The Nerd Connection

High rise pants are often associated with nerds. IMO, being a kind nerd is an admirable role in its own right, but I still think it's important to examine the link. It was not always this way. Indeed, gentlemen of all kinds wore trousers with high waists until the last few decades. I don't know much about fashion history so I can't be much more specific, but simply search Google for "high waisted trousers men" and you'll see what I'm saying. Most of the results that come up are vintage trousers from the 19th century. Another popular option in the 1920's was the zoot suit. Also, workmen's trousers were often high waisted. In fact, the set of jeans I have with the higest rise are cargo jeans. I suppose pants that are meant to carry more stuff have higher waists to stay up better.

I'm really looking for readers' opinions on why wearing one's pants high is considered nerdy today. One factor, I suspect, is that high waisted trousers are practical. They are meant to stay fitted on someone who is sitting, standing, running, or kneeling. As society developed labor saving devices and industrialization progressed, more people took jobs that required very little movement. As a result, the value of the advantages that high waisted trousers provide diminished. Sedentary people today can pick clothes that are less practical (e.g. with lower waists, or with patches of fabric intentionally removed) and so styles don't feature high waists as prominently. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but I do believe it accounts for some of the shift. What do you think? Do high waisted pants appeal to nerds more than other people? Why do people act as though they do?

The Natural Waist

The Natural Waist

One important concept that I'd like to mention is the natural waist. The natural waist is the smallest horizontal cross-section of the torso. This site has a good description of how to locate one's natural waist. While traditionally, men's trousers were made with higher waists, today pants with lower rises are in style. While clothing such as low-rise jeans is a good option to have, I believe that there is a hole in the market for pants (and underwear) with higher rises that come closer to sitting at the natural waist.

Why is the natural waist important? The natural waist is the smallest part of the torso. Thus, pants that sit around this area have to be tightened the least, and have the greatest tendency to stay put when one is walking. Having pants that fit well in this regard has a big influence on how active and robust one feels.

If one's pants sit too low, there is a tendency for the pants to need to constantly be pulled up, and for the belt to be tightened to a greater extent. This is because the pants are gripping the body at a segment where the circumference, say, an inch below is less than the circumference at which the pants are sitting. The waistline of the pants will want to migrate to an area that is smaller to relieve the tension of the belt. This effect is, of course, compounded by gravity which also wants to pull the belt down. The result is one's pants gradually falling down as one walks.

By contrast, when pants sit at the natural waist, the circumference of the torso below the waistline is larger than the level at which the pants sit. Thus, the tension in the belt will cause the pants to want to remain in place, and counteract the force of gravity. This means that less tension is needed in the belt, and the pants will tend to stay up when one is active in walking or running.

This concept explains why I prefer wearing my pants higher than average.

Discussion questions:

Is it always best to think of the natural waist as being the circumference of a horizontal cross-section, or is it worthwhile to also consider angled cross-sections? In other words, can one's "natural waist" be tilted?

Introduction and Mission

Having clothes that fit well is important. Well-fitting clothes make a person more comfortable, productive, and resilient. However, many people today have difficulty finding clothes that fit them well. While this issue is often discussed in the context of women, it applies to men too.

I have run into this issue in my own life--specifically, in searching for pants and underwear with higher rises. I haven't really found any resources that cater to this clothing need that some men have. As such, I've decided to setup this blog to act as a venue to discuss clothing options for men that feature higher rises. In time, I would also like to discuss the anatomical impetus (if any) for some men wanting to "wear their pants high". I hope that this blog will serve as a resource for men looking for similar clothing options, as well as anyone else who is curious about this aspect of this aspect of fit.