The short answer: Low waisted jeans sit on your hips, not at your natural waist, so you size them by your hip measurement taken where the waistband will actually land. At FITJEANS, Flared Low, Baggy Low, Bare and Raw Waist all use hip-based charts. High and mid waisted styles still use your waist. Get that one switch right and low rise stops feeling like a gamble.
Low rise is having a real moment again — Y2K hips, cropped tops, belts sitting lower. The catch is that most of us learned to shop jeans by waist size. On a low rise cut, that habit is exactly what causes pinching, sliding and the dreaded "these only look good standing still."
Here is how low waisted jeans are different, how to measure for them, and which FITJEANS styles to reach for.
Why do low waisted jeans size by the hip?
A high rise waistband sits at the narrowest part of your torso. A low rise waistband sits on a wider part of your body — your hips. If you pick a low rise size using your waist number, the jeans are usually too small where they need to fasten, or they dig in when you sit.
Think of it this way:
| Rise | Where it sits | Main measurement at FITJEANS |
|---|---|---|
| High waisted | Natural waist | Waist |
| Mid waisted | Between waist and hips | Waist (on our mid styles) |
| Low waisted | On the hips | Hip |
That is why pulling a high waisted jean down to your hips rarely works. You need a pair that was cut to live there.
How do I measure my hips for low rise jeans?
- Put on the underwear or thin leggings you would wear with jeans.
- Find where the low waistband will sit — usually around the fullest part of your hips / upper bum, not at your belly button.
- Wrap a soft tape measure around that spot. Keep it level. Snug, not tight.
- Match that number to the hip column on the style's size guide.
Also measure crotch to heel if you care about length. Most of our low waisted styles are one length, so the inseam on the chart is what you get.
Which FITJEANS styles are low waisted?
| Style | Silhouette | Size by | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flared Low Waisted | Flare from the knee | Hip | One length | Classic low flare; use the low flares chart |
| Baggy Low Waisted | Relaxed leg | Hip | One length | Separate Baggy Low chart |
| Bare | Flared, no waistband look | Hip | One length | Clean low line with back pockets |
| Raw Waist | Flared, raw-edge waistband | Hip | One length | Same hip-first approach as Bare |
High waisted Baggy and Flared are still sized by waist. Do not mix the charts.
Example: Baggy Low Waisted hip chart
| Size | Hip | Inseam |
|---|---|---|
| XXS | 70–75 cm / 27.5–29.5" | 80 cm / 31.5" |
| XS | 75–80 cm / 29.5–31.5" | 81 cm / 31.9" |
| S | 80–85 cm / 31.5–33.5" | 82 cm / 32.3" |
| M | 85–90 cm / 33.5–35.5" | 83 cm / 32.7" |
| L | 90–95 cm / 35.5–37.5" | 84 cm / 33.1" |
| XL | 95–100 cm / 37.5–39.5" | 85 cm / 33.5" |
Flared Low, Bare and Raw Waist have their own hip ranges — always open the matching guide from our size guide hub.
What if I'm between sizes in low rise?
- Prefer a closer feel through the hip? Stay with the size your measurement points to.
- Prefer a more relaxed sit? Size up one.
- Black washes are stiffer — if you are between sizes, size up in black.
- Lightest washes tend to feel softer — size down if you are on the border.
- Pastel is different: check that style's guide or email help@fitjeans.com.
How should low waisted jeans fit when they are right?
- The waistband sits on your hips without digging when you sit or bend.
- No deep front crease from fabric that is fighting to stay higher.
- The back covers you when you sit (a too-small low rise is the one that flashes).
- For flares, the hem still needs enough length to cover most of your shoe.
- For baggy low, the waist stays put even though the leg is roomy.
If you have a small waist and fuller hips, low rise can feel freer than high rise — you are no longer asking one waistband to do two jobs. If you love a snatched waist, keep a high waisted Flared or Contour in the rotation too. Plenty of people in our 450,000+ community wear both.
Low rise styling that actually works
- Cropped or tucked tops so the waistband is intentional, not accidental.
- Belts that sit on the jeans, not above them.
- Shoes with presence for baggy low (chunky trainers, boots); heels or platforms for low flares.
- Avoid yanking high rise jeans down — that bunches the rise and looks messy. Buy the low cut.
Our Straight Leg style is discontinued. For a clean everyday leg with low rise energy, Flared Low and Baggy Low are the styles to shop.
FAQ
Should I size low rise jeans by my waist or hips?
By your hips, measured where the waistband will sit. At FITJEANS, all low waisted styles use hip-based charts.
Why do my low rise jeans slide down?
Usually the hip size is too big, or you are wearing a mid/high rise pulled down. Try the correct low chart size, or a slightly snugger hip size.
Are low waisted jeans only for certain body types?
No. They sit differently, so the measurement method changes — not whether you are "allowed" to wear them. Hourglass, pear, athletic and straighter shapes all wear low rise when the hip size is right.
What is the difference between Bare and Flared Low?
Both are low waisted flares sized by the hip. Bare has a clean, minimal no-waistband look with back pockets. Flared Low is our classic low flare with a regular waistband construction.
Do you have petite or tall low waisted jeans?
Our low waisted styles are currently one length. If you need Petite or Tall, look at selected high waisted Flared, Baggy and Contour colours in the Petite & Tall collection.
Can I wear a belt with FITJEANS low rise?
Yes — style belts on the hip line. Bare is designed as a clean waistband-free look, so many people wear it without a belt.