High-waisted jeans aren’t really a trend. Some of the first Levi’s made for women in the 1940s hit well above the hip because that’s just how pants fit in the day, for both men and women. The style was practical and easy to tuck a shirt into when working in a factory. In the 1960s, Marilyn Monroe put a sexy spin on the style in The Misfits, when she wore her high-waisted jeans with a crisp white shirt and brick-red lipstick. Decades later, the best high-waisted jeans have just as much appeal—the tapered-at-the-top style nips you in to accentuate your curves and create a polished effect.
With its ultra-high-rise, Levi’s The Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans are our top pick if you have a … [+] long torso or like a fashion-forward style.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES/ PHOTO: RETAILERS
Of course, there have been some updates to the original 1940s-era silhouette over the years. Today’s high-waisted jeans have taken the best from a variety of denim trends—the 1970s bell-bottom flare, the 2000s skinny leg—to create a hybrid fit that’s flattering and comfortable to wear. Expert construction matters here, since any waistline that hovers well above your navel comes with certain inherent challenges. For example: you can feel constrained and corseted without room to breathe or end up looking rounder in the midsection if the front panel of your jeans doesn’t lay flat.
With this mind, we analyzed high-rise jeans on the market to find the pairs that work well for different body types and style preferences at a range of price points. Ahead, six of the best high-waisted jeans to consider for your denim wardrobe.
Good American: “Tummy tech” And A Contoured Waistband
Good American’s jeans are made with a gap-proof contoured waistband and a high waist with “tummy tech” reinforcing that helps flatten and hold you in while accentuating your curves. The denim is also eco-kind, cut from stretch hemp that’s extremely soft yet durable, and treated with washes that require less water.
Best High-Waisted Jeans For Curvy Women
Universal Standard: Size inclusive And Built-In Stretch
Universal Standard makes shopping for denim infinitely easier: You can select multiple fits, inseams and rinses, and the sizes ranges from 00 to 40. The Seine High Rise is the New York-based brand’s number one bestseller, expertly constructed with a high waist and invisible built-in stretch. The style comes in regular and tall lengths and four washes. Also nice: You can see each pair on models of different sizes.
Best High-Waisted Jeans For A Long Torso
Levi’s: Ultra-High-Rise And A Cropped Cut
It doesn’t get any more classic than Levi’s. The heritage brand’s highest-waist cut goes all the way up to the bottom of your rib cage and is available in numerous washes and silhouettes, including straight leg, wide-leg cropped and boot cut. This ankle-length style is crafted with 99% cotton and 1% elastane, which gives it a midweight feel with a touch of comfortable stretch for year-round appeal.
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Best High-Waisted Jeans For Petite Women
AYR: Multiple Inseams So There’s No Need For Tailoring
If you have a short torso or are petite, high-waisted jeans can easily overwhelm your frame. AYR’s are a good choice since you can choose from multiple inseams (from 25 to 29 inches). The denim is made in California and will stretch a tiny bit over time. To preserve the indigo washes, the brand recommends skipping the washing machine. Instead, spot-treat and put your jeans in a bag in the freezer for 24 hours—this releases odors and refreshes the denim (bonus: you’ll cut down on water consumption).
Best High-Waisted Skinny Jeans
DL1961: Sculpting And Body-Contouring
This eco-friendly brand’s “Instasculpt” technology emphasizes a special high-retention elastane that helps smooth and sculpt for a very flattering fit. The Farrow Skinny High Rise sits high on the hips for a versatile look and comes in a classic mid-wash blue with wide whiskering, thigh sanding contrast stitching and a clean hem.
Best High-Waisted Boot Cut Jeans
7 For All Mankind: Flattering Kick-Flare Hem
If you want a kick-flare hem that elongates your legs, go for 7 For All Mankind jeans. The ever-popular brand combines stretch denim with contouring properties and an ultra-high rise waist for all-day comfort. The No Filter style shown here has a skinny leg, finished with a tapered bootcut hem that’s versatile to wear with flats or boots.
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