If you're old enough to remember the cult following for Topshop ‘Joni’ jeans, this breakdown on how to style high waisted jeans is perfect for you. If not, ask a millennial about them – though be prepared for a lengthy monologue about Topshop Oxford Circus – the high street fashion mecca that will surely go down in history.

I'll admit it took me a long time to warm to the low rise denim movement that emerged as a result of Y2K style trending again. Because, like it or not, denim has become one of fashion’s clearest generational tells. Gen Z tends to favour jeans worn low, loose and long enough to graze the pavement, while millennials remain loyal to waistbands that sit somewhere near the ribcage and ankle-grazing hems. Call them mom jeans, straight-leg jeans or simply a security blanket in denim form: high-waisted jeans have become my personal favourite way to wear denim - much to my 18-year-old niece's dismay.

And, despite what your social feed may suggest, the lower the waistband is not necessarily the better. A quick scan of the high street confirms that high-waisted jeans are still very much in the conversation, only now they come in far more interesting shapes than the skintight styles of our circa 2015 Topshop era. There are high-rise balloon jeans with curved legs, polished wide-leg jeans, slouchy barrel cuts and flared jeans to add a healthy dose of '70s into your wardrobe.

The style set rocking high waistlines has moved on, too. Rather than pairing them with a bodysuit and box-fresh trainers, high-waisted jeans are being worn with oversized shirts, granny cardigans, fitted waistcoats, cropped jackets and barely-there sandals. The appeal lies in the proportion: a defined waist gives you the freedom to play with volume elsewhere, whether that means a billowing blouse, a boxy blazer or a dramatic wide leg. In other words, high-waisted jeans have not disappeared - they have simply had a 2026 rebrand.

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High-waisted jeans and a strapless top are a surprisingly good double act: one brings coverage, the other brings contrast. I like this formula best with wide-leg or gently flared denim, which stops the top from feeling too much of a safe ‘jeans and a nice top’ formula. Add ballet flats, a shoulder bag and layered jewellery. It is simple, flattering and ideal for evenings when heels feel unnecessarily ambitious.

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A high waist is exactly what a granny blouse needs. Tuck all that lace, ruffling and puffed-sleeve drama into straight-leg or barrel jeans and suddenly it looks less Austen, more woman with excellent taste in vintage. I would keep the denim fairly simple and let the blouse do the talking, then add pointed flats or a small heel. The contrast is the whole point: romantic on top, practical on the bottom.

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This is the outfit I turn to when I need to look like I have my life together, regardless of the evidence. Tuck a crisp button-down into high-waisted straight-leg jeans, roll the sleeves once or twice and add loafers. The shirt can be white, striped or pale blue, but avoid anything too fitted unless you are actively pursuing a corporate headshot. A leather belt helps break things up, while a statement lip or oversized earrings helps the ensemble look less like officewear.

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High-waisted jeans, an oversized blazer and boots is hardly groundbreaking, but that is precisely why it works. The trick is choosing denim with enough shape to hold its own beneath the tailoring: think dark-wash flares, straight legs or a wide pair that skims the boot. Underneath, wear something simple, whether that is a vest, fine knit or old white T-shirt. I prefer a blazer that is slightly oversized, leaning into that ‘borrowed-from-the-boys’ aesthetic that makes slouchy clothes feel sleek.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: Whitney Peak wears blue tweed crop jacket, blue Chanel printed jeans, black Chanel heels, outside Chanel, during the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026 as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 11, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images

A cropped jacket and high-waisted jeans are one of those combinations that make getting dressed feel far easier than it should. Because the jacket finishes close to the waistband, the outfit has a clean shape without needing much else. Try a boxy bouclé jacket, cropped trench or short leather jacket with wide-leg or straight-leg denim underneath. Add trainers by day, then swap in a low heel when required. My favourite combination for this style formula? Double denim, aka the Canadian tuxedo.

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An oversized boyfriend shirt is ideal with high-waisted jeans because the waistband gives all that fabric somewhere to go. Wear it half-tucked, unbuttoned over a vest or knotted loosely at the waist, depending on your vibe. I like it with relaxed straight-leg denim and a pointed shoe, which stops the volume from swallowing you whole. Borrowing an actual boyfriend’s shirt is optional; buying one specifically because his are all terrible is entirely reasonable.