The Rise of Men's Jeans

You may be thinking this blog post is about how jeans became the go-to thing to wear, but actually we wanted to share what the “rise” of jeans actually means!

Short Answer: The rise of a jean refers to the distance between the waistband of the jeans and the start of the inseam. In general there are 3 types of jean rises: Low, Mid and High. Each one has its own look and benefit for your body style. In this blog we will talk about the rise of men’s jeans, and we will follow-up with another blog for women’s jeans a little later.

Long Answer: Guys don’t really ask for much when it comes to jeans; except we want jeans to be comfortable and give us room, but not baggy or super-loose. The jeans have to sit right and not fall down when we walk. They can’t be restrictive, but our jeans should look like they fit us properly…the list goes on. But here is an easy way to decipher part of your purchasing decision.

Mid-Rise: This is the rise that most guys are used to. Most modern jeans including the current Levi’s 501 and newer crop of Slim Fits, Athletic Fits and Work Pants tend to be mid-rise. It is comfortable in that it sits below the natural waist but it is not so low that you have to worry about having to constantly pull up at your waist. It is a flattering style that fits many body shapes, so if you are looking for a good, easy style, look for mid-rise jeans.

High-Rise: Many “traditional” style jeans seem to have held onto their higher rises. A higher rise is longer from the start of the inseam to the top of the jean. Usually these jeans tend to be straighter through the hips due to the excess few inches (usually 1.5-2.5 inches higher than mid-rise), If you are a fan of the Wrangler Pro Rodeo Jeans, Classic Levi’s 517 Boot Cut Jeans, or any style that hasn’t changed in the past few decades, then this is the proper rise for you. It has become more popular as of late as fashion has brought higher rises back into men’s jeans, but higher rise jeans have been a staple for years. We usually see guys that are tall and lean, or tend to have longer torsos find a good style in higher rise jeans. Conversely if you are shorter or a bit stockier, then a higher rise jean may not be the best look for you.

Low-Rise: What was once the fastest growing segment of men’s jeans has mostly been confined to a few select styles. We still have a loyal following of the Levi’s 527 Low Rise Boot Cut Jeans, but the numbers seem to be getting smaller. The lower rise means that it sits lower on the waist than all the other jeans and the distance from waist to inseam is about 1-2 inches lower than the mid-rise jeans. Ironically, lower rise jeans have a broader range of body-shapes that can use them. But the lack of material, the feeling of your jeans falling down as you walk, and the constant feeling of having to “pull up” your jeans make this a style that only fits a specific consumer.

Regardless of what brand you buy, or what style you like (Regular, Relaxed, Loose, Slim); keep in mind the rise of your jeans and how they sit on your waist. If you find yourself constantly pulling up at your belt-loops, then maybe your jeans are too low. If you feel like you can’t sit down in your jeans, or that they are restricting when you walk (most specifically at the seam at the bottom of the crotch), then it is possible that your jeans are high-rise, but sit lower on your waist and you have excess fabric causing this discomfort. As ubiquitous as jeans are, and as “easy” they may seem to be, there is a reason that there are so many styles and fits.

Denim has been a staple of our selection for the last 57 years and we have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as “one style fits all.” This is exactly why we carry such a variety on our shelves every day. We take the time to learn about each of the models we sell, and we try to give you the best advice we can so that you can make the best buying decision. If you have any questions about the jeans we carry, let us know; we’re here to help.

Adam. Dave’s New York