Fashion It Girls Love This Controversial Pant Trend, so I Tried It for Myself


There's no question, low-rise pants—one of the most divisive trends of the early 2000s—is back and more popular than ever. I remember wearing the trend the first time around—back in my Christina Aguilera/Britney Spears-loving era. After that cycle faded, and high-waisted became the silhouette du jour, I never went near a pair of low-rise pants again for almost a decade. Who knew that in 2025 I'd be embracing the trend again with gusto?
It's all thanks to the recent runways, of course, and the resurgence of Y2K fashion. Designers have reimagined the low-rise silhouette with modern and more wearable updates. We've left the two-inch rise skin-tight silhouettes back in the early 2000's (thank goodness) and today, we're seeing styles with slouchier silhouettes, long inseams, and rises that sit underneath the waist. The updated proportions feel much more approachable, returning with a better, body-inclusive point of view.
A model on the Chanel FW25 runway wearing low-rise pants.
A model on the Sandy Liang FW25 runway wearing low-rise jeans.
It-girls and celebs such as Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber have been backing the low-rise silhouette for the past few years, and of it's unquestionably one of the most embraced trends among Gen-Z. While my millennial self would probably never go back to wearing a pair of True Religion low-rise flares, I am in fact loving the fresh relaxed leg silhouettes that are dominating right now.
Hailey Bieber wearing low-rise jeans.
I tried a whole host of cool and new low-rise pants for myself, and below are some of my favorite styles I loved.
Favorite Low-Rise Pants at a Glance
- Best Low-Rise Trousers: Geel Kennedy Trousers ($152)
- Best Low-Rise Linen Pants: Reformation Vida Pants ($100)
- Best Low-Rise Jeans: Still Here Cool Jeans ($285)
- Best Low-Rise Pants for the Office: Aritzia The Effortless Pant Lo-Rise ($148)
- Best Low-Rise Track Pants: With Jéan Romeo Track Pants ($149)
- Best Affordable Low-Rise Pants: Hollister Pull-On Baggy Pants ($29)
Geel, Kennedy Trousers
Cool-girl brand, Geel, has a number of low-rise pant options, but I'm particularly enamored with the Kennedy trouser—a chic low-waisted wide-leg silhouette that can easily be dressed up or down. These also come in ecru and espresso color ways. One thing to mention, these run long so you will likely need to get them hemmed unless you are very tall.
For reference, I am wearing a size small.
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Still Here, Cool Jeans
When it comes to low-rise jeans, one of my all time favorites has to be Still here's Cool jeans. Yes, they're pricey, but they're 100% worth the splurge—and hype. They sit low on the waist and have and adjustable toggle which I find helpful. They're loose but not overly baggy. The quality is amazing, and simply put, these jeans look cool AF on. Note: these run pretty long so I got them hemmed.
For reference I'm wearing a size 26.
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Reformation, Vida Low Rise Pant
Ref's Vida pants come in a regular woven fabric with a ton of colors available, as well as the linen option which is what I'm wearing here, and loving for the warmer months. They're very comfortable, effortlessly chic, and I love the no-waistband look.
For reference, I'm wearing a size 2.
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Lioness, Idyllic Pant
Lioness is another brand with plenty of low-rise options under their belt, but I was drawn to the Idyllic pant which are linen and look very polished. I love the navy hue, but actually these are great because you can really choose where they sit at your hip thanks to the adjustable drawstring waist.
For reference, I'm wearing a size small.
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With Jéan, Sadie Jeans
Another chic denim option is With Jéan's Sadie Jeans. The low-rise silhouette of these jeans are accentuated with a built-in buckle at the waistband which gives more of a Y2K aesthetic. These are chic for a statement moment. These have no-stretch (made of rigid denim) and I sized up for a more comfortable fit.
For reference, I'm wearing a size medium.
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Hollister, Linen-Blend Pull-On Baggy Pants
If you're looking for an affordable pair of low-rise pants these Hollister linen-blend pull-on baggy pants are perfection. They sit low and loose at the waist with a drawstring silhouette and unlike many other white linen pants I've tried, are not see-through at all. They come in four cool colors and are so easy to wear.
For reference, I'm wearing a size Small.
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Shop More of My Favorite Low-Rise Pants:

Judith Jones is the associate shopping director at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for over a decade. She specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.
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