Is It Time to Go Back to Low-Waist Denim?

By: Aisha Morales

Fashion comes and goes, we’ve all seen that. The increasing popularity of vintage stores around the world is a testament to fashion’s ceaseless cycle.

Clothing with a ‘vintage’ feel and pieces from the 90s, 80s and even 70s have all made reappearances in our wardrobes at some point. However, there’s one trend from the past that has yet to make a strong comeback and that is the low-rise pant. Specifically, low-waist denim.

A couple of months ago, I came across Nasty Gal’s clothing line in collaboration with model Emily Ratatowski. Emily, better known as @emrata on Instagram, has a body that can pull off and sell any article of clothing. Despite this fact, I was still surprised when I discovered a pair of low-waist pants in her clothing line. The first thought that came across my head was: “huh?”

As I said before, Emrata has a beautiful body, that ‘allows’ her to wear low-waist pants without people criticizing her body. Now, this is a disclaimer: anyone can wear those types of pants, no matter your shape or size, you can wear anything that makes you comfortable!

That being said, I am not a person that is very comfortable with their stomach. I am a thin girl but with a tendency to bloat. And when I sit down, you will see my rolls. So, due to my insecurities, I would probably not be purchasing low-waist jeans anytime soon.

However, as we all have seen, fashion changes. And it changes in a way that it makes it nearly impossible to not adapt our style to what is trendy. As much as I want to be part of the #nobuy challenge and have a capsule wardrobe, I still find myself in the hands of consumerism and fast fashion at times.

A few years ago, I would have never seen myself without skinny jeans in my wardrobe. Now, my dearly beloved skinny jeans are abandoned at my parents’ house while I fully wear mom jeans and wide-leg trousers. Is it in fashion nowadays to wear more loose-fit pants? Yes. Am I a fashion victim and a consumer? Unfortunately, also yes.

Don’t get me wrong though. I am not trying to say that I am buying all of these clothes because I want to be fashionable. Not at all. It all comes back to how fashion and the marketing side of it make us feel like we NEED those clothes, we need to change our style. New year, new me, right?

My conclusion is, don’t buy something unless you are 100% sure you are going to feel comfortable wearing it. I have made that mistake various times and it is sad to see a beautiful garment abandoned in a wardrobe with no use. Nevertheless, if you are thinking of getting low-waist jeans, go for it! They will look good on you as long as you feel comfortable and you know how to rock them.