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From tiny purses to butterfly clips, the Y2K fashion trends of the early 2000s are back in style, and love them or hate them, low-rise jeans are popular again, too.
Although it is often associated with fashion from the turn of the 21st century, the low-rise jean was originally designed in Los Angeles by Irene Krasmer in 1957—with rock legends such as Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix sporting the ultra-low-rise look. Then, decades later, in 1994, Alexander McQueen put low-rise jeans back on the map with the Bumster Pant. From there, this denim style gradually spread, and “by 2000, the iconic low-rise fashion emerged,” says celebrity stylist Tanya Tamburin. “Britney Spears is most credited with popularizing the fashion after she started wearing them that same year."
With one of Y2K’s biggest fashion trends making its way back to our wardrobes, we went searching for the best low-rise jeans, considering the quality and fit, as well as leg styles and different rise lengths.
Read on for our top picks of the best low-rise jeans.
Best Overall
Reformation Addison Low Rise Relaxed Jeans
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Nordstrom
The Addison Low Rise Relaxed Jeans is our choice for best overall because they features the perfect modern low-rise design with a 10.5-inch rise, relaxed fit, and ankle-length style. They’re low-rise jeans that can be worn casually or dressed up with a blouse and heels, giving them versatility. They’re a great sustainable option, too, as the fabrication is created from 60 percent organically grown cotton and TENCEL Lyocell.
Price at time of publish: $148
Material: 60% organic cotton, 40% TENCEL Lyocell | Size Range: 23-31 | Inseam: 31 inches | Rise: 10.5 inches
Best Budget
Wild Fable Low-Rise Distressed Bootcut Jeans
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Target
Target’s Wild Fable is a great place to shop throwback Y2K trends, and low-rise jeans are no exception. These $25 jeans are fitted with flared bootcut legs, have a lived-in feel with slight distressing, and cut off just around the heels, giving them a more modern spin. We also love these jeans because not only are they budget-friendly, but they are also high quality, have a good size range, and the back pockets are designed to make you look good.
Material: 91% cotton, 7% polyester, 2% spandex | Size Range: 00-16 | Inseam: 31 inches
Best Designer
Rag & Bone Dre Low Rise Slim Boyfriend Jeans
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Revolve
If you’re looking to splurge on a pair of low-rise designer denim, we found the best pair in the Dre Low Rise Slim Boyfriend Jeans from Rag & Bone. The classic boyfriend style and 9-inch rise make these jeans the perfect relaxed pants. But these jeans aren’t just fashionable; they’re functional, too. The denim blend features elastane, which gives them some stretch, making them comfortable enough for everyday wear (and, trust us, you’ll want to wear these every day).
Material: 92% cotton, 6% elastomultiester, 2% elastane | Size Range: 23-34 | Inseam: 30 inches | Rise: 9 inches
Best Slim
Agolde Lyle Low Rise Slim
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Revolve
These jeans are like the perfect crossover between mom jeans and low-rise denim. The straight-leg style boasts a modern touch with a leg-lengthening inseam for a fit that is effortlessly cool. They are also available in a few must-have washes, including a stunning light wash, rich medium wash, and faded black.
Price at time of publish: $188 for size 27
Material: 100% organic cotton | Size Range: 23-34 | Inseam: 31.5 inches | Rise: 10.5 inches
Best Carpenter
Abercrombie & Fitch Low Rise Carpenter Jeans
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A&F
In addition to low-rise jeans, carpenter and utility pants are also in right now—and these from Abercrombie & Fitch are the best of both worlds. The low-rise carpenter pants are designed with wide relaxed legs that hit the ankle (and are available in regular, short, and tall). The pants are available in a faded wash with a utility patch pocket, a light wash with distressing and a hammer loop, and a cream color, too.
Price at time of publish: $100
Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Size Range: 24-33 | Inseam: 27-33 inches
Best on Amazon
Wrangler Retro Sadie Low Rise Stretch Boot Cut Jean
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Amazon
Amazon is a great place to shop trendy styles, including low-rise jeans. We love this classic cut from Wrangler, which is available in 11 washes and styles and a range of sizes from 00 to 19. The jeans are made from 100 percent cotton with a retro five-pocket design and classic embellished details. We’re not the only ones who love these low-rise jeans—they have 4.5 stars from over 1,000 customers with rave reviews for their low-rise cut, faded wash, and slight stretch.
Price at time of publish: $700
Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: 00-19 waist; 30-36 length | Rise: 7.75 inches
Best Black
Topshop Low Rise Bootcut Jeans
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Nordstrom
We are obsessed with these black low-rise jeans. They have a perfect bootcut flare, feature great pockets, and are designed specifically with the Y2K low-rise style in mind. The black is also a great wash—not too dark but not faded—and the jeans have a little bit of stretch for maximum comfort.
Price at time of publish: $70
Material: 91% cotton, 7% polyester, 2% elastane | Size Range: 24-34
Best Light Wash
Free People We the Free Shelby Low-Rise Boyfriend Jeans
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Nordstrom
If you’re looking for a good pair of light-wash low-rise denim, our favorite is the Free People Shelby Low-Rise Boyfriend Jeans in Free Bird Blue. The ultra-light denim is designed with a slouchy boyfriend look with slightly baggy legs and, despite the loose fit, they are still ultra-flattering with the addition of a front yoke seam, which gives them some additional shape.
Price at time of publish: $78
Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: 24-32 | Inseam: 33 inches | Rise: 8.2 inches
Best Sustainable
Citizens of Humanity Inga Low Rise Slim
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Nordstrom
For a more sustainable pair of low-rise jeans, we love these from Citizens of Humanity. The jeans come in a few washes, including white, medium blue, and light blue, and have a great size range from 23-34. The jeans are made to look and feel vintage, making them a great choice for everyday jeans, too.
Price at time of publish: $218
Material: 98% cotton, 2% polyurethane | Size Range: 23-34 | Inseam: 29 inches | Rise: 9 inches
Best Straight Leg
Madewell The Low-Rise Perfect Vintage Straight Jean
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Zappos
Straight leg silhouettes give low-rise jeans a modern feel, making this category a good option for someone looking to try the style out after years of wearing more high-waisted looks. We love these jeans from Madewell because they have the most perfect blue wash, an ultra-low 8-inch rise, and have some slight stretch for maximum comfort.
Price at time of publish: $128
Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Size Range: 23-33 | Inseam: 29 inches | Rise: 8 inches
Best Boyfriend
American Eagle AE Low-Rise Tomgirl Jean
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AE
When shopping for a pair of boyfriend jeans, we prefer a pair made from rigid denim, which gives them a durable, high-quality feel. These from American Eagle are made from 100 percent cotton (with 5 percent recycled cotton) and feature a relaxed silhouette that sits low down on the hips, a tapered leg, and rolled hems.
Material: 95% cotton, 5% recycled cotton | Size Range: 000-20 (in short, regular, and long) | Inseam: 13.5 inches | Rise: 10 inches
Best Bootcut
Paige Sloane Low Rise Bootcut Jeans
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Amazon
Bootcut jeans are one of the most flattering low-rise styles. These from Paige take that up a notch with their sleek and versatile design that can pair with heels or boots for a dress-up vibe or sneakers and a tank top for a casual Y2K ensemble. In addition to their versatility, the jeans are the perfect light wash denim shade, feature figure-flattering angled pockets, and have a slight stretch, so they hug in all the right places.
Price at time of publish: $152
Material: 93% cotton, 5% polyester, 2% spandex | Size Range: 23-34 | Inseam: 34 inches | Rise: 9.5 inches
Best Flare
American Eagle AE Ne(x)t Level Low-Rise Flare Jean
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AE
Behold: The most comfortable low-rise flared jeans. Designed with ultra-stretchy and soft fabrication and a silhouette reminiscent of the early 2000s, these jeans are a great option for classic low-rise, too. On top of everything else, they also have a great medium wash with some slight fading for a lived-in vintage look.
Material: 80% cotton, 12% polyester, 6% viscose, 2% elastane | Size Range: 000-20 | Inseam: 23 inches | Rise: 9.5 inches
Best Wide Leg
Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love 90s Low Rise Baggy Jeans
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A&F
Inspired by the low-rise denim of the ’90s, these Abercrombie & Fitch jeans come in four vintage-inspired washes in a wide-leg silhouette. We love them for their classic wide-leg look, but also because the sizing is so spectacular, as they are available in short, regular, and tall. The jeans are also ultra-soft and made of 99 percent cotton and 1 percent elastane, which creates some give and helps achieve the perfect fit.
Price at time of publish: $89
Material: 99% cotton, 1% elastane | Size Range: 24-33 (in short, regular, and long) | Inseam: 26.5-32.5 inches
Best Distressed
GRLFRND Bella Low Rise Boyfriend
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Revolve
The thing about distressed jeans is that you want them to look naturally distressed—and the Bella Low Rise Boyfriend jeans from GRLFRND are just that. With their 11.5-inch rise (they're supposed to be worn baggy), they have a slightly higher rise than other jeans on this list, which makes them a great choice for someone who is on the fence about the trend.
Price at time of publish: $225
Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: 23-32 | Inseam: 30 inches | Rise: 11.5 inches
Best Plus Size
Good American Good ‘90s Loose
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Saks
These loose-fitting low-rise jeans from Good American are available in a variety of sizes, including plus-size options. Inspired by the ’90s, they have a straight—yet oversized—silhouette, are made from 100 percent cotton, and are comfortable enough for everyday wear. Although they're technically high-rise, you can size up and wear them lower on the waist for that coveted baggy look. While they look great with a pair of sneakers, we love to dress these up with a slim heel to create contrast.
Price at time of publish: $155
Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: 00-26 | Inseam: 33.5 inches | Rise: 10.34 inches
Best Petite
Old Navy Low-Rise Slouchy Boot-Cut Non-Stretch Jeans
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Old Navy
For petite sizes, you want to check out low-rise jeans made for your body type, as so many of them can have legs that are a tad too long. These low-rise jeans from Old Navy have the perfect fit with petite sizing (as well as regular and tall), come in a versatile medium blue wash, and smoothing front pockets that add to the overall complimentary design.
Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: 0-30 (regular); 2018 (tall) | Inseam: 32-36 inches
Meet the Expert
Tanya Tamburin is a celebrity stylist who has worked with stars like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Michael J. Fox. Her work can be seen in Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, and Saturday Night Live.
What to Look for in Low-Rise Jeans
Fit and quality
Tamburin says the number one and two things to look for are “fit and quality.” After all, they are jeans and are meant to feel comfortable, fit well, and last a long time.
Pocket placement
You also want to consider the pockets. “Look at where the pockets are placed and how big they are,” Tamburin explains. The pocket placement and size can impact how your booty looks in jeans and keeping this in mind will help you find the style that fits your preference.
Why Trust Byrdie
Contributing writer Jessie Quinn has a bachelor's degree in fashion journalism. From working in the fashion closet and interviewing designers at NYLON to writing about the best style trends for various publications, Jessie researches, and sources the best fashion finds. When researching the best low-rise jeans, Jessie kept fit and quality top of mind and considered different rise lengths, leg styles, and options inspired by the Y2K era she grew up in with a more modern twist.
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