The fashion cycle strikes again and has bestowed upon us a resurgence of one of the most iconic trends of the noughties - low-rise jeans for women. For those of us who were around for the golden era, where pop culture was scandalous (Britney, we're looking at you), fashion was fearless, music was infectious and low-rise jeans were the go-to.
You'd think we'd all be used to it by now, with trends like ballet pumps, teeny tiny shoulder bags and waistcoat tops coming back, next up on the agenda was obviously going to be low-rise jeans. Back in the 2000's these were best paired with the most cropped top you could find (or cut yourself - we really did not care back then) and a chunky belt. Without a doubt, Paris Hilton was the it girl when it came to styling them.
Grazia's Best Low-Rise Jeans, At A Glance
Best low-rise jeans: Weekday Arrow Low Straight Jeans, £50 on Weekday
Best flared low-rise jeans: Diesel Bootcut And Flare Jeans 1969 D-Ebbey 09h61, £155 on Diesel
Best super-low-rise jeans: Calvin Klein Extreme Low Rise Baggy Jeans, £110 on Calvin Klein
Having said that, there are certainly ways of styling low-rise jeans to dial back the Y2K fashion and bring them more into 2024. Take a look at Emrata for example, as she elegantly paired her jeans with a basic white vest top and chunky brown loafers.
Other ways to style low-rise jeans include a graphic t-shirt and bold trainers, or elevating your office attire with a crisp blazer and pointed ballet pumps. Could it be that low-rise jeans are even considered chic nowadays? It all comes down to the styling.
Ready to re-embrace the trend? Take a look at our pick of the best hip-huggers.
SHOP: The Best Low-Rise Jeans
Best low-rise jeans
Weekdaywww.weekday.com
For a pair of low-rise jeans that won't cost you the world, this Weekday pair is great. Available in a range of denim washes, including a shade of dark denim everyone's after this year, these jeans go with everything. Plus, they're made from an organic cotton and recycled cotton denim which makes them slightly more durable than other jeans, so you can be sure to get plenty of wear out of them.
Best flared low-rise jeans
Dieseluk.diesel.com
Back in the early 2000's Diesel built its following on creating low-rise and distressed jeans. These bootcut style jeans emulate a classic 90's design, with a stretch denim with a light blue wash. Make sure you bag them quickly, as they're sold out in a few sizes already.
Best super-low-rise jeans
Calvin Kleinwww.calvinklein.co.uk
For a baggy low-rise jean that's guaranteed to get your undergarments peeping out the back in true Y2K style, these 'extreme low' jeans are for the bravest only. That's because they are what they say in the name - extremely low-waisted. Also with a tapered leg, relaxed fit and zip fly, Calvin Klein jeans are as comfortable as they are stylish.
Best organic denim low-rise jeans
Net-A-Porterwww.net-a-porter.com
AGOLDE, the Los Angeles-based brand that's loved by Rihanna, Gigi Hadid and Sofia Richie, is known for its hard-wearing jeans and comfortable jeans. This pair is no different, with a wide-leg shape and a waistband that hugs the hips, these Clara Baggy jeans are practically made for dressing up with a crisp white shirt, and dare we say it, a pair of ballet flats. The best part? They're made from a gloriously soft organic denim that'll only get softer with each wash.
Best Levi's low-rise jeans
Levi'swww.levi.com
It wouldn't be a jean round-up without a good old pair of Levi's. With a design that Levi's describe as 'straight out of the 00's.' these jeans are a perfect everyday jean with a more relaxed fit. Although they feature one of Levi's lowest rises ever, the wash and width of the jeans make the jeans appear less Y2K, and therefore are easier to style. It's also worth noting that they advise to size up one size due to the fit of the Superlow jeans.
Best black low-rise jeans
Zarawww.zara.com
For a pair of black low-rise jeans on a budget, the Zara Low-Rise jeans are a great option. Featuring a faded effect, this denim wash is perfect for pairing with anything grey, or white for an added pop. That's not all, the straight leg design is super flattering on any body shape. In fact, you could say we've just found a new staple pair of jeans.
Best straight-leg low-rise jeans
Massimo Dutti www.massimodutti.com
Deep medium blue washes will always make you look that little bit more chic. These Massimo Dutti jeans feature the perfect wash of denim that will go perfectly with anything light grey, white and beige in colour. The straight-leg shape is bound to elongate your legs as they provide a more sleek look.
Best low-rise jeans with drawstring
Revolve
Citizens of Humanity is known for its premium denim and unique designs. The Brynn trouser has a different (and extremely practical) drawstring waist, that will just look oh-so-cool with a Y2K style tie crop top. Although the denim of these jeans is slightly more structured, they're still really comfortable to move in.
Best Y2K style low-rise jeans
Tommy Hilfigeruk.tommy.com
For the ultimate nod to Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Kiera Knightley, these Tommy Hilfiger jeans are sure to give you a sense of nostalgia. The Tommy Jeans flag patch on the pocket also adds a retro touch, along with the slight fading of the denim design. Wearing these we're sure you'd fit right in the background of a early 2000's Beyoncé music video.
Are low-rise jeans really back in 2024?
The five words that some people don't want to read - low-rise denim is back. The trend of low-waisted jeans has had its fluctuations over the last 30 years, with it peak in the late 90's and early 2000's. That's when we saw absolute icons like Britney and Paris pull off said trend. However, their popularity has wavered a little in the last 10 years or so, unlike other styles of jeans like baggy and mom.
Now, they're back. Thanks to runways of the likes of Alexander McQueen, who featured low-rise jeans in their Paris Fashion Week A/W 2024 show.
Who can pull off low-rise jeans?
Pulling off low-rise jeans is all about the styling. A fail-safe way of wearing hip-huggers is to pair it with a denim jacket. Now you might be thinking that's far too much denim - we're not in the early 2000's now - but with a basic white tank top, an oversized or vintage denim jacket and a pair of loafers, you'll be looking more like you're nipping out for a coffee than hitting the town with Paris Hilton.
Another way to pull off low-rise jeans is to style it with a baggy shirt (the type that looks like a men's), a trench and a simple black belt. This way the low-waisted jeans look less Y2K and slightly more chic.
Everyone can pull off low-rise jeans, after all, denim is one of the most versatile elements of a capsule wardrobe - so seize the day, the denim, and everything in between.
Gemma Lavers is a Fitness, Fashion & Wellness Products Writer at Bauer Media. She writes for brands such as Grazia, heat, Closer and What’s The Best, specialising in all things health and fitness.