Our trusty high-waisted jeans are back and we love them more than ever. Actually, who are we kidding? They never really went anywhere did they? As someone who hit her teenage years during the peak of noughties fashion, I grew up believing any jeans that didn’t sit as low as X-tina’s trousers in the Dirrty music video were a complete faux-pas – a style I would never be seen in. But thankfully, with age comes wisdom, and I now shudder at the thought of any pair of jeans that doesn't at least come up to my navel. High waisted jeans reign supreme.
There's an abundance of good reasons why a pair of high waisted jeans forms the basis of any capsule wardrobe. Whether you're wearing denim to the office, heading Out Out in your best jeans or doing casual weekend style, with a great pair of high-waisted jeans, you're always on trend.
Their versatility makes them the ultimate trans-seasonal staple, and thanks to the fact that you can dress your jeans up with a blouse and blazer or pair them with a hoodie and pair of trainers over the weekend, they’re the hardest working item in any wardrobe. They're also much more flattering and confidence-boosting than their low and mid-rise counterparts.
I'm not alone in my adoration. High-waisted jeans have been a sartorial stalwart supporter for influencers and fashion insiders alike for a long time. The success of Levi's cult Ribcage jeans says it all. Today, every high street brand or designer label is over-run with high-waisted cuts. But with choice can come confusion. What are the best high-waisted jeans for your style, body shape and budget? Which pairs will retain their shape? Which will make you feel the best? We've spent hours searching both designer shopping sites and high street brands and compiled the ultimate edit of the best high waisted jeans for women out there, to offer you all the answers.
Who makes the best high-waisted jeans?
Levi's remains unbeaten as the creators of some of our favourite denim ever – and their collection of high waisted jeans fit like a dream. If you've not got as much money to spend, though, consider ASOS for high-waisted jeans to suit all heights and sizes (their high-rise ultimate skinny jeans are perfect for all occasions, especially in black) or Topshop's baggy jeans, if you like a comfort cut.
For sustainable high-waisted jeans, consider online clothing store Everlane's ultra-flattering 90s cheeky straight jeans (which have sculpting on the bum) or any pair from M&S' ever-growing collection. Their denim is made from 100% responsibly-sourced cotton, using 86% less water (compared to the industry average for garment finishing, according to Jeanologia) and kinder-to-the-planet chemicals. Reformation's Cynthia jeans are also made from 'fabric scraps,' 80% Regeneratively Grown Cotton and 20% Recycled Cotton. We love to see it.
After more denim content? We've gone granular about the whole "jeans" thing. Check out more of our jeans edits below...
Whether you’ve been devoted to your denim forever or you're slowly integrating jeans into your wardrobe, these are the best high-waisted jeans to shop right now.
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