So many variations in body type! This is cool, since I always assumed the natural waist was above the belly button, but this shows it's not true

My natural waist is approx 2 in above my belly button. I like my waistband to hit approx 3 in below my navel. I used to think I needed a mid-high rise, but I think a lower rise is more flattering on me

I bat for Team Low Rise Jeans all the way. Dress pants I wear a little higher - because it's more - well - dressy. Skirts I like on my natural waist so that they don't shift around.

Who'd have thought that a conversation about waistbands could be so fascinating?

My belly button is about two inches below the narrowest part of me.

As regards rise, this may be a stupid question...but does the rise measurement of a pant or jean stay the same from size to size, or does it increase as the sizes of a jean get bigger?

I consider my high hip where the hipbone starts my preferred waist for jeans. I have to pick something and at least this is pretty stable!

Gigi, that's not at all a stupid question. We all know by now that bra cup size gets bigger and bigger based on band size, so why not the rise on jeans? I don't think rise does change much, though, because they often give the rise measurement in the garment description and they don't say that it varies with sizing.

Also everyone who's posting on this thread is giving approximately the same range of rises (9" seems to be typical) and I'm sure we're not all the same size.

When the websites mention the length of the rise, they generally state the size for which it was measured. I believe the rise varies according to the size, but maybe not by much.

The rise does vary by size, but not dramatically. That's why vendors are apt to just say "high" or "mid" or "low" and not provide measurements, which drives me nuts. Especially because it's totally changed over time!! It used to be (when I first joined YLF) high rise meant 8.5-9 inches. Now that is a MID rise, and high rise is more like 10 inches. So confusing!

It's not just the rise that is important in the grand scheme of things. We could start a similar thread on back rises. I'm sure we're all very different there too! My best jeans have a back rise identical, or close, to front rise.

Waistband contour is just as important.

Then there's the thighs. Not just outer but inner. My outer thighs are non-existent but I have inner thighs, which I swear pull jeans down and do all sorts of weird fussy stuff to the fit. I was born pigeon toed and had braces to correct it and all that... so my hips and thighs are kind of wonky... but I have noticed that the way they place the seams on the thighs makes a huge fit difference. It's the little things.

It's a miracle any of us find jeans that work! But thank goodness for so many options.

Hi April!

I like a variety of rises, for different silhouettes.

In the past year, I have discovered tucking again, along with faux and semi tucks, too. I also have noticed my weight distribution shifting higher, and I find that higher, broader waists give me the "locked and loaded" effect Shiny mentioned, and I value that. Also, as a size 14, I find really low rises out of the question.

I'm eyeing higher rises in soft, even pleated, trousers with new interest, and I like my skirts, particularly fuller ones, a little higher with a wider waist band, for more comfort and a nice bit of structure in the midsection.

I prefer low rise for jeans, and higher rise for flat-fronted skirts. I discovered as a teenager that wearing high-rise jeans makes my waist look like it's up by my armpits. My torso is proportional to my height, but the narrowest bit is high up, so high-waisted jeans make my torso look non-existent! Not a good look. Also, for reasons I don't fully understand, I can wear a really low rise (7") and not have issues with plumber's crack. Furthermore, I can't stand the flies/zip rubbing against my belly. With low rise jeans, it sits across my hips and is much more comfortable.

I'm thinking that what's comfortable has a lot to do with body shape, because lots of other gals here are saying the exact opposite about low rise jeans. Skirts can be much higher rise on me because they lie flat against my belly. The non-existent torso issue I have with high-rise jeans does not apply to skirts because I overlap the top and make sure it ends around my hips. Because of the flat front of the skirt, this looks fine. I do have one skirt that has jean detailing and a front zip. That one I wear lower on my hips like jeans, and semi-tuck a top.

One more point: a lower rise means that the jeans waistband sits across your hips. This makes a horizontal line, which adds visual width to the hips. For a slim rectangle, this is ideal. Adding visual width to the hips makes my waist appear narrower, and emphasizes straight limbs. My guess is that a pretty pear would look better (and feel more comfortable) in a higher rise, since balancing a pear figure normally involves adding detail/volume to the top half, and sleekness to the hip area. I'm not sure about hourglass etc.

I used to be able to wear my pants hanging off my hips and loved that best of all, but now that I have less waist definition, I prefer something that girdles a little without cutting off circulation. So a mid-rise of 9 inches or so is generally my favorite - that lands below the belly button and keeps muffin at bay.

I like a skirt on my natural waist and my jeans about 2" below my navel. I think I have quite a high waist and my hip bones are very high up near my ribs, so not much room between. I have to have quite a high rise jean as lower rise ones have no hip bones to 'hang' off and coupled with a flat butt, they keep falling down!

I prefer low rise pants as well.
When my two teens left the house I found I had inherited a pile of pants that were low risers and Extremely low risers.
At first I was hesitant to wear them but I realize now that they are exactly what I needed.
With larger breasts that tend to "hang" from breast feeding for umpteen years AND being short waisted.. I had no space between. With the low risers... especially REALLY low ( which incidentally I have to watch as I am not sure whether it is age appropriate or not ) at LAST ! Space ! I look like I have a waist - a silhouette and not all legs and boobs.