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

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

Vogue’s Ultimate Guide to the Best High-Waist 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 like mom jeans 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 simmer fits look polished with the potential to skew dressy.

A.P.C. New Sailor high-rise cropped straight-leg jeans

$235MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Brock Collection Wright high-rise straight-leg jeans

$475MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Slverlake Hero straight-leg jeans

$259THE WEBSTERShop Now

Good American Good '90s Icon straight jeans

$149SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Goldsign the Martin ultra high-rise jeans

$295SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Totême high-rise cropped straight-leg jeans

$262MATCHESFASHION.COMShop 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.

Tu es mon Tresor Emerald rigid high-rise cropped straight-leg boyfriend jeans

$345MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Everlane the Way High jean

$88EVERLANEShop Now

Hudson Remi high-rise straight cropped jeans

$205SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Ganni high-rise cropped flared jeans

$325MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Rag & Bone Maya high-rise crop flare

$225SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

The Row Lesley cropped straight-leg jeans

$590MATCHESFASHION.COMShop 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.

Re/Done 90s high-rise skinny jeans

$265NET-A-PORTERShop Now

L’Agence Marguerite cropped high-rise skinny jeans

$275NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Balenciaga high-waisted skinny jeans

$625FARFETCHShop Now

Gap Sky high-rise universal jegging with secret smoothing pockets

~~$60~~$41GAPShop Now

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

$260RE/DONEShop 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 Precious Cut jeans

$99& OTHER STORIESShop Now

Off-White main denim Cool baggy jeans

$615SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Frame Le Baggy Palazzo high-rise flare jeans

$278FRAMEShop Now

Levi’s high loose jeans

$108LEVI’SShop Now

Citizens of Humanity Eva stretch high-rise relaxed baggy straight-leg jeans

$228MODA 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 braided high-rise flared jeans

$895NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Paige Genevieve high-waist flare jeans

$229NORDSTROMShop Now

Nili Lotan Celia flared-leg jeans

$395MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Celine Jane flared jeans

$890CELINEShop Now

JW Anderson high-rise flared jeans

$465MYTHERESAShop Now

Veronica Beard Beverly high-rise jeans

$300NET-A-PORTERShop 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.

Victoria Beckham Alina high-rise flared jeans

$480MATCHESFASHION.COMShop 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

Slvrlake Beatnik high-rise skinny jeans

$260NET-A-PORTERShop 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.

Mother high-waisted Rider Skimp jeans

$198MOTHERShop Now

Madewell the perfect vintage ankle jean

~~$128~~$50MADEWELLShop Now

Isabel Marant Dilali high-rise straight-leg cropped jeans

$415MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Khaite Isabella rigid high-rise straight-leg jeans

$380KHAITEShop Now

Still Here poppy stitch Tate cropped straight-leg jeans

$320BERGDORF GOODMANShop Now

Acne Studios Mece high-rise cropped straight-leg jeans

$290MATCHESFASHION.COMShop 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 when paired with the right pieces. Think trim blazers, body-skimming knits, and crisp shirting for a stylish offset.

Grlfrnd Isabeli distressed jeans

~~$248~~$148MYTHERESAShop Now

Favorite Daughter the Jordie super high-rise straight

$198VERISHOPShop Now

Gucci ripped eco-washed organic denim pant

$890GUCCIShop Now

Jonathan Simkhai Standard Eliot high-rise boyfriend jeans

$275NEIMAN MARCUSShop Now

Khaite Danielle distressed high-rise straight-leg jeans

$420MODA OPERANDIShop Now

R13 distressed boyfriend jeans

$445SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Criss-Cross

Though the criss-cross jean trend skews modern, it’s officially a must-have in any denim wardrobe. Maintain a timeless look by opting for a clean, high-rise pair sans distressing, whether you’re for a true blue, charcoal, or a faded wash à la the ’90s.