Ideally the front rise of a pair of jeans should be around 10 inches while the back rise should be around 14.5 to 15 inches.

You can either use a tape measure and measure the front and back rise of the jeans or you could just use the belly button/hip bone test mentioned earlier. I’ve tried on countless brands and have found out the perfect way of finding the correct rise. In other words, a mid-rise in one brand might fit like a low-rise in another or vice versa. The problem lies with the fact that most brands have a different definition of what constitutes a low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise. So you’re probably thinking that if the pants are labeled as mid-rise then I should just go ahead and get them? Not so fast. The sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle and is referred to as a mid-rise. Too much of a high rise will lengthen your legs but at the expense of making your torso look short. Low rise jeans are not only uncomfortable but also make your legs look shorter. The rise of the jeans dictates not only the comfort aspect of the jeans but also their overall look. The rise is an overlooked aspect of jean fit but one which is critically important. If you buy a pair that already fits perfectly at the waist without being snug, it might stretch a bit too much with multiple wears and become loose over time. So after a few wears, the jeans will fit just right at the waist. The reason why you want to go for a snug waist fit is that denim typically stretches about an inch or so. It shouldn’t be exceedingly tight, but also not loose. When buying a new pair of jeans, the waist should be a bit snug. Your jeans should sit about 1-2 inches below your belly button. Don’t have a hipbone or can’t seem to locate it? No problem! Use your belly button as a guide. Your jeans should sit on the top of your hipbone.

Ag jeans fit guide