Low rise pants, shorts, skirts

[shootingstar]

I actually dislike them.
Am I a minority there?

3 main reasons why I don't like them:

*Many low rise styles do not flatter me..I have short legs,petite build but small boobs.

*Allows my stomache is slowly expand (ie. put on weight there) without me noticing. I've always found this to be the case, I inadvertedly put on weight around my abdomen when I wear certain clothing for several months that is too loose or allows my stomach to grow. At 5'1", growing potty bellies, are more noticeable especially if already the person has small bone frame.

*I cannot tuck in a nice shirt/top properly. I once ruined a lovely, vintage rose angora sweater because I kept on wanting to tuck it in..as a result I tore a hole in the back of the sweater, near its hemline.

So shopping for clothing,is abit of a headache. I actually gave up buying jeans...after seeing too many lowrise styles. do I really want my a** to look larger on my frame --which is precisely how these styles hang on me.

[Melalvai]

I despite low rise. But it's hard to find anything else. It does not look bad on me, but I had to get new underwear to go with it, and even so I'm sure while I'm biking everyone gets a good look at either my underwear or a nice crack, which is no plumber's crack to be sure but not something I intended to flaunt.

[Eden]

I hate low rise.... I'm quite petite and I can find very few pairs of pants that actually have a waist small enough for me - with low rise that means that there's a big gap in the back that everyone can see right down.... As I'm not 15 and I don't really care to advertise the color of my undies they have little appeal for me.

[Velobambina]

Add me to the list of those who dislike low rise.

Maybe it's just me but I don't think the look is flattering on anyone.

[Crankin]

Sorry, I'm petite, 5' 1" and not young either, but I love low rise. It's very flattering on me. I am not sure how low rise clothes would cause your abs to look big, ah, unless they are big. I mean, if your abs are protruding over the top of low rise pants, they are still going to be protruding in a higher waist, just smooshed into them! I can't stand the feeling of anything constricting my waist. I don't wear pants or skirts that show anything, but it feels right when they are sitting on my hips. You have to find brands that are made for grown ups to avoid the crack showing look.

[songlady]

Add me to the low waist lovers list. I am 5'6 and very short waisted, anything that is not low rise can hit me around the belly button or higher, which is NOT a good look for me. Low rise bottoms make my upper torso look longer and I like the fact that nothing binds to my belly, making for a smooth profile around the waist.

[OakLeaf]

Short legs and short waist, and mid rise is the only thing that looks good on me ("peace" or "scout" rise - I'm too old to be comfortable in anything that doesn't cover my hipbones, even if I wasn't getting the menopot). Robyn, I think the deal there is that the waistband is a reminder to suck my gut in :D

I can't tuck anything in anyhow because of how short my waist is. So that part doesn't matter.

A rise that falls near the widest part as viewed from the front, really helps minimize my hips and thighs and makes me appear taller.

[Dogmama]

Like Eden, I get that lovely gap in the back. I'm told that styles are coming up and I'm glad. Few women look good in this style. Most have the muffin top going - not flattering. Add the tramp stamp & they're decked out for the truck stop.

LL Bean & Liz Claiborne jeans seem to have more than 4" of rise. I agree with Songlady that you can't seem to find jeans that have a flat profile & that's annoying.

[Tuckervill]

At the same time, I'm having trouble getting used to the higher waists I'm seeing on TV...even though that's what I wore in the 80s and 90s. On American Idol, they dressed some of the gals in sailor-type pants with buttons, and I just didn't find them flattering at all.

Mid-rise for me, thanks. I hate that it's going to come to a point where I can't find them anymore, because of the fashion pendulum.

Karen

[Ana]

I am near the end of phasing out low rise jeans (explanation: I am 23, graduated college a year ago, am involved in research and am still figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life :p). I still have a pair or two that are worn and I use for dirty jobs (bike maintenance, yay). But other than that, all the new pairs of jeans are mid rise.

My hips are very narrow...so usually my pants sit at the hips (or attempt to...with the help of a belt :)).

I have a friend who swears by custom made jeans. She claims they only run her about $40 per pair and address all of her fit issues related to the low-rise-with-legs-the-same-length-as-someone-five-foot-ten, small-waisted-but-still-have-nice-leg-muscle issues and such (mostly proportions). I did a quick search one time and found lots of customized jeans. She did not divulge the brand but I was very intrigued :) Not enough to order some (my fit issues are very few with petite clothing and I'm a stickler for spending money on clothes :p) but I still investigated.

The company instructs you how to measure yourself (or better yet, have someone else do it) and then you get the options of wash, length from the crotch to the waist and everything :)

Definitely my kind of way to do jeans :)

[Crankin]

Well, when I mean low rise, I mean, like, 2-3 inches below the waist, right above the hips. That's the J Crew "favorite" fit, or the Loft Marissa style. I don't like the ones that are right below my hip bones, too revealing for work, but I do wear them for "play." I've always had the waist gap problem because my waist has always been small in proportion to my hips, no matter what size I have been. It's not too bad now, though. I buy clothes at exactly 3 places: Banana Republic, Ann Taylor/Loft, and J Crew. They've all had "size creep" in the past five years, so I wear a ridiculously smaller size, even though I am the same weight and my cycling thighs are definitely bigger.

[silver]

I love low rise clothes. I'm already all legs, bringing the pants up to my waist makes my body disappear.

I do have a problem finding my size, usually a 2 tall, with enough space for my thighs.

[mimitabby]

I dont own any low rise jeans. I have perfect hips (for holding up pants), why would i want jeans that didn't take advantage of that?

I rarely buy stuff off the racks anyway; so I am not quite at the mercy of the misogynists who design women's clothing.

heck I wore my ibex capris yesterday all day, except for the lack of pockets they were ten times more comfy than jeans.

hmm, those gusseted jeans are calling my name.

[Brandi]

I like my pants to fit right at my hips. I have ibs so having pants that are high waisted are not comfy at all. So I guess I am a mid waisted pant girl. I am 5'3 with short legs so high waisted pants don't look good on me at all.

[bounceswoosh]

I just bought several pairs of pants, all of which sat right above my hipbone. Pants that come up to the narrowest part of my body look pretty bad on me, and most importantly I hate the way they feel. For my GI issues, any pressure whatsoever on my belly is bad news.

A friend of mine was just telling me that for women who are, erm, well-endowed in the hindquarters, high-waisted pants are really unflattering. I have a nice butt; it's just not small.

I get the pouch of fabric at my back for a lot of pants. In fact, most of the pants I rejected yesterday in my pants-buying whirlwind were rejected because they otherwise fit, but stuck out from the back. Really annoying when the belly side is slightly too snug and the back *still* pooches out by a few inches!

[Eden]

I buy clothes at exactly 3 places: Banana Republic, Ann Taylor/Loft, and J Crew. They've all had "size creep" in the past five years, so I wear a ridiculously smaller size, even though I am the same weight and my cycling thighs are definitely bigger.

Tell me about it... I can't buy clothes very many places to start with (at 5 nothing and relatively thin) and I've now found myself to be sized out of Gap jeans. I tried some on the other day and now even a 0 is large on me. I haven't purchased anything at Ann Taylor recently so I can only hope that things still fits me there....

Most of the "adult" stores (store that carry some less low jeans) - J Crew, LLBean, Eddie Bauer, Liz Clairborn, etc. no longer go below a 4 or a 2 and with size creep I swim in their smallest sizes.

[wannaduacentury]

Short legs and short waist, and mid rise is the only thing that looks good on me ("peace" or "scout" rise - I'm too old to be comfortable in anything that doesn't cover my hipbones, even if I wasn't getting the menopot). Robyn, I think the deal there is that the waistband is a reminder to suck my gut in :D

I can't tuck anything in anyhow because of how short my waist is. So that part doesn't matter.

A rise that falls near the widest part as viewed from the front, really helps minimize my hips and thighs and makes me appear taller.

I prefer mid rise too. can't stand high waist and low waist feels like they're falling down, even if I can pull off the look. I'm 5'8" and have long legs. I prefer mid rise Levi's 515 boot cut jeans. They're my favorites. And I don't tuck in shirts either. Jenn

[Irulan]

Lo rise? no thanks, at least for super lo. I have yet to see what's fashionable about showing your butt crack when you are sitting/kneeling and/or a muffin top, or having to shave the top of your pubic triangle to get away with it.

It's an awesome look if you can pull it off, but like so many fashion trends, that's the very few.

[Crankin]

Eden, I also stopped shopping at Eddie Bauer and Liz Claiborne for those reasons. J Crew still makes 0 petite, but they are making less and less of their items in petite sizes; they still carry a lot of pants, but their pants have gone from a petite inseam of 28 or 29 to a 30! OK with heels, but I have to have them hemmed now. They do fit at the waist. They don't have petite sized sweaters anymore and I drool over some of their basics I see in the regular sizes. Plus, they stopped carrying the petite stuff in the stores about 3 years ago. I have a lot of trouble finding basic tops, t shirts, sweaters that fit. So far, I have been successful at Banana Republic Petite Shop for that stuff. That means a 30 minute trip to the one store that has them, but it's worth it a couple of times a year. The Loft started making xxsmall tops that fit me; talk about size creep. There's one near my house, so I end up buying a lot of stuff there. I am 5' 1" and I do not consider myself super skinny. I am normal weight for my height, but I guess the manufacturers are focusing on the growing population at the other end of the spectrum.

[frnz]

I like low rise. Then again, I'm 18, and I certainly don't buy ones so low that my crack hangs out. I also don't buy ones so tight that they muffin-top me. I do have some dressier trouser-type pants that have a slightly higher cut, though.

[Irulan]

I like low rise. Then again, I'm 18, and I certainly don't buy ones so low that my crack hangs out. I also don't buy ones so tight that they muffin-top me. I do have some dressier trouser-type pants that have a slightly higher cut, though.

ah youth - you probably looks great in them too!!!

[Skierchickie]

Hate 'em. Envious of the few people they actually look good on. My butt is too big, my waist too small (although not that small). Also, long torso, short legs. If they fit over my behind, they stand way way out around the waist. Leads to great self-image issues every time I go pants shopping. Even the mid-rise ones I wear - if I cinch my belt up enough to keep them from standing out when I kneel down, they just want to ride up to waist level (not good). So I have to carefully plan shirt/jeans combinations. Where I work, I'm frequently out in the shop, kneeling, reaching, stretching, bending over, turning wrenches. Too short shirt + pants pooching out in back = not good. Grrr.

[shootingstar]

I like low rise. Then again, I'm 18, and I certainly don't buy ones so low that my crack hangs out. I also don't buy ones so tight that they muffin-top me. I do have some dressier trouser-type pants that have a slightly higher cut, though.

Hope you keep on cycling or some exercise to keep you fit! I'm sure you have an incredible metabolism..like I used to have.

I have a basic, belted black dress skirt...about 2-3 inches above my knee. I wear it whenever I need to wear a business skirt/jacket wear. That skirt is now 6 years old. It is a super headache to find another classic skirt that fits properly --without the skirt falling off my hips.

Just because a person is small, it doesn't mean they look good in all sorts of cool, (daring) fashion.

In desperation, I bought 2 different walking shorts --for non-cycling & casual cycling wear when I visit people/go to functions by bike. Just low-rise which was only selection. So they are black and good, thing I resewed the button by moving it way over --2-3 inches tighter..which warps the whole waistline/zipper panel at the front.

Low-rise, even mid-rise means falling down too low for me. The whole pant/skirt was cut for bigger hipboned woman. ANd every few years..that design cut is inching to get bigger...

Just to give folks (particularily the much younger gals here) some perspective:

When I was 20, ...I was 93 lbs. at 5'1" - I wore size 4-6 women's clothing well. My hip was 33.5"

When I am 49 now -- at 100 lbs., at 5'1" - Size 4 women's clothing is too big now. So size 0 or 1. My hip still is 33.5" . But I think abdomen just below bellybutton, is my 1-2 inches more. :) Oh well.


So for the 18-yr. here...please tell all your female friends to eat healthy and exercise...so we can get our manufacturers' clothing sizing to sanity.. in 10 years. :)

[fastdogs]

I hate em. There are a few people they actually look good on, but very few. I am old enough to have been in high school when "hip huggers" were in, and wore them then, but I'm even talking about me wearing them now- just talking about having to look at other people in them. There is another older lady at work who wears that look all the time. Bulges all over the place. Then I saw her one day in regular clothes, and was amazed at how tiny she is- she isn't chubby in the least. She just looked that way with the tight low pants.
I also hate those real low pants some guys wear- actually below their butt sometimes, with the underwear sticking out the top. They are funny on cops though when they try to run.
Just too old, I guess- I'm sure this is similar to what my mom said about us in high school.
vickie

[silver]

I'm 43. I remember wearing hip huggers in elementary school. And i love my low rise jeans now. a scan of the thread seems to indicate that the more petite women dislike the low rise style.

Like frnz, I do not buy low rise pants which cause "muffin-top" or "plumber-but!"

[Kimmyt]

Love em, but only certain ones. If I find the rare pair of jeans that sits right on or below my hip bones and doesn't gap, I will stock up. Lengths may be a problem, and the sizing issue is getting frustrating, but being a short woman who is very short-waisted, anything other than lowrise makes me look like someone's gramma.



K.

[short cut sally]

I wear nothing but low or mid rise pants. I am all hips and thighs and no waist. I used to have to wear belts to keep my pants from falling down as they were so loose at the top d/t my build. I don't have to wear belts any more with this style as they sit on my hip bones. I have pant gap to the backside regardless of what style I wear-unless it is the full waist that comes above my belly button and that in turn rubs on my belly ring and causes more discomfort than what it is worth. I'm reliving my youth at age 42!!!

[OakLeaf]

+1 on the Levi's 515s!

'Course, boot cut is "out" now, so we'll have to replace them all with skinny leg jeans :rolleyes: yeah right

[Andrea]

I love a low rise jean, but you have to look out for these...

http://blog.brickhouseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/muffin.jpg

[bmccasland]

Add me to the *I hate uber low rise and I'm short* crowd. On the otherhand, I don't like the above waist style either. I'm short waisted, and I find the slightly below the waist look is OK, but I despise anything lower. AND I too fight the gap at the back thing in most slacks. I've had to have my Banana Republic pants altered to close the gap. I'm not looking forward to the above the waist look either - they look like *old man pants* IMHO. Women's clothes, and fashion, Oy Vey.

[Jolt]

I can't stand really low rise--they feel like they're going to fall off!! Most of my pants are mid-rise or slightly higher. It does seem like sizes and styles are changing, and not for the better. I was irritated recently when I went to Old Navy looking for jeans--I really liked the "Weekend Fit" (straight leg, not low-rise, and not tight-fitting) that they used to make, and have a few pairs but they're starting to get pretty ratty so I wanted to get another pair or two. They don't make anything even close to that style anymore, and when I tried on another style that I thought would be OK they were dragging on the floor (the regular length was just right before)!! And they were a little lower rise than I would have preferred. Needless to say, I didn't buy any. All I have to say about the size creep is it needs to stop!! I'm 5' 2.5", 108 lbs, so pretty soon I will have to shop in the kids department if it keeps up. Something's wrong with that picture.

[wannaduacentury]

+1 on the Levi's 515s!

'Course, boot cut is "out" now, so we'll have to replace them all with skinny leg jeans :rolleyes: yeah right

I was afraid of that, but I like them anyways. I do have one pair of Calvin Klein skinny leg jeans. They look nice, not really as narrow leg like I thought they'd be. I wear them w/ wedge sandals. Cool :) Jenn

[GLC1968]

Count me in the hating low rise camp. I've got super short legs and a long torso and low rise pants just make it even more obvious! Ick. Unless you've got long legs, they really don't flatter people (even though they might be more comfy than higher waists).

I hate to admit it, but I miss the 80's looks...those styles were really flattering for me. :o Thank goodness that was during my high school and college days when it actually mattered what I wore!

[Drtgirl]

Lucky Sweet n' Low jeans are the best! They are a mid-rise style. Only prob is they stretch so you may have to buy a size down.

I am short w/ a small waist and big hips. The low-waisted jeans just ride up around my waist when I sit down. Talk about uncomfortable!

I take pretty much all of my pants to get the waist taken in a bit. It adds another $20-30 to the price of your pants but it's worth it.

[Tuckervill]

Does anyone else watch What Not to Wear? I watch it occasionally. They always make a distinction about what kind of jeans "for your body type", but I can't fathom where they shop! Where in the world can you just walk in and say, "I'd like trouser-style jeans with slash pockets, please." Where I live, it's either the latest trend (peg-leg jeans are coming back and I can't stand the thought!) or nothing.

Karen

[Dogmama]

Does anyone else watch What Not to Wear? I watch it occasionally. They always make a distinction about what kind of jeans "for your body type", but I can't fathom where they shop! Where in the world can you just walk in and say, "I'd like trouser-style jeans with slash pockets, please." Where I live, it's either the latest trend (peg-leg jeans are coming back and I can't stand the thought!) or nothing.

Karen

I watch it occasionally. I usually dislike the clothes they choose. :p But, yeah, it seems like all jeans are cut from the same pattern - the kind that doesn't fit me. (whine!)

Ah, luxury problems.

[silverflow]

I am short legged, short waisted, short everything. The top of the low rise lands at my waist. I have finally learned to look for cropped tops, adjustable strap bras, empire waists. I have very few jeans, most are old and actually fit. Most of the time I am in leggings since they are most comfortable and fit best. But, everyone is different and I do see some that fit well in the low rise. I do have to say, however, that most who I see in the low rise do not look good.:)

[bmccasland]

One small thought ... those of us short people, short waisted, and all that. Might try looking in a Cowboy outfitter type store, not in the mall. Seems I used to buy my jeans there, and could find ones that fit, although it's been a while. I'm just disgusted in the whole casual pants category. I can easily find dress slacks that fit, but jeans or khaki's, forget it!

I think one of the reasons the WNTW clothes look so great is they're tailored before the final reveal. We'd all look better if we had seamstresses at our beck and call!

[JennyPi]

I have a friend who swears by custom made jeans. She claims they only run her about $40 per pair and address all of her fit issues related to the low-rise-with-legs-the-same-length-as-someone-five-foot-ten, small-waisted-but-still-have-nice-leg-muscle issues and such (mostly proportions)

That sounds great! I've got muscular legs and virtually no hips so I'd love to give that a shot! I'm 4'11'' so it gets really tricky when it comes time to shop. I've been wearing low rise because they're the only jeans that really work for me. (If you don't have hips they generally tend to fit nicely.) If I buy a regular jean, most of the time there's too much room in the thigh and hip area. My jeans then look frumpy and I look like a baggy mess. I recently bought a couple pairs of skinny jeans (that stretch) but I can't really wear them to work. You bend over and it's ALL over.

So still, I'm on the hunt for perfect pants.

Oh yeah, I've ditched boot cut because I look like a little b-o-y in them :rolleyes:

[cyclechick2008]

I really need to buy pants but don't have the guts to go try them on.
I dropped 10 pounds having my tonsils out in Dec. so NOTHING fits. I'm too cheap to get a new wardrobe so everything is baggie. I agree about Levis. I buy men's they fit better.

Kim

[Eden]

so I've kind of found my solution.... I ventured down into the kids section at the Gap yesterday... (I don't even fit a 0 in the women's section now, so I really know there is major size creep - I used to be a size 5...). To my surprise the kids sizes really are proportioned better for me - a big surprise because though I am short I am definitely woman shaped. I do not have boyish hips and I do have a small waist. The jeans also have an "adjustable waist band" - no more plumbers crack! even on low rise. Now it's not as bad as it sounds the waist band has a piece of elastic *inside* that has buttons and button holes to adjust it. It doesn't show at all on the outside of the pants and works better than a belt, since the pants can't slip under it. It doesn't look like an elastic waist band either - it just fits a bit closer when you pull it in. As an added bonus they are straight legs (yehaw - boot cuts just make me look shorter and flares are plain ridiculous on someone of my size and proportions) and the length is perfect.

[Flur]

I'm in the love-the-low-rise camp, although I never wear anything that shows my underwear (that's just TOO low!) I've always had good abs and I like how the low rise jeans accentuate that. I like the long shirt styles that are in and it's nice having only one layer over my torso with very little overlap - less bulk! Also, If I wear higher rise jeans they seem to accentuate my butt, which is where I tend to carry my weight (there and my thighs).

I've actually gotten back into cycling in part b/c I don't think I look as good in my jeans as I used to - since I took my current job (about a year and a half ago) I've gained a little weight - I work long hours and don't get as much exercise as I used to, and now that I'm in my 30s it seems I need it more than ever!

I definitely agree with the size creep - I'm 5'7 and fairly thin framed, but when I try stuff on and I'm a 0 (J. Crew) or a 2 (Banana Republic), I can't help wondering what people with small frames who are shorter than me are buying. And if it keeps creeping up, I'm really going to be in trouble!

[emily_in_nc]

I am another petite person -- 5'1-1/2", 102-103 lbs, and I recently discovered that Talbot's Petite jeans (in a 2P) fit me wonderfully. They are mid-rise, which I feel much more comfortable in for work than low-rise, and they are long enough -- I have longish legs for my height so need a minimum 29" inseam. Too many petite pants (which are supposed to fit women up to 5'4") have inseams of only 28 or 28.5" (like ever single pair of LL Bean petites!), so I just can't wear them; and most regulars are too long (31-32" inseam). I refuse to hem. Ann Taylor Loft also tends to be long enough lately, but the size creep is indeed rampant. I used to wear 4P there, now it's 0P or 2P, and I have not lost weight!

Emily

[KnottedYet]

Love my Levi's men's 560 ($35), Costco brand men's jeans ($12), and Diamond Gusset women's regular ($45).

I'm as curvy as they come, cannot wear low rise at all, and 2 of my 3 best fitting jeans are MEN'S. Weird...

Oh, and Diamond Gusset doesn't suffer from size creep. I'm 5'8", and wear a women's 14. As real as it gets. www.gussetclothing.com

[Triskeliongirl]

I also hate low rise, but found two stores that define their styles quite clearly to make shopping easier. Ann Taylor Loft and Victoria's Secret. At VS I like the 'Christie' fit and at Ann Taylor Loft I like the 'Marissa' Fit. If you go to their websites they explain each fit in terms of rise, leg shape, etc. I got great jeans at Ann Taylor Loft in a boot cut last year that are medium rise. Ann Taylor's sizing is quite generous, their 4s fit me like a 6 at VS. I have found VS has pretty consistent sizing. Once I ordered pants in 3 sizes to find my size (they were running a free shipping w free returns on pants), but now that I know my style and size I have to send very little back.