I find this discussion fascinating. My problem is that I am short!!!! Has anyone noticed that in the last year that petite sized pants are now longer? I have very few places that I can buy clothes at; mostly i buy on line. Ann Taylor and The Loft are the only 2 stores that I can walk into and buy something that fits. I thought i was going crazy, but I finally noticed that J Crew (where I order a lot of clothes from) now lists petite pants as 30 " and they used to be 28 or 29. I wear low heels or flats at work; they are in style for God's sake, and the 30" pants are dragging on the floor. I do not want to spend more money to have pants hemmed (especially jeans!) when I am buying pants that are supposed to be for petites. This is not an issue in the summer, when I wear capris, but here in Boston, those don't cut it all year round. Skirts seem to be fine, no change there.
I am an admitted clothes horse and don't mind spending money for them, but i would LOVE to be able to walk into the Gap and buy a basic T shirt that wasn't too long (even the extra smalls).
As for the low rise, I am about to turn 52 and I wear low rise pants; not the ultra lows, but the 2-3 inch below the waist ones. I think it is much more flattering. I do have some hip huggers that i reserve for weekends, but i won't wear to work, since I teach those impressionable 12 year olds! You have to wear the right underwear (thongs) and shirts of appropriate length so you don't get the dreaded "plumbers crack." I guess that I feel that being able to wear these clothes at my age is my reward for all of those miles on the road. I don't wear anything ****ty looking, in fact, i dress pretty preppy looking, but I don't want to look like a grandmother, either (even though i am old enough to be one....)