High Rise Jeans: The Appeal?

[King Francis]

Okay, reading the PBJ thread has led me to ask something I've been wondering. I know a lot of you here wear Samurai, Sugar Cane, and other brands with rises that to me seem unwearably high (close to 11" or even higher). My jeans are all sub-10". How do you do it? Does that high of a rise not really feel so high, or do you prefer to wear jeans above the hips, or what? I'm not trying to rip on anyone, it's just rather alien to my attitude vis a vis denim. Maybe if we could all lift our shirts and show where the waists of our jeans hit relative to our navels, I would understand (not that I'm suggesting this method).

Now, maybe the fact that I'm shorter than Sauce, cheap, braidkid, etc. has something to do with it. From the pictures I've seen, Samurais and whatnot look good on the aforementioned, but I can't imagine wearing them, which is unfortunate because they're tempting. But seriously, a 9.5" rise (on PBJs, for instance) to me sounds like nothing to worry about. I know the rise needs to be proportionally higher for taller guys, but I'm still pretty bemused by the talk of APC Hipsters being "ball-hurtingly low" and all of that.

(If you're doing it because you like wearing repros of the high rise jeans of yore -- and must therefore acquiesce to tradition -- then okay. My question is directed at people who wear high rise whether on a repro model or not. Please take the comment as an honest inquiry.)

 

[evilgeniusdan]

I think it probably has to do with people having different builds. Some people are just built to wear repro fits while others don't look good/don't fit well in them.

 

[sygyzy]

What's funny is that 10" and higher rises are considered the norm, but if you spend enough time in this forum, you are led to think that 8" rises and below are the only acceptable measurement. That if you are not bordering on male cameltoe, then your jeans are too baggy.

 

[Saucemaster]

I think it has to do with torso length and proportion, mostly. I know it *feels* like a huge difference when you put them on, but we're really talking a matter of just a couple inches at most, from, say, a 9.5" rise to an 11.5" rise. Different body types can vary radically, so the idea that a two-inch higher rise looks fine on someone who's a bit taller and has a longer torso isn't that strange.

 

[tljenkin]

Im six and half feet tall and the sda 103's were much too low rise for me. I had to graduate up to the Samurais (especially for the inseam length) and they look and feel perfectly on me. I think it's all about proportions.

 

[King Francis]

Originally Posted by sygyzy

What's funny is that 10" and higher rises are considered the norm, but if you spend enough time in this forum, you are led to think that 8" rises and below are the only acceptable measurement. That if you are not bordering on male cameltoe, then your jeans are too baggy.
That's not the impression I've gotten at all. Seems to me like the majority of regular posters wear what I would call high rise jeans and place rises of 9.5" and below on a spectrum from low to really goddamn low. Sauce: Yeah, what I'm wondering is, does an 11.5" rise fit someone like you the way a 9.5" rise fits me? In other words, are the people wearing high rise jeans actually getting fits like mine (proportioned for their bodies), or are they just accustomed to a higher waistband than me? Either way, I think some of the really nice brands leave me out in the cold. Obviously the rise usually increases in length for the larger waist sizes, but some brands use high rises even for their sub-30" waist sizes.

 

[Ott]

I sag most of my jeans on my hips anyway so a mid-highish rise jeans work better. Usually. (depends on the rest of the cut)

 

[Rye GB]

My Dior's are a 10" rise. This is fairly high compared to my other jeans. I like the higher rises if only because I can wear them low and I'm not flashing the pube beard most often visible with the LA jean/tee crowd.

 

[Jovan]

Most of my jeans have a 9" rise and I'm about 6'1.

 

[Ott]

Originally Posted by King Francis

From the pictures I've seen, Samurais and whatnot look good on the aforementioned, but I can't imagine wearing them, which is unfortunate because they're tempting. But seriously, a 9.5" rise (on PBJs, for instance) to me sounds like nothing to worry about. I know the rise needs to be proportionally higher for taller guys, but I'm still pretty bemused by the talk of APC Hipsters being "ball-hurtingly low" and all of that.
well, I think it's a bit more complicated than you're making it out to be. For example a pair of New Standards and a pair of diors have roughly the same front rise, but the diors feel far, far roomier in the crotch. I think this is due to the lowered yoke and elongated back rise. With regards to the XX-005, something about the design just conspires to make it really unforgiving. It isn't just the front rise, it just feels really shallow. So despite the fact that people tend to emphasize the front rise, it isn't necessarily a good indicator of how the top block fits; there are lots of other factors that go into it. For example the back rise, the shape and size of the back yoke, the size and placement of the pockets, where the jeans are "meant" to be worn, etc etc.

 

[Jovan]

I did no such thing. I merely stated what my rise was in comparison to my height.

Now, if only you'd tell this to the many people who emphasize certain things in Men's Clothing as being definitive of the fit in that area...

 

[Ott]

whoops, I didn't mean to quote your post Jovan

I edited it. Sorry about that

EDIT- and for the record, I'm about 6ft tall and all the jeans I own have a rise of 10" or higher. The only pair I'd consider to be remotely high would be my RB11s. EDIT2- wait I lied. I have a pair of Nudie Svens that have a rise of 9.5 or so.

 

[Jovan]

It's okay. I won't **** my wrists... this time.

 

[dtmt]

Actual number of inches doesn't matter in determining whether or not a rise is "low" or "high." PROPORTION means everything. Imagine you could strech or shrink a pair of jeans and make while keeping the proportions all the same. The length of the rise would increase and decrease as well, wouldn't it? This is why trying to say "a rise of XX inches is too low/high/just right/etc" makes no sense without the waist and inseam.

For example, a 9" rise on a 28" waist is equivalent to a 11.6" rise on a 36" waist.
Whereas a 12" rise on a 28" waist would be proportional to a 15.4" rise on a 36" waist.

Also, you need to keep in mind the BACK RISE as well, not just the front rise. For example, APC Hipster has a relatively low back rise compared to most men's jeans with a similar front rise, meaning that there will be less room for your junk and your crack will show easier (so maybe it's a good idea to just stick to men's jeans).

 

[jet]

OP needs to stick to wearin frankie b's.