"High-rise" and "high-waist" are both used to define a rise in the waist of your jeans. The rise measures the distance from the top of your inside leg to where the waistband sits on your body. The term "high-rise" therefore refers to jeans that have a higher risk than other styles, and "high-waist" is used for jeans with a particularly high waistband, as well as for jeans with a higher risk than usual.
High-Rise Jeans
High-rise jeans have a higher waistband than normal, so sit higher up on your body. The rise is the distance from the top of your inside leg to the bottom of your waistband, and usually ranges from 10-12 inches but can extend to 16 inches or more for some styles.
"High-rise" is the more accurate term for describing a pair of jeans with a higher waistband. This is because "high-waist" implies that the waistband is higher than normal, which isn't always the case. For example, if you have a pair of jeans that have a normal waistband but a high rise, they would be described as "high-rise", not "high-waist".
High-waist jeans
The high waist jeans fit is a classic style that has been around for decades. It's the same basic type of cut as the regular denim jean, but the waist and hips are significantly higher than the average pair of jeans.
High-waist jeans come in several different styles, such as: The classic high-waist fit. This is the original style of high-waist jeans, which includes a super-high rise and slightly tapered legs.
This is the original style of high-waist jeans, which includes a super-high rise and slightly tapered legs. The boot-cut high-waist jean. This version is more flared than the classic high-waist jean.
This version is more flared than the classic high-waist jean. The flare high-waist jean. These come in both straight and flared styles, with a slightly higher waist than the classic high-waist fit.