Denim is an integral part of most people's wardrobes, despite a usual bias toward a specific rise or cut based on body type or personal style. On the popularity scale, though, high rises are, well, pretty up there. This rise can be seen with straight-leg, boot, and wide-leg cuts all the same, and often does well at elongating the legs.

Still, with such a vast market, finding the right pair(s) can be a feat. So, we scoured the internet for high-waisted jeans from our favorite brands and tapped a team of experts, from stylists to our very own editors, for their go-to styles.

Best Overall

Madewell The ’90s Straight Jean

What We Love: The size and inseam length options are aplenty. 

What We Don’t Love: Make sure to read each inseam length before committing to one.

Practically everyone at InStyle seems to shop at Madewell. We’ve repeatedly raved about the brand for its great cuts, prioritization of comfort, and wide size range. There’s something for the plus, the petite, the tall, and the even taller, leaving no one behind. These sleek straight jeans are an essential in every denim wardrobe. They’re the comfort jeans we turn to that magically look good with every outfit. If you love it enough, you can get it in eight washes!

Size: 23–33 | Rise: 11.5 inches| Material: Cotton, recycled polyester, elastane | Washes: 8

Best Budget

Levi's Straight Jeans

What We Love: It has a variety of sizes and inseam lengths. 

What We Don’t Love: You have to follow the detailed wash instructions in order to maintain its quality.

You’d be surprised at how affordable some of the biggest denim retailer’s jeans are. If you don’t already have a pair of Levi’s, take this as your sign to do so. The trusted retailer is known for its quality denim, which typically feels thick, rigid, and comfortable. This pair has two percent elastane woven into the fabric, giving it some stretch and mobility. It’s fitted and form-hugging around the bum and waist but finishes in a straight cut. You can choose between a short and regular inseam length, measuring 30 and 32 inches respectively. Fair warning, however, that even though it’s labeled as “short,” 30 inches is not exactly “petite.” 

Size: 23–33 | Rise: 10.25 inches| Material: Cotton, viscose, polyester, elastomultiester, elastane | Washes: 28

Best Splurge

Rag & Bone Wren Dominique Full Length Straight Jeans

What We Love: According to its honor code, the brand guarantees high quality and will fix or replace anything that doesn't fit the bill.

What We Don’t Love: It’s only offered in one color.

Rag & Bone embraces the classic Americana style, with an edginess reflecting its birth city of New York and fine tailoring stemming from the Brits. These everyday jeans are a manifestation of the brand's ethos, showcasing clean lines through the stitchings, high-quality soft cotton in the body, and a universally loved medium-wash color. As a matter of fact, the brand's promise to quality is so high that it offers to restore or replace any item that isn’t 100 percent as promised. Extra kudos for the follow-through.

Size: 23–32 | Rise: 11 inches| Material: Cotton | Washes: 1

Best Sustainable

Attire The Studio Cambridge Boyfriend Denim

What We Love: The origins of each fabric, how it’s made, and how much the production costs are all traceable. 

What We Don’t Love: The size range is limited.

Sustainable fashion label, Attire, is turning things around not just by using organic materials and ethical business practices, but by offering full price transparency, so you can feel completely aware and connected to your purchases. Enter: These wide-leg, organic cotton denim pants in a rich indigo color with diagonal stitch detailing across the front. Styled well, they'll offer the ultimate old-school-cool-girl look with a new-age sustainable ethos.

Size: 32–42 | Rise: Not listed | Material: Organic cotton | Washes: 1

Best Plus-Size

Universal Standard Farrah High Rise Flared Jeans

What We Love: They're extra stretchy and comfortable. 

What We Don’t Love: Only one inseam length is offered.

At Universal Standard, absolutely all body types are accounted for — and at no point is quality or style sacrificed in doing so. Offered in sizes 00–40 (or 4XS–4XL), these jeans look good no matter who wears them. A mild flare at the hem and a form-hugging top creates a curvy illusion while elongating the legs. With four percent elastane in the denim, they’re extra stretchy and thus easy to slip into. Style-wise, we love the Dark Indigo color for a more polished look, and for something more casual, the Distressed Vintage Blue is the way to go. 

Size: 00–40 | Rise: 9.5–18 inches | Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Washes: 5

Best Curvy

Everlane The Curvy ’90s Cheeky Jean

What We Love: With an adjusted hip-to-waist ratio, these jeans hug all your curves.

What We Don’t Love: The pants run small, so size up if you are between sizes.

High-waisted jeans flatter hourglass figures unlike any other style because they sit at the smallest part of the waist, hugging all of your curves properly. These jeans from Everlane further enhance the effect with an adjusted hip-to-waist ratio to create a form-hugging fit through the hip and thigh. Sustainably made from Japanese cotton, this pair gives you that retro rigid feel. The ankle length fits shorter folks who constantly have to hem their pants well, but you can also shop the straight leg in a regular inseam (two inches longer than the petite). The style does run a little small, though, so you should take this into account as you shop.

Size: 23–33 | Rise: 11.5 inches| Material: Organic cotton | Washes: 4

Most Comfortable

Good American Soft Tech Good Classic Slim Straight Jeans

What We Love: They are so soft that they rival our favorite sweatpants.

What We Don’t Love: From our experience, Good American denim sizes run a little large, so size down if you’re feeling unsure.

Do yourself a favor, and buy any jeans from Good American’s Soft Tech collection. The mix of Tencel, EcoVero, polyester, and Lycra makes them so soft that they easily compete with our sweats. (InStyle Senior Commerce Shannon Bauer recently wore hers on a long road trip upstate.) And yet, they are as thick and sturdy as regular jeans, and visually, few could ever tell them apart from standard denim. 

Size: 00–32 | Rise: 11 inches| Material: Tencel, EcoVero, polyester, Lycra | Washes: 2

Best Tall

Frame Le High Flare Jeans

What We Love: Not only does Frame offer an inseam length that other brands typically don’t, but the material itself is phenomenal as well. 

What We Don’t Love: These are best for women around the six feet range, anything shorter will drag the hem on the floor.

If you’re wondering what denim brand all the celebrities are sporting, the answer is likely going to be Frame. Some of our favorite supermodels (aka long-legged-ladies) have been seen sporting Frame denim, including Giselle Bündchen and Kendall Jenner. I, too, have a pair of the jeans, so I can say they look perfect when paired with some heeled booties on my 5-foot, 8-inch tall body. Note that the inseam length is 34.5 inches which is so long that most brands don’t even offer it. Having tried a bunch of jeans throughout my lifetime, I didn’t think something as standard as jeans could impress me much further, but these surely did. The quality is undeniable, balancing between thick and stretchy and substantial. I’m extremely happy to finally find jeans that don’t look cropped on my legs. 

Size: 23–34 | Rise: 10 inches | Material: Cotton, lyocell, polyester, elastane | Washes: 5

Best Skinny

Good American Skinny Jeans

What We Love: The jeans are very stretchy and easy to slip into. 

What We Don’t Love: The cut is only offered in one color.

Good American truly does promise good legs here. These skinny jeans fit like a glove when I tried them on, hugging every curve and elongating my legs. The material was substantial and didn’t look or feel thin, which I appreciated. They’re also very stretchy which made it much easier to slip into, compared to my notoriously uncomfortable skinny jeans from high school. Please be aware that there is a whopping 6-inch difference between the regular and the long inseam lengths (29 and 35 inches respectively). On me, the 29-inch version did feel slightly cropped at the ankle, but it’s nothing I couldn’t hide with some booties. 

Size: 00–32 | Rise: 10 inches | Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane| Washes: 1

Best Straight

Reformation Liza Ultra High Rise Straight Jeans

What We Love: The material is nice and thick.

What We Don’t Love: The rigid denim takes some time to soften.

Reformation, the label best known for its flirty dresses, also happens to make high-quality denim. The Liza Straight Jeans might be the most popular style, and after owning it for over a year I can see just why. When you think of the perfect “straight cut,” these are a picture of it — they’re not too baggy or too skin-tight around the butt. They’re modest and elegant, making them appropriate for almost all occasions (even casual Fridays at the office, if that’s still a thing). The material is also substantially thick and hasn’t shown a single wear or tear over the years. But given its rigidity, you may need to break in the pants.

Size: 23–34 | Rise: 12 inches | Material: Organic cotton, Tencel lyocell, EcoLycra | Washes: 3

Best Color Range

Citizens of Humanity Annina High Rise Wide Leg Jeans

What We Love: It can be dressed down or up, making it suitable for a wide range of occasions. 

What We Don’t Love: It only comes with one inseam length.

These jeans come highly recommended by none other than our Executive Editor, Danielle McNally, who considers these as one of her favorite high-waisted jeans. “When I want to feel a little dressed up but not too over the top, cool and put-together but effortless, I reach for these jeans,” she says. “The high-rise plus wide leg come together to create a super flattering silhouette, while the material feels substantial but not too thick. In other words, they’re very comfortable.” She finds plenty of occasions to wear them, styling them with a blazer at the office, a white tee on weekends, and a bodysuit for date nights.

Size: 23–34 | Rise: 11.5 inches | Material: Organic cotton | Washes: 12

Best Indigo

Nudie Jeans Clean Eileen Indigo Dipped

What We Love: There are five inseam lengths to choose from. 

What We Don’t Love: The rigid denim will take some time to break in and soften.

Not one, but two style experts beam over this exact pair of jeans from Nudie Jeans. "If I could only wear one pair of jeans for the rest of my life it would be Nudie jeans," says fashion content creator Aarica Nichole. "The fit and quality of the jeans [are] so insanely good, and there are a variety of sizes and lengths, which I appreciate.” She also points out the attention to detail, commending the brand for its transparency of its sustainability mission.

InStyle designer Amanda Lauroechoes much of what Nichole loves. Although it was a bit of a splurge, she could not be more “obsessed” with her purchase. Although it’s the style, fit, and color that she adores, ultimately it’s the ability to choose between five different inseam lengths that truly won her over. 

Size: 24–38 | Rise: Not listed | Material: Organic cotton| Washes: 12

Best Structured

Agolde Riley Long High Rise Straight

What We Love: They're sturdy and decently thick, so they're more likely to last for years. 

What We Don’t Love: It’s only available in one color.

Senior Beauty Commerce Editor Kaitlin Clark wears structured jeans and structured jeans only, despising how stretch denim looks and stretches with time. These Riley jeans were an investment originally, but she has worn them for years as her favorite pair of jeans, easily justifying the cost per wear. “I love jeans that feel like authentic denim,” she exclaims. “I don’t like jeggings or flexibility, I want them to feel strong and sturdy and these jeans do just that” 

There's the faintest hint of stretch to these pants, enough to gently hug the body. Clark suggests sizing down and bearing through the tightness the first week, as eventually the pants get accustomed to your exact fit and become extremely comfortable.

Size: 23–34 | Rise: 10 inches | Material: Cotton, recycled cotton, elastane | Washes: 1

Best Flare

Joe’s Jeans The Molly High Rise Flare Jeans

What We Love: The form-fitting top combined with the flare creates a curvy illusion.

What We Don’t Love: The inseam is very long and might not suit petite women.

Mother of off-duty looks, Jennifer Garner, is frequently spotted in Joe’s Jeans, and if it gets the stamp of approval from her, then you can bet they’re worth the investment. Just to offer something fresh to this roundup, we’re highlighting these white flare pants. The 1970s-inspired silhouette curves around the hips before flaring out at the hem. Light distressing can be found around the knees, so be careful not to get that caught in anything. With a 34.5-inch inseam, they're on the longer side, so if you’re petite you might benefit from some heels. Otherwise, the elongating pants are sure to garner hisome compliments.

Size: 23–34 | Rise: 10.25 inches | Material: Cotton, elastane, lyocell| Washes: 1

Best Light Wash

Just Black Denim The Palazzo Jean

What We Love: They’re stretchy and soft. 

What We Don’t Love: You can’t tumble-dry this piece.

Light wash colors tend to look more casual than the richer navy and indigo tones, so we picked a fit that felt equally as relaxed. These wide-leg pants will quickly become your new favorite go-to’s, thanks to the comforting stretch (it contains two percent elastane) and loose silhouette. When worn with heels, they’ll have an elongating effect on your legs. With sneakers, they ooze '90s vibes. You can’t go wrong with either look, truly. The brand does warn against tumble-drying, so make sure to lay flat after a wash. 

Size: 24–31 | Rise: 11 inches | Material: Cotton, polyester, spandex| Washes: 1

Best Baggy

Ksubi Playback Carpenter Legacy Jeans

What We Love: The big cargo pockets at the front are an eye-catching detail. 

What We Don’t Love: They have complicated wash instructions.

If you want to win some cool points amongst your peers, then allow us to introduce you to these pants from Ksubi. They have both a high waist and an extra-long leg, making them bunch up at the feet for a modern take on the '90s grunge look. More notably you’ll find the big cargo pockets down the front of the pants, sitting against a dark navy blue canvas. They’re rigid jeans, but Ksubi calls them lightweight, so they're unlikely to weigh you down.

Size: 23–33 | Rise: 12.13 inches | Material: Cotton, recycled cotton| Washes: 1

Best Wide-Leg

J.Crew Denim Trouser

What We Love: It’s made of a soft Tencel lyocell material that’s kind on sensitive skin.

What We Don’t Love: We wish it came in more colors.

These high-waist, wide-leg denim jeans from J.Crew are so clean and sophisticated. Perhaps it's the dark wash or the high-quality material, but these pants could easily be dressed up for a night out. If you’d rather spend the day indoors, however, the comfort stretch and soft fabric make it inviting to do so. While most denim pieces are dominantly constructed with cotton, these are composed of 69 percent Tencel lyocell, which is an eco-friendly fiber produced from wood that’s smooth, soft, and kind to sensitive skin. You can look polished and feel relaxed while wearing these, which is a true win in our books. And if you’re worried they might be too long on you, don’t be, as it’s offered in a standard, petite, and tall length. We only wish it came with more color options to choose from as well.

Size: 23–37| Rise: 11.87 inches | Material: Tencel lyocell, recycled cotton, elastane| Washes: 1

Best Petite

Wit & Wisdom High Waist Skinny Jeans

What We Love: They’re wonderfully stretchy and comfortable.

What We Don’t Love: They may have a bit of a jegging feel to them. 

Many brands nowadays offer jeans in various lengths to accommodate petite and tall folks. And while you’ll find plenty of petite options scattered throughout this story, we found these classic skinny jeans to be the best everyday option, inclusive of a wide size range. The petite pants come with an inseam of 26 inches and a 10.25-inch-high waist for women 5 feet, 3 inches tall and under. With a mix of cotton, polyester, and elastane, these jeans are wonderfully stretchy and comfortable — a required trait considering how form-fitting they are. The legging-esque nature of these pants might feel almost too tight on some, which is something worth noting if you are looking for something with a looser cut.

Size: 24–34 | Rise: 10.25 inches | Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Washes: 1

Best Tummy-Control

Spanx Wide Leg Jeans, Raw Indigo Shade

What We Love: They hide core-shaping technology at the waist.

What We Don’t Love: The button is faux and there are no zippers.

Although not a necessity, a cinch of the waist can make us feel great, and who better to turn to for shaping expertise than Spanx? These pants conceal core-shaping technology around the waist, so a bystander would be none the wiser, however, and will only see the sleek long wide legs. Emphasis on the word long, here, as they’re intentionally lengthy and made to be worn with heels. For reference, the petite has a 30-inch inseam. Keep in mind that these are pull-on pants — there are no zippers and the button you see is faux. 

Size: XS–3XL| Rise: 11 inches | Material: Cotton, polyester, elastane| Washes: 1

What to Keep in Mind

• Rise: The rise of your jeans is the distance from the waistband to the crotch seam. High-waisted jeans start at a 10-inch rise but can go up to 12 inches. Celebrity stylist Karla Welch says 10.5 inches is the sweet spot, while some may prefer a higher rise, especially if you are tall or have a long torso.
• Inseam: The inseam is the measurement of the base of the zipper to the bottom of the leg opening. If you struggle with jeans either being too long or too short, start paying attention to the inseam and seek out styles that come in tall or petite sizing as these have longer and shorter inseams, respectively. "For petite women, inseams will range between 21 inches and 30 inches depending on the style of jeans. For example, when wearing skinny jeans look for an inseam between 25 inches and 27 inches," says stylist Jessica Smith. "If you're bringing back a bootcut style with a stacked heel you will want to look for jeans with a 28- to 30-inch inseam. If you're ready to rock a cropped straight-leg jean, pair them with studded mules, and seek denim that is 23 inches to 25 inches long." Nichole recommends taking the measurements of a pair of your favorite jeans and comparing them against the sizing guides. If you’re still unsure what size to buy, use our handy guide on finding the best jeans for your body type. 
• Fabric Content: As you will see from this list, some jeans are made from 100 percent cotton, while others have a little elastane or spandex mixed in. While pure cotton blends don't have "built-in" stretch, they will form with time, molding to your body. If you prefer the vintage feel and look of rigid denim, go for 100 percent cotton. If you prefer a little bit of stretch in your jeans, especially in form-fitting styles like skinny jeans, consider a blend of materials. The touch of synthetic materials also helps the jeans recover to their original shape after a wash. In the end, however, it’s a matter of preference. Nichole notes that structured denim made of 100 percent cotton doesn’t lose shape throughout the day (or years) and therefore finds them to be a better investment.

Your Questions, Answered

What are the pros and cons of high-waisted jeans?

Choosing between rises is mainly about comfort and aesthetics, but the high rise has some advantages. They let you wear shorter tops and bustiers that show off your waist, without necessarily showing too much skin. In highlighting the smallest part of your waist, the cut creates the illusion of long legs, which makes them a great option for those with a long torso.

On the other hand, longer tops and bulky sweaters may look awkward with a high rise, especially if there is too much fabric to tuck into the pants seamlessly. For those who are used to wearing mid and/or low-rise jeans, the higher rise may feel uncomfortable and restrictive with the extra fabric. Ideally, you will own a few jeans in different rises, so you can find the best fit for your outfit and mood for any given day.

How do I style high-waisted jeans?

High-rise jeans are so popular because they're widely flattering and can be dressed up or down with ease, too. During the day, you can pair them with just about anything, whether that's a crop top or a tucked-in tee or sweater. For an evening look, Welch recommends pairing a bodysuit or corset with high-waisted jeans. Throw in some heels and a blazer, and you're ready to hit the town.

Can I wear high-waisted jeans if I'm petite?

Yes, so don't let the extra fabric intimidate you. High-waisted jeans do a great job of elongating your legs and adding definition and balance to your outfit, says Smith. Just make sure to shop for the right inseam length when you do.

Why Shop With Us

Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer at InStyle. Writers Emily Cieslak and Tara Gonzales contributed to this story as well, and together, they consulted the below style experts.

• Aarica Nichole is a fashion content creator.
• Karla Welch is a celebrity stylist and the founder of creative studio The Welchs.
• Jessica Smith is a Brand Manager at Express and a former Stitch Fix stylist.