The key to finding the perfect pair of pants isn’t about how expensive they are, but whether they effectively flatter your body proportions. The waistline plays a pivotal role – while high-waisted pants are trendy, they may not be the most flattering for everyone.
The waistline is a crucial factor when choosing pants.
To determine whether high-waisted or low-waisted pants suit you better, try this simple trick that’s been making rounds among fashion-conscious women.
How to Know if You Should Wear High or Low-Waisted Pants: The 2-Hand Rule Will Reveal Your Body Proportions
A fashion influencer from Europe shared a video on Instagram about choosing the right waistline, which quickly garnered over 4.83 million views. The method is incredibly simple: just follow the 2-hand rule below:
Step 1: Place one hand just below your bust, and the other hand below that
Step 2: Observe the length of your waist (between your hands) in relation to your navel
Based on the results, you can determine which style of pants suits you best:
– If your lower hand touches or nearly touches your navel, you have a well-proportioned waist and can pull off both high and mid-rise pants.
– If there’s a gap between your lower hand and your navel, or you can see the waistband sticker, you have a long waist – opt for high-waisted pants to create harmonious body proportions.
– If your lower hand can cover your navel, you have a short waist – go for low or mid-rise pants to avoid looking frumpy and to create a more elongated silhouette.
What to Wear with a Short Waist: Mid or Low-Rise Pants
For those with a short waist, the ideal choice is mid or low-rise pants, as they create a balanced silhouette and prevent the upper body from appearing shortened. Low-rise pants, which sit below the navel or on the hips, offer a comfortable and modern look, embodying the trendy Y2K style. This style is particularly flattering for those with a slim waist who want to subtly showcase their abs and embrace a free-spirited aesthetic. To complete the outfit, consider adding a thin belt to define your waist while maintaining a sleek overall look.
For a short waist, opt for pants with a low waistline that sits below the navel or at the hips.
Tips for Wearing Low-Rise Pants:
1. Choose pants with a waist that fits snugly against your body
When wearing low-rise pants, it’s crucial that the waist fits closely to your body, without any looseness or excess fabric. Look for designs with elastic waistbands or adjustable details on the hips – these features ensure the pants hug your curves, preventing unsightly wrinkles or bunching.
A well-fitting waist will create a sleek and flattering silhouette, even with low-rise pants.
2. Prefer low-rise pants with a V-shaped waist
If you don’t have an hourglass figure, steer clear of low-rise pants with straight waistbands. Instead, opt for a V-shaped waistband – where the waistband angles upwards towards the hips.
This design not only creates the illusion of a slimmer waist but also subtly lifts the waistline, elongating your body proportions in a subtle yet effective way.
This “body-enhancing” detail ensures you can wear low-rise pants while maintaining a balanced and stylish silhouette.
3. Pant length is key to achieving a flattering look
Low-rise pants sit below the navel, close to the pubic bone. Due to their low waistline, these pants can be tricky to style and may disrupt your body proportions if not chosen wisely. A common mistake is pairing them with a long top and short pants, which can shorten the appearance of your legs.
To counter this, opt for pants that graze your ankles or slightly cover your shoes, elongating your legs and creating a balanced silhouette.
This simple trick makes a significant difference in achieving a sleek and leggy look with low-rise pants.
4. Pay attention to fabric choice
Fabric choice is crucial when wearing low-rise pants. Due to the low waistline, your waist and legs can appear shorter. If you opt for a fabric that’s too soft or thin, the overall look can appear sloppy, lacking structure, and making you seem shorter than you are.
Instead, choose structured fabrics like stiff denim or thick cotton, which hold the shape of the pants, creating a lengthening effect on your body.
5. Don’t forget to flatter your upper body
While the previous tips focused on choosing the right low-rise pants, this step is about smart styling to create a harmonious look. The key is to draw attention to your upper body to balance your proportions and elongate your silhouette.
The winning combo: low-rise pants + a cropped top. This combination not only showcases your slim waist but also avoids the common mistake of pairing low-rise pants with long tops, which can make your waist appear larger than it is.
Bella Hadid rocks a white corset top with matching low-rise pants, caramel bag, and classic pointed-toe heels, showcasing her supermodel figure flawlessly.
Hailey Bieber keeps it casual and chic with a white tee, low-rise jeans, a black belt, and loafers, creating a sleek and effortless look.
Rosé exudes youthful energy in a short-sleeve tee and striped low-rise pants.
For a more professional look, try a striped short-sleeve shirt with dark blue low-rise trousers.
What to Wear with a Long Waist: High-Waisted Pants
If you have a long waist, your smartest choice is high-waisted pants. High-waisted pants sit above the navel, typically at the smallest part of your waist – an area that accentuates your slim waist. Besides shaping your figure, this style creates the illusion of “legs for days,” making it ideal for those with long waists or those aiming for a model-like, elongated silhouette.
8 ways to style white high-waisted pants
When styling high-waisted pants, consider adding a thick belt or using a stiff leather belt to emphasize the waistline, creating a clear division between your waist and legs for a more polished look.
How to Wear High-Waisted Pants to Flatter Your Figure
1. Choose pants with a distinct waist detail
For petite women or those with less defined waists, selecting the right style of high-waisted pants is crucial. Opt for designs with a clear waistband, a prominent belt, or a structured waist that hugs your curves, creating a noticeable slimming effect.
Avoid overly wide high-waisted pants without a distinct waist detail, as they can make your waist appear undefined and detract from the figure-flattering effect. Additionally, consider tucking in your top to emphasize the high waistline and create a stylish and balanced silhouette.
High-waisted pants with a prominent belt or structured waist will flatter your figure more effectively.
2. Choose the right pant length
One of the primary goals of high-waisted pants is to elongate your body proportions, especially your legs. To achieve this, pay attention to the pant length. Opt for pants that graze your ankles or slightly cover your shoes, lengthening your legs and creating a taller silhouette.
This trick is especially useful for those with a petite frame who want to appear taller without resorting to complicated methods.
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