What do the non Gen-Zers do about low rise jeans??

And three ways to fake it til you make it

Denim. Boy oh boy.

To complicate an already complicated subject, we’ve entered the era of anything goes. Wide leg. Kick flare. Mid rise. Barrel. Even straight leg and skinnies are back in biz.

It’s denim day! Link below.

I live in jeans, so this is great news. But with all the options, I find myself in a bit of a pant-identity-crisis. Reaching for something that isn’t quite a classic straight leg, but wide leg and barrel jeans just aren’t doing it for me either.

Which leads to the dreaded low-rise jean. Back by popular demand of the Gen-Zers.

Rightfully avoiding at all costs given the era I grew up in. Please don’t make us go back.

I am intimidated by the idea of writing about jeans, particularly the low rise variety. I am definitely not a style expert and Hell will freeze over before I bare my entire midriff in broad daylight. But I’ve been trying to figure this out and finding the more I try, the more I interested I become.

SEE?? More exciting than barrel denim for me right now, if only because I have worn my barrels everyday since 2023. And yet, they have an effortless appeal missing from a classic high rise.

And between personal experience, saved screenshots and analyzing people with style worth imitating, wouldn’t you know it, I started to see a pattern.

1. Pocket Positioning 2. Zipper Length 3. Ankle Puddling (@pernilleteisbaek)

For the purposes of this exercise, I’m going to call them low slung, not low rise. Mostly because the below ideas land somewhere between a mid to low rise denim, but for all intents and purposes, give the low slung effect (without requiring full midriff baring yay!). So onto it we go.

(1) POCKET POSITIONING

Low on the hips. It gives an air of ease. This can of course be accomplished by wearing low rise jeans where the pockets sit lower just by fact that you are wearing your pants around your ankles. BUUUUUUT, the effect can also be achieved with a mid rise jean with pockets specifically positioned lower on the hip.

See how the deep pockets hang low on Irene Kim here. It’s not a low rise, but has the nice ease of a low rise. Like if she was to put her hand in her pocket, she would look relaxed (and if you’re wondering, I suspect these are Maison Margiela).(@irene_kf)

The type of pocket can do it too.

This angled pocket that’s probably called something specific does the thing too. Tibi founder Amy Smilovic has talked about this pocket before. It sits low on the hip in a way that you could rest your hand comfortably. And co-signed by CBK too (left).

I also recently acquired these magic pants that look like low slingers based on pocket position but are actually full fledged high rise. Though worth noting, I prefer them with an untucked shirt. The seam through the midline isn’t super flattering when exposed.

The point being, however you get there, you want pockets that sit low to give relaxed and unbothered.

(2) ZIPPER LENGTH

Is there a nice way to refer to the zipper crotch section of denim?? Anyways, that area. It should be long to give a relaxed fit.

The 2000s had us convinced the zipper should be one inch long to achieve low rise effect. And per usual, you do you if that works! But keeping the zipper long can also give full slouchy effect without necessarily requiring you to bare your belly button (similar pleated denim).

I went so far as to measure the zipper of some of my tried and true low slingers.

Approximately six to seven inches on every count.

(3) ANKLE PUDDLING

And the last Y2K inspired takeaway for the low slung look is extra length.

When jeans pool just a bit at the bottom, it creates that necessary *undone* for an outfit. It says I didn’t bother to get these hemmed cuz I’m booked and busy.

Maybe it’s very subtle length for the slight break of the jeans at the ankle.

Or full tuck under your heel with slip on shoes.

Either way, give it a try and see what length works for you! And bonus, extra length means the same pair of denim will work with heels too.

And there you have it. I don’t think you necessarily need all three to get the look, but at least some things to consider when on the hunt for low slingers. Maybe there is hope for us non Gen-Zers after all!!

Somewhere to start (tip: when in doubt, size up on low slung denim):

• Straight Leg Low Slung: Re/Done Long Straight Leg (top pic for reference)

• Mid Rise, Mid Price Range: Madewell Low Slung Baggy Jeans (watch the style vid!)

• Classic Low Slung Baggy: Agolde Low Slung Baggy Jeans

• Wide Leg Low Slung: Reformation Cary Jeans

• Slight Curve Low Slung: Agolde Low Curve Mid-Rise Wide-Leg jeans

• Slouch Straight Leg: The Great. Wayne Denim

• Extra Wide Leg: Rag and Bone Sofie Jeans (below for reference)

  

  The extra wide Rag and Bone listed above. My face may not show it, but I love them.

Sincerely yours, cleaning up the dirty streets with extra long hems.

xx Jordyn