A recent e-mail from ShopBop and Neiman Marcus set off a firestorm of e-mails between myself and my friends. The topic of these e-mails centered around what seems to be the new trend of high waist jeans and whether we liked the trend or not. When I say high waist jeans I mean the super high rise jeans that come way up past the belly button, not the mid-rise jeans that are just a tad higher than the super low rise jeans, see the pictures below.
The reviews were mixed among my friends, some like the look and some hate it. I lean towards the “hate it” side. I think they are hideous and unflattering on everyone including the anorexic models they are putting them on in an attempt to sell them to the general public.
I know that fashion is a swinging pendulum and the designers like to go from one extreme to another and these high rise jeans are just the designers rebelling against the super low jeans we have been sporting. But seriously, these jeans will just be doing a dis-service to the general public, fooling women into thinking they will look good in them and also traumatizing us by having to look at them. I am afraid these new high waist jeans if not worn properly will spawn the dreaded and disgusted camel toe, something we should all avoid at all costs! Plus, they make your bottom look a mile long and who wants a mile long bottom!
Fashion is not always pretty and my advice to you this season is to stick with your low to mid rise jeans and let the models on the runway wear the high waist jeans. What do you think? Will you wear them? Please leave me a comment with your thoughts on the high waist jean look. I have also just written a post about jumpsuits and want to know what you think about them, let me know what you think by clicking here.
New Addition 2/3/2009:
There has been much debate in the comments about High Waist Jeans and I must say that these picture should put an end to the debate, high waist jeans should just not be worn! I am not saying anything about Jessica Simpson’s weight, I don’t care what size she is, but those jeans are just horrible and should not be worn no matter what size you are. Clothes should flatter you, not just abide by trends.
64 Comments
January 24, 2008 at 2:25 am
I am with you …High waisted jeans are horrible! I don’t think they flatter anyone.
January 24, 2008 at 6:48 am
if they look that awful on people with perfect, amazing bodies, what will they look like on ordinary people?
i am no so much a fan.
January 24, 2008 at 7:24 am
Yuk! Flashbacks to my childhood. Now all I need are some striped toe socks…
January 24, 2008 at 8:01 am
As a male who generally thinks more clothing on women is a good thing, I have to say those are particularly repulsive, some middle ground between showing your butt and almost negating the need for a shirt would be nice…
January 24, 2008 at 10:57 am
i think certain styles of the pants look ok on certain body types.
but that tends to be the case with everything that is “stylish.” certain people can pull it off (i.e., audrey hepburn in skinny pants) and others shouldn’t try (the olsen twins in trapeze dresses.)
January 24, 2008 at 2:54 pm
They make these in a water-proof verison, they are called “waders”, fishermen wear them.
January 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Two words…. Mom Jeans. Please enjoy this piece from SNL that explains why I don’t care for this style of jeans.
January 24, 2008 at 3:19 pm
The You Tube video posted by Allie is so funny and worth checking out! It will make you laugh!
January 24, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Very interesting discussion. I would say that everything in fashion depends on the cut, the fabric and the body wearing them. As a short person, I would wear them because they elongate the leg, as shown in the first photo you have from NM. The other photos in your post today? Ugh, ugh, ugh!
January 24, 2008 at 3:45 pm
The fashion world only has to promote them for long enough with celebs & models wearing them, then like the usual flock of mindless sheep that are overly concerned with what everyone thinks of what they wear, the multitudes will follow….. Like the young ones that wear their boxer shorts sticking out the top of their trousers & think it’s cool.
Doesn’t matter what a fashion looks like, good or disgusting, the fashion concious will wear it so as not to be uncool. Give it time & they will be everywhere.
January 24, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Is it just me, or does Jessica Simpson look like a fat midget on stilts?
January 24, 2008 at 9:10 pm
That is a good way to describe how Jessica Simpson looks in her high waist jeans!
January 24, 2008 at 9:19 pm
i read somewhere that higher rise pants are another option for those women who realized they had a muffin top.
but these are just way too far.
and JGS, i agree with you!
January 24, 2008 at 9:45 pm
it’s just the seventies all over again. seriously can we not come up with our own generations style? really i only think the purple ones (on Fergie?) are even remotely flattering, but they’re skinny and on Fergie!! and all the other ones TOTALLY look like mom jeans. ugh.
January 24, 2008 at 11:02 pm
they dont look that comfortable either…
January 25, 2008 at 2:58 am
Oh, come on. I’ve been waiting for the days they would go back to the /normal/ waisted jeans of about five years ago. You know, the kind where they’re not low rise, or mid cut, or shallow crotch or whatever they are these days. No, I’m talking about jeans that are at your waist. Plain, simple ol’ jeans. I think they look the best on the widest range of people, and I miss them; you can’t find them outside of salvation army.
No: http://www.piercemattie.com/fashionprdivision/low_cut_waist_jeans.jpg
Good!: http://serafinablog.com/petitefashion/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/gorgeous_fit_back.png
Too far!: http://www.dailydenim.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/cheapmonday.jpg
January 25, 2008 at 3:13 am
Bleh…one of the few fashions from the 80s that can STAY in the 80s.
January 25, 2008 at 4:32 am
Ugly, wretched aspect of “retro”… Did someone say “Kitty” from “That 70’s show”?
January 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Note that they show no pictures of models sitting down. That’s why low-rise jeans are nice–they look normal while standing and don’t damage internal organs while sitting. You can’t have something that high-waisted that a) doesn’t look really stupid, b) fits, and c) doesn’t hurt if you’re not standing in exactly one pose.
January 26, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Oh dear Lord, no!
I remember these things from grade school. Even as a flat-chested twig these pants look awful. Reciently, my mom fount a pair lurking in the back of some storage in her closet and told me I HAD to see if they fit… they did and oh yeah, I couldn’t breathe. So if you’re going on an O2-starvation-diet to decrese brain cell activity to match Ms. Simpson up there, go get a pair! Ugh.
January 27, 2008 at 3:15 am
I had been waiting for this old fashion jeans to come back. It’s so disgusting to see women with low-waisted jeans showing their so unflattering butt cracks. I disagree with those calling it “old grandma pants”, it depends who wears it and how you carry yourself. These jeans are a lot more decent than the low waist ones that ruined the fashioned industry after the 80’s.
January 27, 2008 at 4:15 am
Personally, as a girl who loves fashion. I think they are very cute and stylish. Everyone just wears the same old low jeans and these ad variety to your jean drawer!! I wear them and get tons of compliments. I love my high waist skinnys.
January 27, 2008 at 4:42 am
Wait till this trend hits Target and Wal-Mart, and then trickles down to the ten-year olds! We’re in trouble.
I won’t wear them ever. That’s a promise. They look like sailor pants. But you bring up a good point – we have to look at others wearing them.
January 27, 2008 at 5:23 pm
The really terrible thing that occurs with these pants is not cameltoe…it is the phenomenon known as ‘Front-Butt’! My work uniform over the summer included a pair of pants in this style, and I couldn’t bend at the waist at all, not to mention the mysterious materialization of a paunch at the front of your pants doing a good imitation of your butt, which has now elongated to at least a mile on the back.
January 27, 2008 at 10:42 pm
It is good to see that there a few people who like the trend, I was beginning to worry that all the stores would be stuck with them and as a former retailer it is never good to be stuck with merchandise that no one will buy even at 75% off. However, I think overall this trend will not catch on and be super popular.
January 28, 2008 at 1:42 am
The biggest problem is that the ratio of big sized women are higher than those who have nice figures in which they can flaunt themselves wearing the high-waisted jeans. So what ends up with these heavy set women is wear low rise jeans and see all those overhanging “thing” in the middle. It is a complete eye sore. Just because everybody sees that low rise is most welcome in fashion, they didn’t realize that it is unflattering to a higher percentage of women wearing it. Actually, the normal waist jeans is the best. I agree with Zeke and Natalie, normal waist is the best.
January 28, 2008 at 2:22 am
Gosh no, those things look horrid! If the thinnest high models can’t make them look lovely, then what chance do the common folk have?
A frightening thought: with the pendulum swung to this far of an extreme, it’s sure to leave scars; what if it inspires humongous buttocks to come back into fashion?
January 28, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I can’t help but smile at these people arguing about their point of views. We have different opinions, various outlook in fashion. I would say, it is going to be a perpetual discussion defending each and everyone’s ideas and how they perceive the jeans fashion. We can’t say I like this better since not everybody will agree with you. I think it is important to respect the opinion of others. We are all entitled to that. Ms. Clotheshorse had been very generous to host this topic. And it is very surprising indeed, to find out how many different views we all have. What I can say to all women is that whatever will look good on you, whatever is comfortable for you— wear it. We are not following certain rules here, it’s your body, you pick your clothes, your own style and that’s freedom.
January 28, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I like the high waist jeans. I don’t think they’re for everyone, but really – what style is? Paired with the right blouse and some stilettos, these are perfect for work or a casual evening out.
February 1, 2008 at 6:23 am
BOTTOM LINE: Do U! I bought a pair of super high waisted sailor pants and looked heavenly. Whatever u wear just rock them well.
Christine, I understand your point about the trend finding its way to 10 year little girls; especially when I just heard that there are thongs for lil girls; however, parents have the discretion to buy or not to buy.
Ladies, wear what makes you feel beautiful; high waisted or not!
February 5, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I think the look is cute & chic. I was tired of just the lowriders. At first I too was anti-high waist, but than I stumbled upon http://www.asos.com/Woman/Jeans/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=3630.
And whola! I fell in love with pair of Ditto’s jeans. Im going to wear them with a strapless bodysuit and cork wedges. I think its how & what u wear them with. I can def see this catching on.
February 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm
There is a very specific body type, style of pant, and pieces to go with it that I think this cut works with. It is not the most versatile cut. I really don’t think high waist work on jeans. They would work much better with trousers than jeans, because the purpose of the high waist is to play with proportions. A dressier, heavier material doesn’t make you look sloppy or slouchy.
The pants are meant to nip in your waist (for you already skinny people) and get wider as the leg goes down. The wide leg of the pants provides a contrast for the type of form-fitting top you should pair with it. The bigger volume of the pants makes the rest of you look smaller, a result similar to that of a form-fitting top worn with an A-line skirt.
There are circumstances where this style works, but I think Jessica Simpson was the least successful of the examples you gave.
February 17, 2008 at 5:41 pm
This is the same debate I listened to in 1991. And I think I have a solution to everyone’s concerns. Clothing designers should make waistlines actually sit ‘on the waist’! Not 6inches above it, or 6inches below it! Let’s face it, super low waist jeans look great if you’re 5′1″ with a 21 inch waist and 32 inch hips. If you have a tummy, they look gross. And honestly I don’t want to look at the crack of your asses anymore! If you’re tall, you end up spending all your time pulling your jeans up. And the same for high waisted jeans, if you’re 5′10″ and all legs they look fantastic. If you’re petite they look like a diaper. If designers actually fit jeans to the waist, you can still show off your ‘tramp stamps’, but conceal the pouch. In 20 years I’ve watched jeans go from just below the boobs, to just below the pubes. There has to be some happy medium. I assure the world would rejoice, at least for another ten years.
February 17, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I totally agree with you Staci! My favorite jean rise is the mid-rise, not too high, not too low and it looks good on everyone! I think too many designers spend their days surrounded by anorexic stick thin models and they forget that most women don’t look like that and they should concentrate on clothes that make women look good!
February 26, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Actually I am a 5′10″, all legs, stick thin model! Hahahahaha but I wanted to give some props to all the petite girls out there! Doesn’t matter anyway, I have to have all my clothes altered. However, I still stand by what I said, on the waist, not above or below. I can’t take low waisted jeans anymore!! I end up ripping the damn belt loops off from pulling them up all the time. And the high waist jeans that are being shown right now make me gag. Ok, one more observation: What are the chances of labeling women’s jean sizes like they do for men? I’m a size 4-5, I have to try on every pair of jeans and still end up returning 60% of them because they’re floods on me. (Floods! Am I dating myself or what?) Men’s jeans are sized correctly, 30-34 or what have you. This just makes sense to me. Waist+length= proper fit! Can someone please put me in touch with the god’s of fashion?? PLEASE???
February 26, 2008 at 10:00 pm
lyk omg, they are all hideous except for the ones that Fergie is wearing, the purple ones. she’s really pulling it off & knows what suits her body type, unlike the others. i mean Jessica, we all love you, but WHAT WERE U THINKING? i love the high waist, skinny jeans look. it all depends on your body type, but they usually look good on anyone if the jeans are skinny from top to bottom. high waists with flares or boot cut are horrible-looking. a good place to purchase them is at Wet Seal
August 23, 2008 at 5:15 am
They look great with heeled boots and blouse on a good feminine figure. Model types who have shapes of a skating board shouldn’t bother.
I’m getting compliments non-stop ever since I got it last year in Europe.
August 23, 2008 at 6:46 am
Personally I LOVE high waisted jeans, and you can bet my skinny ass I’m gonna keep wearing them. But I really am sorry you girls don’t know how to diet : (
August 25, 2008 at 2:07 am
Ugh, I hate high waisted jeans. I’m going to keep wearing my super low rise jeans. I have a flat stomach, and high waisted jeans make me look fat. Yuck.
August 28, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I think they are sexy. Especially for women of color w/ lots of curves. Also for those who have a belly and fight to find the perfect fit jean w/o having a muffin top. Now that’s nasty! We cant buy a jean that will fit our waist b/c it wont fit our hips and azz. We cant buy those low rise jeans b/c of the muffin top! This was the perfect invention.
September 18, 2008 at 4:39 am
i think there kinda sexy…. im gonna go buy a pair.
September 21, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Middle age to older women cannot wear low-rise jeans, what gives here. I like waist high, who wants to see a big belly hanging over the jeans. There are a lot of young fat women who look ridiculous in low rise jeans also.
September 21, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I absolutley LOVE THEM, no matter what body type you are they will give you a slim body and a long legs look, so sexy compared to the dumpy low rise that makes everyone look like they have a long body and no legs, with those tummys, love handles and butt cracks hanging out! Ugh! These high waist jeans are simply fab!
September 23, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Ditto Jeans are back! I saw on hautelook.com that they are having a sample sale for the new collection tomorrow! I can’t wait. I’m going to buy a pair in every color. This site has the greatest deals.
September 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I love hearing everyones comments, please keep them coming!
September 29, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Ha, I wrote a post about this the other day:
http://parentheticalthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/high-waisted-horrors/
I think it’s all about moderation when it comes to pant rises. Not *too* high (i.e. not above the navel) not too low (barely covering the assets).
October 6, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I think the high waist pants are great for anyone who has any kind of weight on them, especially in the area of the “love handles”. The mid-rise and low-rise force fat rolls over the waistline of the jeans, therefore leaving an unattractive look of “rolls”! There are plenty of long tops around with lots of style to cover up the height of the waistline of the jeans. I think if you wear the appropriate size, there would be no camel toe. So, while they not be loved by the “skinnies”, they are loved by the “normal/average” woman. I am 5′8″ and weigh 165 Lbs.. I am not drastically overweight, but I am 50 yrs old and no longer have a 20+ yr old shape. Even some young girls today look ridiculous with all the rolls hanging over their low cut jeans.
October 30, 2008 at 4:16 am
It’s funny because ALL the negative comments above are the same thing everyone said when LOW RISE jeans were first introduced… it will just be a matter of time before everyone is wearing high rise waists again.
November 1, 2008 at 1:01 am
i LOVE high waisted pants shorts and skirts… its a matter of who weras it and how.. i think they look stylish and classy.. and they enhance the “hourglass” shape of women. they look feminine an attractive!
November 18, 2008 at 1:05 am
I absolutely adore high waist jeans. I think it is particularly flattering on women such as myself with more curves than the average stick. It accentuates a small waist and large bottom (which -gasp- some of us actually like). Not everyone can wear jeans with a two inch rise because, believe it or not, some of us are more than just bones and skin. What ammuses me is the¨”mom jean” argument. Yes, it is an older fashion but then women who wore high waist everything had spectacular silhouettes and celebrated curves whether they had them or not. I think it is a feminine, classic, chic look. But that is just me.
December 20, 2008 at 5:02 am
I agree with Shontih. I am 5′2″ and about a size 10. I am curvy, but high wasted and short limbed. I feel like a pinup girl in highwasted jeans! They actually flatter the natural figure of most women and allow us to see their hourglass figures. I am so tired of muffin tops on skinny girls and visible buttcracks all year long. If only someone would only bring back 1940s sidezip jeans!
January 8, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I think it all depends on who is wearing the jeans and what kind of top they wear it with. Everyone looks different in fashion. Some people just dont look right with certain styles thats why you have to find your own. I like the look. Especially high waist skirts. I agree it does flatter a womens shape. It hides my stomach and I look really nice and slim wearing them. I always get compliments. Maybe the ones hating on the style look horrible wearing it and thats why they dont like the style.
February 4, 2009 at 12:17 am
Such an ugly fashion. However I know some people will embrace them. While they may look sort of okay on some figures they do NOT flatter every woman, as mentioned above, especially those with too much going on in the section between the belly button and right under the bra line. (Hint: Jessica Simpson)
February 4, 2009 at 6:20 am
I kind of like them, but I wouldnt wear them with my shirt tucked in like all these celebrities do. that just looks really stupid.
February 4, 2009 at 8:51 am
Its obvious girls only care about what other girls think. I have never met a man that thinks this style is sexy.
This trend will not last, just for the sake of human reproduction
February 24, 2009 at 12:34 am
I would rather see female’s in high waisted pants, instead of seeing there mushroom top hang over the top of there jeans.
High waisted pants are MUCH more flattering than low rise pants.
Certain pants look good on certain bodies.
And celebrities are not always perfect.
Celebrities ARE ordinary people, just with abnormal/special talents.
March 20, 2009 at 5:17 pm
[...] thought you could sport the high-waisted pant? Or do you love them and can’t get enough? For either problem, these elegant corseted [...]
April 13, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I definitely don’t agree with this whole away-with-high-waisted pants idea…
If you got the body and can rock the style, I say go for it and make everyone else wish they could be you. The whole thing about setting a fashion tend is being innovative and making it work when no one else though it could. I must say that certain styles aren’t for everyone, but hopefully those who have enough sense to use the dressing room before they make the purchase wont make the mistake of buying something that does not flatter their figure.
-Sierra post about the mushroom top is 100% appropriate. If women wanna treat their high-waisted pant as a corset, so be it!
*Check out the blog spot on chickdowntown, designer fashion retailer.
April 17, 2009 at 4:11 pm
[...] or Hate’Em Jump to Comments Awhile back I wrote a blog post about high waist jeans (High Waist Jeans: Love’Em or Hate’Em) and I received a huge response from my readers all voicing their opinions and it looks like the [...]
April 20, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I think low rise pants are the biggest fashion faux pas ever to come to be. first off most of the world is not stick thin and therefore a pooch, gut, stomach whatever you want to call it hangs over the front, sides and in some people’s cases the back of their pants creating unsightly muffin top to make matters even worse is that there butt crack being flounced around every which way and it’s simply trashy and disgusting. I’m all for the high waist pants! They hold in the tummy and muffin top and give women curves! Plus for tall women such as my self (5′ 10″) who have a naturally longer torso it’s nice to have jeans that come up higher to off set the shortness of most tops which leave my belly exposed with low wasted pants jeans or not which makes it hard for me to dress appropriately in the office with pants. I’m banished to wearing dresses and skirts every single day.
May 10, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I’m with you Amber. I have avoided buying new trousers for years but now my favourite pairs are finally wearing out and I’ve gone back to work so I can’t hang out in track pants all day. It’s very hard to find trousers that are both comfortable and reasonably flattering for someone with long legs and smallish waist but a bit chunky around the hips and thighs. I know such trousers have existed in the past – I still have a few in my wardrobe bought over a decade ago – but where can I find new ones now??
May 22, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Okay. I’m gonna have to say I’m disgusted with everyone harping on about “the average stick”, “anorexic” girls, or those with a “skating board” figure. I’m sick of hearing that a “real woman” has curves. Many of these comments have been completely derogatory towards slimmer girls, and I think that’s incredibly poor form, people.
Women come in all shapes and sizes: tall, short, curvy, straight, pear-shaped, apple-shaped, rectangular, big boobs, tiny boobs, tiny waist, no waist, big hips, no hips, long legs, short legs, etc.
I’m naturally very skinny. It’s genetic. I’ve also got a very boyish shape. However, I don’t think I’m any “less” of a woman than any curvy lady would be. We’re all the same.
I think high waisted pants would suit a lot of body types — even “straighter” ones. Like someone said earlier, the style cinches in the waist, emphasises the rear and lengthens the leg, automatically giving shape to someone who has very little, and accentuating the shape of someone who already has curves.
If you’re afraid of looking too rectangular, skinnier/straighter girls can wear floaty/looser tops to balance the form-fit of the pants. Meanwhile, curvier ladies can wear more fitted tops (rather than looser ones), hugging their figure.
Fashion is about celebrating shape, colour & form — and about wearing something confidently and that suits your style. It’s all about making it work for you. If you like these, and if you can pull it off – no matter what size/shape you are – then just do it!
June 19, 2009 at 10:05 pm
NO to jeans. Yes to trousers.
July 5, 2009 at 3:57 pm
i think they look good on the model in the FIRST picture ONLY. all the rest look terrible. i personally think that trends ought not to be taken as seriously as people seem to do. more importantly, one should dress in the way that one feels most comfortable and that which flatters oneself the best. trends to me are ideas spouted from the top which can then be incorporated into one’s wardrobe should they flatter or refuted should they not.