Canadian sources for jeans to see if they are carrying that style. I’m currently stalking white wide leg jeans (see pic) from the site, but not yet in my Canadian shops.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Everlane just dropped these, SarahD8.

What do you guys consider low rise? I'd say between 8 and 9 inches in front is low rise - these days anyway

The Low-Rise Shortie Jean

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The Low-Rise Shortie Jean

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The Low-Rise Shortie Jean

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slim cat

Veteran

The website states that Shortie jean is 9 and 1/4" as low rise - would be closer to mid rise on me . I guess it depends how jeans are worn - slightly loose on hips could work for some.
I prefer 8 and 1/2" for myself for jeans, trousers could be slightly higher.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Slim Cat, that's what I thought! What is it about the Dre BF from Rag 'N Bone that didn't work? Maybe you need to size down.

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