Jeans are often classified according to their rise. There are low-rise jeans as well as medium-rise and high-rise jeans. All three types are typically made of 100% denim. With that said, however, they each have a unique construction that affects their appearance as well as how they fit when worn. In this post, you’ll learn more about about the differences between low-rise, medium-rise and high-rise jeans.
The ‘Rise’ Explained
The term “rise” refers to the distance from the waistband to the crotch seam. Although there are exceptions, most jeans measure about 7 to 13 inches between these two areas. If you use a tape measure from the waistband of your jeans to the crotch seam, you’ll probably discover that it’s about 7 to 13 inches. When you see or hear the term “rise,” it refers to this distance. Some jeans have a lower rise, whereas others have a higher rise.
What Are Low-Rise Jeans
Low-rise jeans, as the name suggests, are denim features that are constructed with a short distance between the waistband and the crotch seam. Also known as a low-cut or low-rider jeans, they often measure just 7 to 8 inches from the waistband to the crotch seam.
It’s important to note that low-rise jeans also sit lower on your body when worn. Because of their exceptionally short distance from the waistband to the crotch seam, they typically rest several inches below your belly button. In other words, they don’t rest around the midsection of your waist. They sit significantly lower than most other types of jeans, including medium-rise and high-rise jeans.
Low-rise jeans have been around for quite some time, though they didn’t become particularly until the turn of the 21st century. According to Wikipedia, low-rise jeans became popular during this time as a result of musicians and celebrities wearing them. Justin Bieber, for example, frequently wore low-rise jeans, which prompted other celebrities to follow suit by including them in their respective wardrobe. Since then, low-rise jeans have become increasingly popular among men and women alike.
Some of the benefits of wearing low-rise jeans include the following:
- Most people will agree that low-rise jeans look better than medium-rise and high-rise jeans
- Form-fitting appearance that “hugs” your lower body
- Offers the most casual appearance of all three types of jeans
- Available in a variety of styles and colors
What Are Medium-Rise Jeans?
Medium-rise jeans, on the other hand, have a slightly longer distance between the waistband the crotch seam. While low-rise jeans typically measure just 7 to 8 inches between these two areas, medium-rise jeans measure about 9 to 11 inches between these two areas. That may sound a subtle difference, but it drastically affects their appearance and how they fit when worn.
As previously mentioned, low-rise jeans sit several inches below your belly button when worn. Medium-rise jeans, however, sit directly around your midsection when worn. Because of this, they are better suited for physical activities.
Medium-rise jeans have been around since the very origins of denim jeans. When jeans were first invented over a century ago, they were designed with a moderate length between the waistband and the crotch seam. Over the years, the general design of medium-rise jeans has remained unchanged. They still feature roughly the same distance from the waistband to the crotch as jeans manufactured and sold over a century ago.
Some of the benefits of wearing medium-rise jeans include the following:
- Less likely to fall from your waistband than low-rise jeans
- Better suited for running, jogging, working outdoors and performing other physical activities
- Easy to find and available in dozens of styles and colors
- Medium-rise jeans are particularly popular among men, though many women wear them as well
What Are High-Rise Jeans?
Not surprisingly, high-rise jeans are designed with the longest distance between the waistband and the crotch seam. They measure about 12 to 13 inches from the waistband to the crotch seam. With that said, there are some high-rise jeans with an even greater distance between these two areas. Regardless, all high-rise jeans are designed with a long distance between the waistband and the crotch seam.
It’s believed that high-rise jeans became popular during the 1970s. Back then, they were often worn in fashion shows by models, which prompted the public to purchase and wear them. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, high-rise jeans remained popular, particularly among women. And while they’ve since lost some of their popularity, many women continue to wear high-rise jeans because of their unique style.
Some of the benefits of wearing high-rise jeans include the following:
- Offers a vintage appearance that’s not found in low-rise or medium-rise jeans
- Draws greater attention to your jeans, which is useful if you’re wearing high-quality jeans
- Available in a variety of styles and colors
Choosing the Right Rise: What You Should Know
Now that you know the differences between low-rise, medium-rise and high-rise jeans, you might be wondering which style is right for you. Well, it really depends on your personal preference.
Rather than focusing too much on the rise, pay attention to the size when shopping for a pair of jeans. If your jeans don’t fit properly, you won’t get much use out of them, regardless of the rise. The good news is you can find the perfect fit by ordering your jeans from MakeYourOwnJeans. Whether you prefer low-rise, medium-rise or high-rise jeans, we’ll customize them so that they fit perfectly. When you place an order for a pair of jeans, you can specify your body measurements. Once we receive these measurements, we’ll use them to create a custom-sized pair of jeans specifically for your body.
To recap, jeans are available in three types of rises, which is defined as the distance from the waistband to the crotch seam. Low-rise jeans have the shortest distance between these two areas, whereas high-rise jeans have the longest distance between these two areas.
