These High-Waisted Pants Look Great on Everyone

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You know the saying: When everyone else goes low, go high? While that specific phrase may have been referring to taking the high road, we like to take it literally with regard to our pants. High-waisted pants, that is. This style of trousers is on the rise (sorry, had to) in 2024 and should be every man’s new, must-have closet essential.

High-waisted pants themselves aren’t new—they first came onto the scene in the 1940s when Levi’s produced jeans for women during the war effort—but their popularity lost traction over time, and other rises, like mid and low, became the new norm. Now they’re back and, might we say, better than ever.

Believe us, we know this style of pants can be intimidating. But it’s helpful to know that high-rise just refers to the length of the crotch seam to the top of the pants. You can breathe a sigh of relief that they actually sit at your natural waist right above the belly button, which helps make your legs look longer and your torso look leaner. And if you’re still not convinced, hopefully this list of the nine best pairs will get you there.

Refined Pleated Stretch Chino

It’s no surprise that a pair of high-waisted chinos by Bonobos made the list—when it comes to pants, these guys do it right. Style the bottoms with either a blazer or a crisp dress shirt for a sophisticated (and, dare we say, hot?) fit.

Japanese Loomstate Selvedge Full Saddle Jean

Your ass (and the rest of the world) will thank you for this pair of high-waisted denim. An ode to the bold style of the ’90s, it’s inspired by vintage shrink-to-fit jeans and has an organic texture that develops more character with every wear.

Fresco High Rise Trousers

These trousers look as good on the clock as they do after-hours, and you can wear them just about anywhere. (Trust us, our editors have.) Designed with breathable, wrinkle-resistant fabric, they’re the ultimate grab-and-go option.

Gurkha Trouser

Now, these are what we’re talking about. Inspired by a vintage British military style, this pair of Todd Snyder pants is breathable, durable, and comfortable—basically the blueprint of what high-waisted trousers should be.

Original 874 Work Pants

Dickies is known for its no-nonsense approach to functional workwear, and this pair of high-waisted trousers just might be America’s favorite thing to wear to the office. Timeless, durable, and sleek, these best-sellers look just as good with sneakers as they do with loafers.

Belted Sortino Pants

Picture this: You’re sitting on a patio on the Amalfi Coast, lounging in these beautifully draped cotton pants and blissfully drinking an Aperol spritz. While you may actually be scrolling through this list at your 9-to-5, it doesn’t hurt to dream, and this type of pants will let you do just that.

The Pleated Air Chino

If you want to look stylish this summer while also staying cool, add these high-waisted chinos to your cart immediately. Crafted with lightweight organic cotton, they’re perfect for the warmer weather and won’t let the heat cramp your style.

High-Waisted Pants

When you think of high-waisted pants, your mind probably jumps to Urkel from Family Matters, right? And though he did rock the hell out of his trousers, these Saint Laurent pants are a far cry from what the nerd next door would wear.

Men’s High-Rise Trousers

Helmut Lang is a global force in fashion, creating minimalist, utilitarian designs inspired by cultural landmarks. The brand’s high-rise wool trousers are a tribute to the spirit of N.Y.C. and are guaranteed to stop traffic from Park Avenue to Houston Street. (Just remember the yellow ones will hit you.)

Why You Should Trust Us

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great.

Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams. When it comes to high-waisted pants, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our fashionable colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear.

We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these high-waisted pants are the ones that are simply the best. Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to start.

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