The Budget Fashionista

For those of us who loathe the low-rise, there’s a backlash coming in the form of a high waist short. We’ve seen high-waisted pants make an appearance on the scene, so it’s a logical leap—but there are some cautions you should be aware of before you buy. Some things to consider:

High-waisted means the focus is on, uh, the waist. Meaning that if you are going to wear them, they must, must, must not be ill-fitting. You don’t have to be wasp-waisted to pull it off, but you do have to make sure they’re not pinching your mid-section to within an inch of its life.

Keep the top half sleek. The shorts will be the focus here—wearing ‘em with a long boxy tunic would defeat the purpose, for example. Pair them with a body-skimming (but not skin-tight) top, tee, or tank, and top with a cut cropped or swing jacket to kick things up a notch.

Our picks for high-waisted shorts on a budget? We dig this cute pair from Forever21 for $19.80, and for a dressier version, these Zinc belted high waist shorts from Macy’s for $38. And for the daring and colorful among us, these high waist 8 button shorts from Wet Seal, for $22 and in sizes up to XL.