The 90s were synonymous with low inhibitions and even lower waistlines. Times were simpler, parties went harder, and the moral consequences were all but ignored. There’s a reason why there are so many individuals across the UK who believe their father could be Robbie Williams. He wouldn’t question it, either.
From Britney Spears and Paris Hilton to British sartorial superstars like Kate Moss and Keira Knightley (that paparazzi shot of the Pride and Prejudice star and Jamie Dornan is permanently etched into our brains), it felt as though the glitterati of the 90s were in not-so-secret competition with one another to see just how low they could go.
Perhaps it was the toxic heroin-chic aesthetic that led to such low-waisted infamy, perhaps it’s just another one of those trends that seem like a good idea at the time, but we look back upon with utter regret (peplum tops will never be chic). Either way, it nevertheless appears fashion brands are reframing the way we think about low-rise denim for 2025.
While we’ll certainly never go as low as they did thirty years ago, designers and fashion enthusiasts alike are flirting with the idea that low-rise denim can be quite flattering when done right. This is especially the case for those with shorter torsos, as a low-waisted fit can help to elongate the legs and create the illusion of a longer midsection. When styled correctly, the result is of more elegant, balanced proportions.
Rather than touting skin-tight low-rise jeans with disastrously low V-necks and bedazzled crop tops, modern it-girls are sporting loose-fitting options with long camisoles and kitten heels. The result? A 90s and early 00s-inspired aesthetic, fit for the modern day.
Designers like Paige and 7 for All Man Kind are borrowing from multiple eras, combining 90s-style low-rise jeans with 70s-wash, flared silhouettes – and we’re certainly not complaining. What is fashion in 2025, if not a Frankensteinian anachronism?
We’ve curated a selection of the best modern low-rise jeans to channel vintage flair below.
Well, how low can you go?
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Levi’s Low Loose Jeans
According to Levi’s, a rather reputable source when it comes to denim, “low-rise is here to stay”. These subtly low-rise jeans are uber flattering and embody the throwback style in a subtle, wearable way. As this cut runs small, the brand suggests buying one or two sizes up. They’re available in a variety of classic washes.
Buy now £100.00, Levi
True Religion Joey Low Rise Flare Jean
As the great poet Fergie once said, “denim jeans, True Religion” – and they do, really, keep giving. Featuring the iconic contrast stitching that the heritage brand is so well known for, these fit-and-flare jeans are offered in a deep denim wash.
Buy now £99.00, Urban Outfitters
Diesel Bootcut Jeans D-Hush 09m58
For a true 1990s throwback, look no further than Diesel. We’re head over heels for this classic bootcut silhouette, featuring an oh-so vintage double button closure and a medium blue wash with subtle abrasions for a lived-in look.
Buy now £200.00, Diesel
Calvin Klein 90s Loose Jeans
For low-waisted denim that’ll show off your favourite underwear, these loose-fit jeans look straight out of that 90s Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss campaign. Crafted with 20 per cent recycled cotton, they’re the perfect pair of jeans for a relaxed, comfortable and casual look.
Buy now £85.00, Calvin Klein
BDG Teo Relaxed Flared Jeans
Relaxed through the leg with a low-rise waist, this is the ultimate Gen-Z-approved denim silhouette. Perfect with a plain-white baby tee and kitten heels a la Lily Rose Depp.
Buy now £59.00, Urban Outfitters
Kate Moss x Zara Low-Rise Flare Jeans
Part of Kate Moss and Bobby Gillespie’s festival-ready throwback collection for Zara, these low-rise jeans feature flared hems and a metal hook fastening for a seamless finish. Wear with studded cowboy boots and a baggy black vest for the full rockstar girlfriend look.
Buy now £49.99, Zara
We The Free Moxie Pull-On Barrel Jeans
A Boho, barrel-legged take on the renewed obsession with all things low-rise, Free People’s Moxie jeans practically feel like wearing a pair of joggers. Uber soft and ultra comfortable, they’re available in more colourways than we can count on two fingers.
Buy now £140.00, Free People
Paige Laurel Canyon 32" Bootcut Jean
Did someone say Daisy Jones and the Six? A fabulous combination of 90s and 70s styles, these low-rise bootcut jeans by Standard Shopping favourite, Paige, cut a universally flattering silhouette.
Buy now £265.00, Paige
7 For All Mankind Low Straight Mankind Explorer
If you don’t know 7 For All Mankind, then you certainly weren’t alive in the 90s or early 00s. The iconic denim specialists produce the most butter-soft, perfectly stretchy denim you’ll ever come across. This low-rise pair is cut to a relaxed silhouette with vintage-style straight legs from thigh to hem – ideal for dressing up or down.
Buy now £240.00, 7 For All Mankind
