Y2K & Low-Rise Jeans

suzieq

My 24-year-old daughter shared this article with me. I can only say that I have never worn low-rise jeans & am now at the age where all I want are comfortable jeans (which for me are at my natural waist).

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/.....2k-fashion

2 years ago

Fashion Week

33 replies

Latest reply was from suzieq

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I never wore the more extreme versions of low rises, much as I will never wear the extreme high rises. The pendulum of fashion always swings back and forth as designers try to sell us new stuff.

#midriseforever

2 years ago

KimZ

Active Member

I can't think of any wardrobe item more uncomfortable than low rise jeans. Not to mention the chance of exposure when seated. Thank goodness this time around, we are free to choose it or not.

2 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

FINALLY! Torso-less people like me can enjoy jeans where the waistband does not double as a bra ban again.

2 years ago

suzieq

Active Member

@SarahD8: Thankfully we can choose. That didn’t used to be the case. Like I told my daughter, I’ve lived long enough to see trends & fads come, go, & then come back again,

I have to buy petite high rise or misses regular rise (at waist) to get the most comfortable, correct fit for me. I’m short waisted but have a long rise, even though I’m petite. It’s the reason I never tuck in my tops.

2 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

I'll believe it when I'll see it in regular stores. I'm short waisted and straight so I was fine with low-rise pants/jeans ( not extreme version ) and still wear mine even now .
To the point - "thankfully we can choose" - not as much as I'd like to - there is nothing suitable now in low rise ( couple pants in junior departments at best, no jeans ).

2 years ago

suzieq

Active Member

@slimcat: I wish there were more high-waisted jeans in petite sizes. We all struggle the get what suits us. I still see a lot of skinny jeans, & I’m already moving past them into bootcut & wide-legged jeans.

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

What?! Lol. I guess that means I ought to keep the last few that I have. I hope they tell me what tops to wear with them, because I can’t remember what I wore with them and they feel very awkward now. Hope it’s not crop tops - I do not like drafts!

2 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

No thank you...

2 years ago

Anonymous

Nope! Been there done that :/

2 years ago

Laurie

Veteran

Not that low, but I'm rooting for mid-rise! Or higher low-rise? Just not high rise!

2 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I enjoyed lowish rises, but not with short tops and not with tight bottoms. I was always covered, and slouchy low rises worked well with a belt. I also enjoy mid and high rises - but not too high

I think we will see all rise lengths at retail pretty soon...

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Low rise jeans seemed to be ubiquitous from about 2000 for me, and they never worked on me (muffin top all the way). I basically avoided denim for a few years until about 2005 when I went to mid rises...and now I seem to wear mid-high rise.

I am all for people wearing what they want, and what they like and what is comfortable. I do think some of the super low looks are challenging for a lot of people to wear though - not a very inclusive item of clothing.

2 years ago

ophelia

Veteran

Fabulous! High rises look & feel ridiculous on me.
About a month ago, I read that high schoolers were starting to wear low-rise flares. Eventually styles move up the age chain.
Hopefully, low-rises will be available w/ more cotton & less stretch than the last time around.

2 years ago

suzieq

Active Member

We all know what looks & feels best on us, & that’s a good thing, I personally don’t like the muffin top I get with anything that’s lower than my waist. At any rate, I do agree that we all should be able to wear what we want. Woo-hoo! We didn’t have nearly as many fashion choices back in the day. I think I’m showing my age here, lol.

2 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I still have a couple pairs of low-for-me (9ish inches) pants. I find it much harder to get the fit right in slouchy hip slung pants, but when I do it’s a look I’ve always loved and always will. And I do bat for Team High Rise! But maybe Team Variety is more apt.

2 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Nope! Not for me. I was in something called a ‘Hanna High-rise’ jean 7 years ago. It would seem like a mid-rise compared to today’s high rises, but was no way near a low rise. I’m totally in to hi-rises, and stocked up earlier this year when I replenished some basics/jeans. Having recently pulled out last year’s summer mid-rise cut-offs, I’m surprised by how low the feel!

2 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I love that article - thanks for posting. Very insightful.
I never wore super low rises (the naughts were my years with young kids) but generally handle lowish rises more easily than super high rises. Never with cropped tops or exposed skin though!

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I wore mid rise not too fitted jeans/pants before and maybe will wear again. I will be able to semi-tuck again, wear belts and probably they will fit me better. So, why not, this is a style that works for short waisted bodies like mine. 20 years ago I wore them with fitted tops, this time around I would try a different shape and see how much I like it. So, bring it on

2 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Very low rises look great on models but not on me. I am sure that retailers will continue to provide variety, mid rises are always available and will be what I wear if low rises make a come back. I remember in the 00's I tried on a pair of very trendy low rise jeans that looked amazing when I was standing up, but as soon as I sat down, they slid off my backside (so a complete wardrobe malfunction, not just a reveal of the top of my undies). The sales assistant tried to convince me that I should still get them, but just not sit down.

2 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@suzieq Interesting - I'm exactly the same as you (petite with a short torso/ 12" long rise) but I *do* like to tuck in my tops, specifically for that reason lol!

Psst if you're looking for petite high rises (some are mid to high, depending on your rise), SeaSalt Cornwall has a great selection of such trousers - I reviewed some of their high-waisted jeans here

2 years ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

As for the article, I identify with Jessica Simpson's body type & the struggles mentioned - I need something that can girdle me in! I've only recently started enjoying wearing trousers without a long tunic over the top, because I can *finally* find high rise trousers for my petite inseam again

2 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I'm not hating this...I'm another one with a very short waist, and some high rises just look ridiculous. I like to have variety.

2 years ago

Sally

Veteran

This is not something I will revisit though I do have a short waist. I remember wearing a low rise jean about 2001. I was about 30 years old and sitting in a cafe on a high stool. The shop assistant politely told me that my g-string/thong was showing. How could I have been so vulgar? I'm going to stick to my midrises from now on.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I learned a lot from Viva’s recent post about high-rise jeans. Namely, that low rises actually work really well for some women’s body shapes. I hope Angie is right that we are entering a magical era with a variety of rises easily available at retail.

I rarely care what other people wear, but the hostess pants with cutouts to mimic whaletail give me pause.

2 years ago

smittie

Veteran

I have a long rise and never had the problem with exposure with low-rise jeans. Maybe I have a small bum:rise ratio, where most of my rise is my back? Deep thoughts.

2 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Low (not super low) rises work well for me — my narrowest part is right below my bust, and everything just goes out from there until my widest part at the saddlebags, LOL. But all on a very short torso. So low rises actually worked for me to allow me to tuck tops into pants and not look like a set of boobs sitting on top of a pair of pants, which is basically what high rises look like on me. I’m always annoyed that the trends seem to drive to the extremes of high or low, with little to offer in the middle. A 10” rise is quite high on me even though I’m 5’7”. I think my highest is 11” and you will not see me tucking a top into that. My favorite rises are about 9” which rests just under my navel.

2 years ago

Liesbeth

Veteran

I would need to stop tucking and get used to different proportions again, but other than that I have no problem with low rises... I even secretly like lower back tattoos with them so I guess I have an unexpected side to my esthetics...
Then again I was a stick-figure teen when they were trending so I never had body issues with them. I do recall how free my belly felt :-D.

2 years ago

suzieq

Active Member

@Zaeobi: Thanks!
@Smittie: I have an hourglass body type but with a tummy from having 4 kids & a bum that easily fills out pants. Maybe that’s the difference?

2 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Good article. I read it when you posted the other day, but today I clicked through to the Jessica Simpson article. Poor thing, it made me feel really sorry for her, how cruel.
I think I only bought one pair of low-rise pants! In 2009, and it was the colour I was buying not the rise ( I wanted a particular camel colour). They did feel odd but were not low enough to show butt crack. I only wore them a few years before editing out. I didn’t tuck.
These days I find elastic waist pants and jeans ( only have one pair jeans) the most comfortable. They come up just above my navel. I don’t tuck.
Hopefully those millennials don’t feel forced into buying them again.

2 years ago

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