The Skinny on Trousers

The Skinny on Trousers

With the wide range of new waistlines, it can be hard to know which one suits your body shape best. The low-rise waistline is no longer the only waistline in vogue; you now have the natural waist and the high-rise waist too. Old Navy has just introduced a new range of premium denim with different waist rises. Their brands include the ‘Diva’ – low rise, the ‘Flirt’ – mid-rise, the ‘Sweetheart’ – classic/natural-rise, the ‘Goddess’ – high-rise. But, what rise works for your body shape?

Low-Rise

If you are long in the waist (low waistline) then the low rise works well for you. If you have a soft oval body shape that is longer and with subtle curves, then the low rise sits at the right place – just at your hip bone – without revealing toomuch midriff. If you are short in the waist, the low-rise will feel so low - as if you body is hanging out over the jeans.
The skinny pant is best suited to an oval and slimmer body shape, and is a trend this season. If you are very skeletal, then you will look like you have sprayed on your trousers and emphasizes your skinniness (Amy Winehouse), and if you are round in the hip, the eye will be drawn to, what will appear larger, hips.
Celebrity: Kiera Knightly

UrbanOutfitters.com $98

Mid-Rise

This waistline sits between your hip and waist. It is best suited to those that are short waisted that need to elongate their waistline, but not take it to the extreme of the low-rise. Most of the mid-rise pants this season are best suited to a straighter body shape. They tend to fall from the waist, adding some weight and body to the hip area, thereby giving the illusion of wider hips. Pleated pants and side pockets both suit the squarer body shape and were a popular style in the 40’s.
Celebrity: Meg Ryan
Classiques Entier $198

Classic-Rise/Natural-Rise

These sit just below the belly button, which is the natural waistline and a popular waistline in the 80’s. If you are long waisted then these can give the illusion of a waist. This season, these tend to come in a straighter cut, which is best suited to a skeletal body shape or those with a classic hourglass.
Celebrity: Ann Curry – Today Show
Theory $230

High-Rise

The high-rise sits right on the waist. The styles this season vary tend to best suit a body shape that is curved. The styles range from the high waisted skinny, which suits a heart body shape, with the tapered ankle representing the point and elongating the leg. Unlike the full rounded curve, the skinny works for a heart shape. Another style is the wide leg pant, either with a yoke and buttons or tapered waistline, and which also suits a curved body shape, from the oval, to heart, to the full curved. The high-rise cut tends to fall from the upper thigh, hugging the hips and then balancing them out with a wide leg. If you wear a squarer cut that falls directly from the waist, then your hips are lost and you look like a big square sack. The wide leg high waisted styles that are not taperedat the hip area but instead fall from the waistline, are best suited to straighter body shape.
Celebrity: J-Lo, Oprah
UrbanOutfitters.com $68

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©2007 Sarah Whittaker[www.thewardrobeshrink.com].
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Sarah Whittaker has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines worldwide, and writes The Wardrobe Shrink Newsletter full of the latest fashion trends, celebrity style and honest image advice.

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