As many of you know, I’ve jumped out of the sinking “mid-rise clearance pants” ship and have officially embraced high-waisted pants. Mama needs to contain that muffin top and often times you need to lay down some cash to get the type of cut and material to make your mid-section, including your rear, look fantastic.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has some amazing high-waisted pants on sale right now. I hit my local store TWICE to try on the styles that caught my eye so you all could get a feel for what was available.
Make sure you check out our giant Nordstrom Anniversary Sale post here if you’re looking for some non-high-waisted pant recommendations.
- Halogen Kick Flare Knit Ankle Pants just $49.90 + FREE shipping ($79 after sale) – 10″ rise, available in both regular and petite sizes (see review below)
- Halogen Herringbone Stretch Straight Leg Suit Pants just $58.90 + FREE shipping ($88 after sale) – 10″ rise, available in both regular and petite sizes
- NYDJ ‘Michelle’ Stretch Ponte Trousers just $75.90 + FREE shipping ($114 after sale) – 10″ rise, available in 3 colors and gets wonderful reviews! (see review below)
- Topshop ‘Jamie’ High Rise Skinny Jeans just $46.90 + FREE shipping ($70 after sale) – 10.5″ rise and available in 2 different lengths (see review below)
Halogen Kick Flare Knit Ankle Pants
I was really excited to try the Halogen Kick Flare Knit Ankle Pants on and they didn’t disappoint. They have a nice flare for an ankle pant — perfect to balance out my hips. The pic on the left is full length and the right is folded under a bit to reflect where they should hit since they don’t carry petite in the store (they do online).
The waist is really nice and roomy in all the right ways — not super tight like high-waisted denim. These are perfect work/dress-up/date-night pants. Make sure you check out the Nordstom site for styling suggestions (hint: wear black boots under the pants during the winter — genius!). Wonder if my brown boots would work? Hmmm. Maybe I need to reconsider and buy these.
Sizing recommendations for the Halogen Kick Flare Knit Ankle Pants: These run true to size. I’m wearing my regular size (8) and would order a petite online, but the regular length will work for everyone who isn’t truly a petite on bottom.
NYDJ ‘Michelle’ Stretch Ponte Trousers
Oh my goodness, the NYDJ ‘Michelle’ Stretch Ponte Trousers are to DIE for. Black doesn’t photograph well, so I don’t think the pics do these pants justice (and it would have helped if I had some shoes on to complete the look). The material is really thick, but incredibly soft. Like crazy soft. I would buy these in an instant if I worked outside the home or dressed up more than four times a year.
Sizing recommendations for the NYDJ ‘Michelle’ Stretch Ponte Trousers: The regulars are crazy long. Even the petites are long. Probably good if you plan to wear heels with them, but I’d have to have even the petites hemmed. The 8’s were a bit big on me. The 6’s were perfect, but I like a tighter pant.
And are you drooling over that Chelsea28 ‘Victoriana’ Lace Detail Tank? YOU SHOULD BE. I wanted to wear it home and then every day for the rest of the week.
Ready for the best part? No special bra or cami or tank needed. Everything important is totally covered. And it comes in three colors (black, ivory, and grey). Most sizes are available online, but I don’t think it will last until the public sale.
Update (7/17): My local store is now totally out of this top. I imagine they will get some in for the beginning of the public sale, but I recommend you just buy it online and not take the risk.
Sizing recommendations for the Chelsea28 ‘Victoriana’ Lace Detail Tank: I’m wearing a medium. Order your regular size, as it doesn’t have any stretch or give.
Topshop ‘Jamie’ High Rise Skinny Jeans
I had low expectations for the Topshop ‘Jamie’ High Rise Skinny Jeans because these are high-waisted for trend rather than function. More simply, they are for skinny 19 year olds trying to be ironic in mom jeans. Gag.
In the name of research I went for it anyway and was pleasantly surprised. The denim is super soft and the rise is actually higher than any other high-waisted pant I tried on which means it did a killer job of holding my belly in. I also like the darker wash. If you’re looking for a solid and affordable high-waister, go to BP like the children and try these on.
And speaking of children, these would be great for teens, especially those that aren’t toothpicks and have problems with their pants showing their crack when they look down to zip up their jacket. I have a sweet high school friend who I’m taking shopping and this will be the first pair of jeans we try on.
Sizing recommendations for the Topshop ‘Jamie’ High Rise Skinny Jeans: Size up. I normally wear a 29 or 30 and I’m ridin’ snug in a 32×30. They have a bit of stretch, so I’m not sure if and for how long they will hold their shape.
- Jen7 Stretch Sateen Slim Straight Leg Pants just $98.90 + FREE shipping ($149 after sale) – 10″ rise, 3 colors to choose from including a beautiful Bordeaux
- Treasure&Bond High Rise Skinny Flare Jeans just $59.90 + FREE shipping ($99 after sale) – 10″ rise, 34″ inseam (see review below)
- NYDJ ‘Addison’ Stretch Wide Leg Jeans just $82.90 + FREE shipping ($124 after sale) – 10″ rise, please note that these will stretch with wear so order one size down
- NYDJ ‘Leann’ Stretch Slim Boyfriend Jeans just $82.90 + FREE shipping ($124 after sale) – 10″ rise, available in both regular and petite sizes (see review below)
Treasure&Bond High Rise Skinny Flare Jeans
Take a look at the length in these Treasure&Bond High Rise Skinny Flare Jeans. Crazy. After folding these things under (dressing room hemming), they look more like a boot cut or maybe a trouser cut on me. The inseam is nice and there are some cut pockets on the front which would be cute if you did a full or half tuck with your top.
The material is thick and I don’t imagine them stretching out at all, which is a plus in my book. I’m personally not a fan of the dirty wash look, so I passed. But these would be super cute if you have longer legs and feel confident pulling off the more trendy tops.
Sizing recommendations for the Treasure&Bond High Rise Skinny Flare Jeans: I’m wearing my usual size (29). These jeans are in BP.
NYDJ ‘Leann’ Stretch Slim Boyfriend Jeans
I’ve been lamenting the lack of high-waisted boyfriend jeans on the market. NYDJ to the rescue. These new NYDJ ‘Leann’ Stretch Slim Boyfriend Jeans were the reason I dragged my three children to Clackamas Towne Center on a Friday night. I needed to see them in person, stat.
I started with the lighter wash in my regular NYDJ size (8) in regular length.
I know! I look like I’m about to dig up some turnips in the garden. Ridiculous. But at least I don’t have a muffin top, right? I decided to give the petites in a darker wash a shot before giving up on life.
I tried an 8 and a 6 in petite. BINGO! The 6 was MUCH better. I did have to roll the bottom one more time and they now totally work.
Sizing recommendations for the NYDJ ‘Leann’ Stretch Slim Boyfriend Jeans: Size down and go for the petites if you have short or regular-length legs. I’ve worn them all day and they do stretch a bit, but not enough for me to go down to a 4.
NYDJ ‘Sheri’ Stretch Slim Leg Jeans (Bethel) just $82.90 + FREE shipping ($124 after sale) – 10″ rise, comes in regular and petite
Eh. These are just okay, right? I like the fit, but the wash should probably be darker. I can see these working as an alternative to skinnies. I think I’m wearing a petite, but it’s all a blur. The color online is way lighter than it is in real life.
Sizing recommendations for the NYDJ ‘Sheri’ Stretch Slim Leg Jeans (Bethel): I’m wearing my regular size (8).
I’m wearing the Calson Relaxed Slub Knit U-Neck Tee in some of these pics. This tee comes in a boatload of colors and patterns. I liked the tops well enough — nice drape and I really liked the neckline, but the sizing is crazy. I usually wear a small or medium in tops, but I had to go down to a XS petite to make it work at all and it’s still bunchy in the middle. P.S. I’m not typically a petite up top. I’m not convinced these tops are any better than Target’s Merona tees that regularly go on sale for $5-6.
Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution’ Stretch Skinny Jeans just $44.90 + FREE shipping ($68 after sale) – 9.25″ rise, 30″ inseam; comes in 3 colors (2 denim + black)
Okay, these pants BLEW me away. AND DID YOU SEE THE PRICE?
Wit & Wisdom’s Ab-solution line has this amazing 2-ish inch thick band at the waist that helps keep your muffin top from spilling out, but the waistband is regular (belt loops, zipper, etc). Plus the material is crazy soft, almost like leggings, but more substantial than leggings so you don’t need a longer shirt to cover your bottom.
Side note: If you’re wearing leggings, your butt had BETTER be covered. Completely.
Here they are again. I’m supposed to be weaning myself off skinnies, but I went for it anyway.
Sizing recommendations for the Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution’ Stretch Skinny Jeans: I haven’t worn them, so I don’t know if they are going to get baggy. I’m wearing my regular size in denim (8).
I’m also wearing the Calson Draped Utility Jacket ($44.90; $69 after the sale). It comes in three colors and is really comfortable. It’s a little on the precious side for me personally (because I’m anything BUT precious), so I skipped it, but I know many of you can pull it off.
Sizing recommendations for the Calson Draped Utility Jacket: In the picture, I’m wearing a small. Again, crazy sizing. Seriously, I rolled the sleeves just to fit correctly. I could definitely go down to a XS, especially if I was only going to wear a thin top under, and should probably go for a petite as the shoulders in the regular are a bit big, but I do have small shoulders.
Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab-solution’ Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans just $44.90 + FREE shipping ($68 after sale) – 9″ rise, 33.5″ inseam
My second trip to Nordstrom centered around testing out the Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab-solution’ Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans. I needed to get these things on.
I know from Adore Your Wardrobe (starting up again in September — sign up to get notified when registration opens HERE!) that I should be wearing straight, boot cut, or wide leg pants to balance out my hips, but I’m still throwing an inner-hissy fit about giving up my skinnies. I wanted to see if Wit & Wisdom’s “itty bitty boot cut” jean would console me. (I’m assuming these are similar to “baby boot cuts” and “mini boot cuts” in different brands.)
After trying them on? I feel much better about my life. I really, really like this cut and think it’s a bit more modern than a traditional boot cut. And the wash is perfection.
The rise in these jeans is 9 inches, which is a bit shorter than I’d like, but I’m willing to wear my new Spanx (see below) with them (later in the fall, of course) if I’m feeling especially bloated.
Sizing recommendations for the Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab-solution’ Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans: If you like your jeans tighter, size down. An 8 fit perfectly in the skinny cut, but a 6 was better in the Itty Bitty Bootcuts. Unfortunately, these don’t come in a petite, so you might have to get them professionally hemmed.
I read through the reviews and the only complaint made by some with shorter legs is that the jeans are really long and the flare started so low that once hemmed, they fit like skinny jeans. Those people are totally wrong. I have really short legs and the dressing room hem job illustrates it’s still boot-ing out.
Caslon Cotton Knit Open Front Blazer
Let’s talk about the jacket I’m wearing in the right pic. It’s the Caslon Cotton Knit Open Front Blazer and it is fabulous. It comes in five colors and is a great alternative to your typical cardigan. I especially love that it has a full-length sleeve (don’t force me into your three-quarter-length sleeve box, designers. Sometimes I like to be WARM in the winter), but looks crazy cute rolled up a couple of times. I can’t wait to wear this with a message tee and my Itty Bitties during the fall.
Sizing recommendations for the Caslon Cotton Knit Open Front Blazer: Remember, Caslon sizing is totally about vanity. I’m wearing a petite small in the pic above and the petite XS fit even better, but I am going for the S so I can wear a long sleeve underneath comfortably.
Wondering about the backpack? Oh, Target clearance. I may have converted to higher-priced pants, but I see no reason to pay a small fortune for a bag.
- Zella ‘Live In’ High Rise Leggings just $41.90 + FREE shipping ($64 after sale) – These are a newer item for Zella and online only, available in all sizes at time of posting!
- Zella Stripe High Waist Leggings (Plus Size) just $47.90 + FREE shipping ($72 after sale) – 12.5″ rise, available in 1X, 2X and 3X
- Yummie ‘Rachel’ High Waist Leggings just $32.90 + FREE shipping ($49.50 after sale) – 11″ rise, available in both regular and petite sizes, black or gray. Great reviews!
- Beyond Yoga High Waist Leggings just $64.90 + FREE shipping ($97 after sale) – 10″ rise, 3 super fun colors to choose from!
A quick word on shapewear: I purchased a panty high-waist thing from Macy’s 10 years ago and it was tight and thick. It did it’s job, but let’s take a moment and think about the ONE area of a woman’s body that doesn’t need tight, thick fabric that doesn’t breathe well pressing on it… Yeah. You get the picture.
So, the products available on the market now are so much better. I tried some Spanx on at Nordstrom recently and they are exactly one million times better than my Macy’s girdle. So much lighter and most importantly, breathable. Is that how you say it? I don’t know, but I do have confidence that my rock-n-roll-hoochie-koo will have access to air in these options.
- SPANX ‘Higher Power – Short’ Mid-Thigh Shaper just $27.90 or 3 for $75 ($38 after sale) – Available in 3 basic colors, regular and plus size. Great reviews! I picked up a pair of these to wear with my regular waisted pants.
- SPANX ‘Higher Power’ High Waist Shaping Panty just $27.90 or 3 for $75 ($38 after sale) – Similar to the ‘Higher Power – Short’ but in a panty style, available in regular and plus size. Perfect if you’re only concerned with sucking in your belly and not smoothing your thighs.
- Yummie ‘Cleo’ High Waist Shaping Shorts just $24.90 + FREE shipping ($38 after sale) – Available in Black or Naked with a stay-put silicone waist. Both regular and plus sizes.
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