Thoughts on high-waisted , and boot cut jeans. Late to the party ;) - YouLookFab Forum

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Thoughts on high-waisted , and boot cut jeans. Late to the party ;)

Anonymous

I've been admittedly resistant to the high-waisted pant and jean trend. I tried a pair on sometime last year, and nearly died from embarrassment at how bad they looked. No, I didn't keep trying on different sizes and more styles and brands, because the jeans just felt awful and SO unflattering.

I appreciate how lovely they look on all of the young bloggers - but have really had a hard time wrapping my head around how someone with my body type (short waisted, larger breasts that sit far too low, and with a decidedly unflat stomach ) could possible wear these. Especially when a cropped or tucked top seems to the be the logical companion piece.

Then it started to become a key look/subject here on YLF and I've been feeling quite out-of-it. Fast forward to Friday's post about black highwaisted jeans , which prompted me to dig out my one pair of faded black wash CE Stiletto skinnies, that are now at least 3-4 years old. UGH. I didn't feel current and fresh in them at all, and the whole outfit just felt wrong. I was yanking the jeans up all day, and then fussing with the legs. Over it, done with them. Then ....the catalyst that sent me over the edge - this photo of Cindy Crawford in her long , higher waisted flares, looking (of course) like a million bucks. Elegant, current and not so try-hard trendy. This is how I want to look. And I'm headed out as soon as I have a free morning to shop and see if I can find a decent pair of higher-waisted, full length jeans. I usually move a lot quicker with changes in silhouettes, but this one had me stuck for far too long. The whole skinny jean over long top look seems decidedly unfresh - funny how that happens . I'm looking forward to experimenting to find MY version of this new look. Thanks Angie - sorry I took so long

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27 replies

Latest reply was from Mainelady

Ginger

Veteran

Well, that IS Cindy Crawford. I think a drastic change in silhouette can take the eye a really long time to adjust. I thought skinnies were absolutely appalling until about three years ago, no joke. And once my eye adjusted, I still didn't get it for me until I found a pair that fit me the way they needed to. Then it was awesome. It sounds like you're accepting the silhouette visually, so you just need to find the version that fits right on you!

Helena

Veteran

Similar process for me Lisa ... Except I'm short waisted with almost no boobs, so the effect is Ed Grimlyish on me! I can't wait to see where your experiment takes you; I'm going to be trying midrises, which on me look like a high rise! And I think there will always be a place for skinnies once boot season arrives ...

Katerina

Veteran

Lisa, I felt the same when the cropped trousers came to be the look. I thought I looked awful in them, they cut my legs off and showcased the part of my legs I didn’t want showcased. I thought I would never wear this, and actually I kept on wearing full length trousers. It took me really long time to adjust my eye to this look on me. Now I wear cropped lengths, but I still much prefer full length straight or flared trousers. Maybe some looks are just more you than others.

I have high waisted trousers, but since I normally don’t tuck tops, it is kind of irrelevant to me, I guess I am not going to look that current anyway. Probably, my eye will adjust and I will wear high rise with tucked or shorter tops eventually, will probably start when the trend will be on its way out, lol.

Fun you feel you want to make this look your own, I am sure you find a great pair and look fab as you always do.

Sal

Veteran

I think pants or jeans like that will suit you Lisa- I like the look too!!

There are some fashion trends that come so naturally aren't there -and others we resist. Sometimes we can find a way to make them work for us in the end, in our way. Midis and cropped pants come easy to me- but skinny jeans and tunics (seperately or together) have probably been my biggest fashion fails in the last ten years.

I think with higher waist either low contrast Or a jacket of some sort help those of us that are short waisted.

jussie

Veteran

I’ve seen people here in Melbourne wearing higher waisted pants with normal length untucked tees. It looks fine, a real-life interpretation of the trend.
As more people start wearing them I think we will start seeing them with untucked or at least very fluid tucked tops, or slouchy sweaters with just a little partial tuck. User friendly versions.
I personally hope slim pants stay “acceptable” to wear because I have 3 pairs that I LOVE and have tops that go really well with them.
If it makes you feel any better, I have never, not once worn or bought white sneakers or tennies. I refuse to embrace that trend. I also do not under any circumstances wear excercise tights, only normal track pants. Another trend I am utterly bored by and won’t touch. So.... we all have our “quirks” about certain trends lol.

karen13

Veteran

OK, that is how I want to look! But even la Cindy isn't tucking straight in (I'm telling myself there is a little extra fabric fold covering the top of the waistband).

I also have the larger bust/very short waist thing going on, plus I'm 5'2" and don't really wear heels. I'm watching and listening with interest, because I can't wear skinnies (calves are typically 2 size larger than my hips for pants, and you can't really let out calves or take in the hips that much). As a result, I'm so down with wider legs and bootcuts coming back, but not so much the high waist.

I am thinking about experimenting with much shorter untucked tops (not cropped as nothing is cropped on me, but high hip) and finding a higher - but not belly button - rise. My challenge is there isn't much difference length between belly button and high hip so... maybe a cami tucked in because I am not comfortable flashing bare stomach. And leaving no retail stone unturned, as this trend filters to mainstream I hope there will be many more less extreme options.

Gigi

Veteran

Yeah, high-waisted jeans are tricky. I've been experimenting with them here and there and might have finally found a pair. My first reaction was like yours--yuck, get these off right now! Now that there are more varieties of them in the stores, you have a better chance of finding one that is flattering.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I refuse to compare myself to Cindy Crawford wearing heels. Have not found the right pair of bootcuts yet, but I am ok with some high waists despite my short non-waist. Jeans are very particular and require and it takes me a lot of tries but after that they are worth it.

bj1111

Veteran

Ikwym about menopausal bellies and high rises. For now, I’ll stick to midrises pretending to be high rise. At some point, like you, a switch will flip for me too.

Jane

Veteran

Great photo of Cindy! I hope your shopping trip goes well - I would think it will help to have such a clear image in mind.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I understand how you feel about this look but I m sure that somewhere out there the right pair for you exists.Good luck in your hunt.

Gail

Veteran

I like the look but find it very impractical for the winter for me. I hate the stress of the PPL and being tied to wearing the right shoe , I prefer to wear with a small heel which further complicates matters. I guess I'm lazy as the skinny jean and a flat boot or shoe is so much simpler for my lifestyle. I'll have to make sure my top half is very current to counteract the bottom half lol.

Bijou

Veteran

I love Cindy's jeans - I love how they are uniform in colour, no contrived fading and the high waist is not too high. I think wearing a tucked in top with a jacket over it is a great look and does not require a flat stomach. You only see the little bit between the opening of the jacket, so even if I have a bit of a muffin situation happening, it is not on show.

gryffin

Veteran

Lisa - I can't remember if it was Kendall Farr or another fashion writer who wrote about finding a celebrity doppelganger. Pick someone with your body type and general aesthetic and then see how they style trends. On boot cuts particularly, she made me realize that midrise was pretty much high rise on me and more flattering. The goal is to "nod" to the trend but make it work completely for you. My high rise is 9-10" and matching belt to pants. My midrise is 8.5-9" again match belt to pants, lowish rise 8.5" match belt to top. It's about proportion and illusion. My "flares" might be boot cuts. You can honor a trend without being literal and making it more flattering for you. That's probably the best heart felt advice I took away from it. It also empowered me to stand back and say "no" I don't need to bend to a trend, it needs to bend to me. But since celebrities have a ton of bucks to hire stylists to make them look fab, if you can find one that is styling a trend you would like to wear, take careful note of the pieces and proportions and how they make it work for them.

kkards

Veteran

It’s funny how sometimes one thing works really well for one person and is a complete NO for another. I’m finding high rises to work well to conceal my post menopause belly
Love the Cindy Crawford look...great shilloute. Nice change and great balance of the high waist and wider bottom

RobinF

Veteran

I am not an early adopter of styles, my eye has to adjust first and then all of a sudden, I want to try it. I don't know if that will happen with high waisted jeans though because they are really hard to fit for my body. I think you could totally pull of Cindy's look.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Lisa, I don't think you need to apologize for knowing when a trend isn't the most flattering or appropriate for your body type. I am not a huge fan of the high rises either. I think that all that fabric between the crotch and waist is very unflattering, and draws attention to the belly in a way that doesn't really work for anyone. Sure the teens can get away with it, but flattering? not to my eye. I also hate seeing all that butt from the back! So wearing them with fully tucked in tops... neah.
Better with a full pant than a slim one though, as the proportions are better. Again, to my eye.

That being said, I do have a pair of higher rise boot cuts from a few years ago, that have always been a fav to wear. But I semi tuck at most, generally wear them with sweaters or jackets. Cindy looks great here, but I think a lot of that has to do with the fact she's wearing a jacket so the view of that area of her body is minimized. Plus it looks like her top is blousing over the pants a bit... or maybe they are more a mid to high rise?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Am I the only one who thinks that those jeans on Cindy look mid-rise and not particularly high? Well, I guess they'd be high on me. The funny thing is, I could put very nearly that exact outfit together with what's in my closet, a few times over. This silhouette (minus the tucked top) is right in my wheelhouse, so considering how many light years removed from supermodel build I am, I don't think this is hard to wear at all. It's actually quite classic and flattering, IMHO.

I am wearing a couple of higher rises these days because, well, that's what's available, but I don't need to tuck my tops to wear them. When I try it, it looks all wrong, so I'm not tucking just for the sake of trend when I know it looks bad on me.

Good luck with your shopping, and don't get discouraged -- remember, YOU boss the clothes around and decide how they will be worn. Not photos of someone else, or stylists, or fashion blogs, or magazines.

Anonymous

Janet - yes, her jeans don't look particularly high rised, and it was the bootcut/flare that really caught my eye. I figure if Cindy is wearing them, then I can too (in terms of them looking current) I haven't worn a bootcut jean in years, and I mean about 10 . I think you're a little taller than me, and also wear more fitted tops - which is how you make the look work so well. I used to have a closet full of leather and suede jackets like that, as well as a good selection of interesting tops - but not anymore. Her look is bringing me back to how I used to dress years ago. And I like it!

Elizabeth P - I agree with everything you said, plus the fact that her jeans aren't necessarily super high waisted. I'm beginning to realize I didn't articulate my thoughts very well and used a confusing photo. I'm not looking to wear a mom-jean high waisted pant, but something newer than my usual skinnies . You're right, it's also the leg volume that helps make the look.

Shevia - I am certainly not comparing myself to Cindy , rather I'm loving her look and finding it relatable. I have always seen bootcuts and flared jeans as too conservative and non-fashiony - for me - and never liked the feel of fabric flapping around my ankles. I have yet to see anyone here wearing them in a current and stylish way. Yet - here is Ms Cindy, wearing them and looking so elegant, so I figure I might be able to as well !

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm really happy to see this kind of look being perceived as "current" -- I'm glad if I can help bring it back! If it would just freaking cool off enough here to wear a jacket...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sooo fun to hear you try the look, Lisa p.

Agree that these silhouettes are FRESH, and Janet has been rocking them forever. I can see you rock it too. Elegant. Try boots instead of sandals.

Big and long over skinny is sooooo practical. It will never leave fashion. But I'm bored with it as the only proportions in fashion. I like the changes we are seeing. Personally, I'm milking it as an older blogger

To your point, the higher rise can be very tricky. It takes a while to find a suitable style that is comfy. Mid-rise can be your high rise. Relax into the change and enjoy it.

Anonymous

I like that photo! And especially like how we 'entertain' a version of a new look that works for our bodies and how we will wear outfits. Enjoy the hunt, explore it all, and please share whatever works for you. I join you on this hunt. I know when I've found my sweet spot; it takes time to discover it.

LaPed

Veteran

What's easy for one person is hard for another. And what's mid-rise for one person is high-rise for another, and low-rise for yet another.

I feel like a broken record, but I am *so* excited that rises have gotten higher and legs have gotten wider. I was lost at sea for the ten years when skinnies completely dominated the market -- just very hard for me to wear due to body type. I've never felt fab in a skinny leg or a low rise. Now I will buy all the pants.

Cindy's moto is really lovely. I don't think this outfit would be nearly as exciting without the movement and fluidity it provides and the way it defines the colour palette (and contrasts her hair and skin tone). I too need the non-heeled version of this inspo pic. Also, clutch in one hand and two shopping bags in the other? I would go insane not having a hand free!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That moto is really lovely on her...and of course when your legs are already miles long, they even look longer in flares and heels! I agree that it makes a nice change from same old same old skinnies. Though once the rains and snows begin....back to skinnies it is, for me at least!

A semi-tuck disguises a multitude of issues, truly.

karen13

Veteran

Last night, I tried on all my pants that fit and measured the rises. Interesting experiment. I am in gryffin's camp on rises. 8.5-9" is a comfy midrise, lower feels awkward. 10" is my sole high-rise - any higher and I'm in Ed Grimley territory. So I figured out I need to find a 22" top to be at high hip.

shiny

Veteran

Anything lower than 8.5" on me is decidedly low rise, and will have trouble not sliding right off my hip bone. I also think this rise makes my legs look stubby and my upper body too long (necessitating heels to balance out proportions). Oh, and my belly hangs right over like a guy! 9" is mid rise for me nowadays-- hits just below belly button, but can create muffin top unless in a stretchy ponte knit. 10" is just perfect. Hits at belly button. Locks everything in nice and neat. No muffin top! Super comfortable!

11" -- gets into an "it depends" and "maybe" zone for me. I do have one pair of linen pants that have a rise this high. They fit kind of like paper waist pants on me.

My frustration is that there's no standard from brand to brand about definitions of low, mid and high rises. Some brands call 10" mid-rise these days, some call 9" high rise. Drives me mad, especially since many brands keep the rise the same regardless of garment size. (Jcrew for example).

Mainelady

Veteran

My body likes a higher rise, because it supports my most challenging area. After 4 abdominal surgeries, my stomach muscles have taken a hit and no matter what my weight, my tummy needs support and camouflage. A higher rise really helps, but if it is too high it doesn’t.
Bootcuts have been my friends for years. I am very happy to see them getting some love from the fashion savvy.