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Low rises out?

K.M.

Veteran

I never thought this day would come... when I first joined YLF in 2013 I listed high-waisted rises as a pet peeve and something I never wore. Then in the last couple of years I warmed up to the look and even added a few to my closet. Then a few days ago I tried on a low-waist pair of pants and realized I just developed poison eye for it!!!! :O

And I'm not talking about the ultra-low rise of the mid-naughts. This is a reasonable low rise, just short of mid.

Are low rises on their way to the fashion black list, just as high rises were over a decade ago? Do I need to toss 90% of my pants and skirts? Or is there hope and I just need to tame my poison eye???

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am hoping that a variety of rise continue to be available. I have a short rise and simply find the truly high rises ridiculous on me (I think I tried on a 12" rise and laughed and laughed). Our bodies vary so much -- what is mid rise on me might be ridiculously low on someone else. I think you need to trust your own eye for how a fit works on your body, and whether it feels comfortable to you.

Joy

Veteran

Well put, Janet. I was going to toss my low rises and replace with high, but am finding it hard to find a good, comfortable fit. Midrise may be a good compromise.

always trying

Veteran

Janet put it very well..It all depends on what fits you and looks best on you. I do, however, think the very low rise is out-never see the really low any more. This is a good thing! High rise depends on the fit. I find some are too high, or the waist doesn't fit well. With high rise and wider leg fit is becoming a Big issue. But there seems to be a lot of choices around, so buying pants and jeans is going to require a lot of hit and miss these days.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Low rises are one of the few things that look dated to me K.M., when they are visible of course. If you cover them up with a top - no one will know.

VERY high rises are for those with long rises and torsos. A mid-rise can be your high rise. I have a regular length torso, but a short rise. A 10.5 inch rise is high on me. That's my limit.

To answer your question, I don't see low rises in the trends. Mid rises - YES.

Diana

Veteran

I'm still mostly sticking to medium and what I think these days would be called low rises. 8-9" is my sweet spot. I have a regular length rise but very short waist so the high rises look and feel ridiculous on me. They are actually extremely uncomfortable, because when I sit down they feel like they are crushing my ribs and internal organs. (I don't like to wear belts cinched tightly around my natural waist either for this reason.)

As Angie says, though, I usually wear my lower rises untucked. I also don't like full tucking because of the short waist thing, so it all works out fine for me.

I have to say that the preponderance of high rise styles right now has been helping me immensely in my unofficial shopping ban right now. Now if only the same thing could be said for shoes.

LaPed

Veteran

I agree that low rises are definitely not trending right now (and I'm rejoicing, because low rises don't work very well for me). But if a lower rise is flattering and comfortable, I think you can still find ways to wear them and "own the look" so to speak. I've always had a couple pairs of vintage 80s/90s jeans in my wardrobe, even when everyone else was in low rises, because they made me feel good about myself. There's something to be said for a dose of contrarianism in personal style.

I have one pair of low-ish rise pants left in my closet (probably about 8.5" or maybe almost 9") and they're one of my favorite pants of all time because they fit remarkably well and the fabric and colour are yummy. They sit right at my hips in a slouchy sort of way, and they're boyfriend chinos, so the lower rise makes sense. I have certain tops that are a bit too boxy and cropped to wear with them, but it would never cross my mind to get rid of them!!

K.M.

Veteran

Janet, Joy, and always trying, you are right about body type and fit. I have a long torso, so low rises do look low on me. Mid rises look mid (and fall below belly button). High rises look just right which may be the reason I'm loving them so much now. I just didn't want to throw away most of my clothes!!!

Angie, yes, I looked in the mirror and felt very dated! I will try to cover them strategically so I can keep wearing my bottoms (even though I've been enjoying tucking so much).

I haven't measure the rises that look good on me, but I do have a couple of bottoms billed as very high-waisted and I find that they look very nice on my body.

Diana, I do agree on the comfort issue. Even though I have a long torso, I still find low rises more comfortable. The high rises press around my waist and give me heartburn. They also seem to diminish my bladder capacity!!! (No accidents I just have to go more often) I think after two decades of low rises, my body is just not used to all the compression (I don't wear Spanx). But back in the 80s I wore those wasp waists with no issues. I guess that's called being a teenager!

Below are pics of pants and what they look like on me.

Pic 1 are jeans sold as "low rise."

Pic 2 are jeans sold as "mid rise" (look low on me).

Pics 3, 4, 5 are cords sold as "high rise." (My current favorite pants!)

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My favorite of those pix is #2. I think it shows off your waist best. But I really hope we continue to have many different lengths of rise available to us, for our many different bodies.

K.M.

Veteran

La Pedestrienne, yay! for contrarianism in personal style! It's a good reminder!

FashIntern, I hope we can still have a choice of rises because I do like all three pants in the pics above. I'm loving the looks of the high-rise cords but the comfiest one is the low-rise pair in pic 1...

SarahD8

Veteran

I wish that retailers would market pants by giving rise *measurements* rather than low/mid/high descriptors, because rise fit really is so individual. It drives me batty that retailer websites almost always include inseam measurements but not rises. (It also drives me batty that for many mid-range retailers these days the rise measurements seem to be the same for their petite lines as for their straight sizes.)

I am petite (5'3" on a tall day) with a short torso and a short rise. A 7" rise gives similar proportions on my body as your photo #3, K.M. I know that sounds bizarre! But it's not just me. I was reassured when a friend commented that when she saw my favorite pair of jeans on their own the rise looked ridiculously low but when I put them on they looked just right.

I never tuck my tops, so this is mostly about comfort for me. But yeah, I'm with Diana in not buying pants these days! Honestly, I don't even bother trying much of anything on. Thank goodness for shoes!

elpgal

Veteran

All 3 look good on you, just different looks.

Diana and Sarah, I am in your camp. 5' 3" and 8.5 is the highest rise I can tolerate. It is not aesthetics just a body shape/physical discomfort issue. Needless to say, I am not shopping for bottoms much. Ann Taylor used to have tolerable rises in their petite line (especially with their Modern/Classic pant classification) but not anymore. My best bet has been denim from premium brands and J. Crew.

Janet, It might amuse you to know that based on your thread, I snagged a pair of Rich and Skinny houndstooth jeans which advertise a low rise. I hope they work for me.

Anonymous

I've never feel more decidedly out of it fashion -wise than right now . But I have to remind myself that what we see here on the forum doesn't always represent many women's reality. The rise issue? Yes, low rises are definitely not in anymore, but that ultra low rise look hasn't been around for quite a few years now anyways. The higher-rise, mom jean silhouette hardly makes an impact in my part of the country .....unless you are a millennial , and work in retail. Even wider leg pants and cropped sweaters are not necessarily everywhere. YLF is usually ahead of the game with regards to trends, which is great, but it often skews my perspective, if that makes any sense at all. Maybe I'm just musing aloud about something personal that doesn't' answer your question

bj1111

Veteran

if i have to wax, it's too low and i've gotten rid of them already.

mid rise is my "high-rise" jam, especially old navy rockstar mid rise skinnies.

Christina F.

Veteran

I too am someone with a very short waist, and medium rises are what I wear and also what fit me best. Low rise creates muffin top, and high rise is just waaay to uncomfortable, plus some of them hit right under my chest. I don't think that look is in for anyone!

I am experimenting with looking a little more current, since i live in NYC and my eye accordingly adjusts to new styles quickly. But I'm doing so by making the mid-rises I always wear more visible with tucking, shorter tops, etc. I can also seek out the different shapes and hem details that are current.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

SarahD8, you have a very short rise if 7 inches is close to high rise on you. Good for noting that, and understanding what looks best and makes you feel fab.

K.M., thanks for the pics. #3 is the on trend high rise look - good thing they are faves

#1 and #2 don't look dated to me. PLENTY of people walking around with rises like that who look just fine - not fashionable but JCE (just current enough). But your eye will adjust once you get into higher rises. Then lower rises begin to feel off.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Definitely worth noting that rises are less important -- and less visible to the onlooker -- if you're like me and pretty much never tuck tops. Ironically, I'm more inclined to tuck tops into *lower* rises of jeans because my torso is so short that it give a little extra length to it to show the waistband of lower rise pants.

SarahD8

Veteran

Angie Ok I have to fact-check myself! 7" is more of a mid-rise look. 8" is definitely high-rise. Part of the issue is that my torso is so short that there's just not much room for experimentation. So yes, I will stick to what works with pants...and have fun with shoes!

K.M. I agree with Angie re: your photos -- all of them look perfectly fine to me, it's a matter of what look you want to create on any given day!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I just decided to measure the 3 pairs of jeans I am keeping ( I am editing out one pair which is a navy wash, the others are darker). All mine are 11 inches and come a bit above my belly-button. Since I don't tuck I guess it's a moot point what rise they are but I suppose they must be high? They were chosen for comfort as well as style.

jussie

Veteran

Wow you’re a lucky person.... because all three rise lengths look brilliant on you. I think the low rise is fine because your outfit overall is reasonably current. I also agree with La Ped... true style is about being a little bit contrary!! No need to be a “follower”.

Anonymous

I agree with jussie! Never really thought about my pants rises that much, aside from when the really low ones were trending, since im not a tucker. I wore them then but avoid now since they feel precarious on my curvy hips, and dislike wearing belts. But should measure mine for comparison/ helpful shopping data!

Staysfit

Veteran

The pictures are so helpful! I like all three rises on you, which speaks to how well they fit. You look good in Jean style pants in general.

My body has a high rise, my torso is only a little long, not very, and my legs are proportionally short. I mostly wear tops untucked. If I tuck, I think a semi looks best, but some tops aren’t long enough because of my torso length. Also, I need to be mindful of who I am around. It’s funny how many people still don’t understand the semi tuck! Before I stray too far.....10 and 11 inch rises sold as “high rise” jeans look like your mid rise version when I wear them. I need at least a 12 inch rise to get the effect of the third pair. 9 inches look like low rise jeans on me, but are often labeled as mid rise among the brands I purchase from.

I find that my rear view looks best in an 9.75-12 inch rise. For whatever reason, that mid to high rise suits me best. It also feels best when I wear it because the lower rises require a belt or they start to slip down in back as the day goes on. I notice you belted your low rise jeans, is that the reason? I find slippage occurs regardless of the amount of elastane in the material. I hate tugging up my jeans. I am reminded of all the gangster wanna be boys in school with their jeans hanging down to their knees! (Truly not that bad, but I worry my Hanky Panky’s might Show! ).

anne

Veteran

Staysfit me too! Need at least 12 for a true high rise. I only have one and it's wearing out.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I have lost faith/hope with the mid rise. Most of my old ones feel SO uncomfortable to me now that I’ve gotten used to high rises. Like they are simultaneously too tight (creating muffin top) and falling off.

Haven’t quite forced myself to donate all of them yet though.

kkards

Veteran

i never wear a "true low rise" as that would have been indecent on me...my low rises were a lower mid rise...and even some high rises look mid rise on me....but that being said, i've move to higher rises, as they well fresher to me....
SarahD8...many websites give the actual rise in the product description, its a little work to get the info, but its there...(see example for Nordie's below).

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Dana

(website)

Veteran

K.M. You have a great figure and look fab in all of the rises! I feel like mid-rise is perfectly fashionable and high rise is a bit more fashion forward. I'm in the short torso and rise camp, so mid rise is more comfy for me. I say go with what your gut is telling you to wear, (unintended pun, lol) but I sure wouldn't get rid of all of my pants if I were you--seems like a fickle area in terms of fashion. It could get expensive!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I agree with Dana that you look amazing in all the rises. I wouldn't get rid of them. The trouble with your "poison eye" is if it stops you wearing them altogether. Otherwise you may find they just drop down the favoured list a bit and over time you will decide if they are worth keeping. Comfort is so important, to me anyway. Once I'm into my work day I'm just wearing the clothes and not fussing pulling at them.