Vogue’s Ultimate Guide to the Best High-Waisted Jeans

Black, white, flared, cropped, and all the other high-waisted jeans to shop now.

Vogue’s Ultimate Guide to the Best High-Waisted Jeans

The best high-waisted jeans are those you feel most confident in—every woman knows a less-than-comfortable pair comes with debilitating effects. Pinches and gaps—no, thank you. When a high-rise hits just right, the rest of your outfit sings, whether you’re styling in a waist-skimming crop, French-tucking a crisp button-up, or opting for a fitted bodysuit or tee.

Of course, the best high-waisted jeans will vary in wash, fabrication, and silhouette—it’s about personal preference and the look you aim to embody when a denim mood strikes. Timeless styles like straight-legs and skinnies sans distressing are the most versatile in medium-blue tones and well-suited to dressed-down days and elevated moments alike. Flares and crops are popular classics, too—the former looks great in deeper washes and the latter helps to spotlight your footwear. Laidback ease is the overarching tone guiding trendier high-rise jeans this season, with baggy legs as the silhouette du jour.

When it comes to fit and fabric, a hint of stretch adds comfort. On the other hand, rigid cotton is beloved for its structure, becoming perfectly lived-in, wear after wear—this rings especially true in vintage-inspired cuts and roomier straight-legs. There’s also a tremendous shift toward more sustainable production among many denim brands. Recycled fibers, eco-friendly wash, and dying techniques, and ethical working conditions are just a few ways denim makers continue to improve their products and standards. Without further ado, Vogue’s edit of the best high-waisted jeans currently on the market.

Straight

High-waisted straight-leg jeans are the epitome of classic denim. Lighter hues and slightly roomier legs exude vintage-inspired style, while inkier tones and slimmer fits look polished with the potential to skew dressy.

A.P.C. Spring high-rise straight-leg jeans

$275MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Brock Collection Wright high-rise straight-leg jeans

$475MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Eve Denim Silverlake Juliette jean

~~$310~~$155THE WEBSTERShop Now

Good American Good Curve straight with frayed hem

$16911HONOREShop Now

Off-White two-tone straight-leg jeans

$680SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Slvrlake Beatnik rigid high-rise slim-leg jeans

$280MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Cropped

Whether you’re petite or want all eyes on your shoes, cropped high-waisted jeans are a casual staple. Pair yours with flats or slides on your most leisurely days and heeled boots or stilettos when dialing things up.

AG Renn high-waist crop straight-leg jeans

$215NORDSTROMShop Now

Everlane the Way High jean

$78EVERLANEShop Now

Hudson Remi high-rise straight cropped jeans

$205SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Isabel Marant Etoile Laliskasr jeans

$345SHOPBOPShop Now

Rag & Bone Maya high-rise crop flare

$225SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

The Row Christie cropped straight-leg jeans

$590SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Skinny

Do skinny jeans ever really go out of style? Quick answer: No. For maximum freshness, look to ultra-clean lines, rigid fabrics, or throwback features like pale and acid washes.

Helmut Lang high-rise skinny jeans

$340NET-A-PORTERShop Now

L’Agence Marguerite cropped high-rise skinny jeans

$275NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Balmain acid-wash skinny jeans

$995FARFETCHShop Now

Goldsign Farrel high-waisted jeans

$333FARFETCHShop Now

Re/Done 90s comfort stretch high-rise ankle crop skinny jeans

$260NET-A-PORTERShop Now

The Attico high-waist slim-fit jeans

$387FARFETCHShop Now

Baggy

Perhaps it’s a response to comfort fashion ruling the past year, but baggy jeans are the It silhouette of 2021. Whether you go the ultra-relaxed route with a wide leg that pools around your ankles or take a sleeker approach via a billowing trouser or slouchy straight-leg, the key is offsetting the volume with a fitted or polished piece on top.

& Other Stories Dear Cut jeans

$99& OTHER STORIESShop Now

Balenciaga baggy jean

$1,150SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Frame Le Baggy wide-leg jeans

$322MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Levi’s high loose jeans

$108LEVI’SShop Now

Magda Butrym pleated rigid high-rise tapered-leg jeans

$430MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Samaria Leah Virgo vintage Levi’s with zodiac print

$130SAMARIA LEAHShop Now

Flared

With a decidedly ’70s feel, high-waisted flare jeans can go one of two ways: Tailored and sophisticated or chilled-out and casual. When aiming for the former, seek out a dark or medium-blue wash without distressing. To lean into the season’s current surfer vibe, sun-soaked washes, gentle distressing, or a two-tone design will hit the nail on the head.

Chloé printed high-rise flared jeans

$795NET-A-PORTERShop Now

G-Star RAW deck ultra-high-waist wide-leg jeans

$150NORDSTROMShop Now

Nili Lotan Celia flared-leg jeans

$395MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Paco Rabanne rigid high-rise bootcut jeans

$520MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Veronica Beard Florence high-rise skinny flare jeans

$348BERGDORF GOODMANShop Now

Victoria Beckham patchwork high-rise flared wide-leg jeans

$487MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

White

Synonymous with warm-weather locales and easy summer living, high-waisted white jeans look best with nautical knits, breezy tops, and simple tanks. For a 2021 take on white or creamier shades of denim, try a roomy barrel or slouchy straight leg. In favor of timelessness? You can’t fail in a clean wide-leg or slim pleated style.

Alexander Wang distressed high-rise straight-leg jeans

$395NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Bottega Veneta high-rise straight jeans

$890MYTHERESAShop Now

Citizens of Humanity Calista high-rise tapered jeans

$230NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Erdem x Universal Standard Hana patchwork jeans

$148UNIVERSAL STANDARDShop Now

Tory Burch high-rise slim jeans

$198MYTHERESAShop Now

Warp + Weft NCE Plus wide-leg

$98VERISHOPShop Now

Black

The ultimate evening jean is unquestionably black, whether you prefer a slim-straight, cropped, or boyfriend silhouette. Washes range from the blackest black to faded hues that border on charcoal—we’re partial to small details like top-stitching or brushed hardware for extra style points.

Celine Margaret jeans

$690CELINEShop Now

Madewell Perfect vintage high-rise ankle length slim jeans

$128VERISHOPShop Now

MM6 Maison Margiela high-rise cropped boyfriend jeans

$350MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Mother the Rider Skimp jeans

$230FARFETCHShop Now

Still Here poppy stitch Tate cropped straight-leg jeans

$320BERGDORF GOODMANShop Now

Totême original high-rise straight-leg jeans

$280NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Distressed

Distressing can easily skew sloppy, but if you’re discerning, the result reads anything but. Like baggy jeans, high-waisted distressed jeans appear infinitely more polished with the right pieces as part of the equation. Think trim blazers, body-skimming knits, and crisp shirting for a stylish offset.