# Men, how high do you wear your pants? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518 "2013-05-05T03:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/21 "2013-05-06T01:15:09Z")
Poll Choice: Hips Age: 15 ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/22 "2013-05-06T01:28:33Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I don’t understand how anyone wears pants as low as so many of you guys do. And I’ve watched other people–they normally wear them at the navel, too. Not only does it make you look fatter, but, more importantly, guys don’t tend to have hips that can support pants. Their hips are much more flat than those of women and thus said pants will slide. I don’t know that there’s really even anything to understand about it; it’s just how they fit. If I go to the store and try on a pair of jeans in my size, they won’t come up to my navel. I’m having a hard time imagining how a pair of pants that naturally rested at my navel would even be constructed unless it had some kind of weird cummerbund attachment. None of my jeans or suit pants or sweatpants or shorts come up to that level unless I hike them up cartoonishly. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/23 "2013-05-06T01:33:44Z")
It’s about time for a [handy visual reference](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHK9u1Q7Ak8/UBirUl5oobI/AAAAAAAATW4/ZRhVK0GcC3w/s1600/mid+rise+jeans.jpg). This is how I wear mine (I’m 29), which I would consider just below the hips (on me it’s slightly below the hip bones). So, “low on the hips” by the OP’s definition, right? > [@BigT](#): > > I mean, where I put them now I still have to occasionally watch out for plumber’s butt. It would be much worse down at my hips. Granted, I realize most of you are probably shorter than I am (or at least have shorter torsos) and thus can get untucked shirts long enough to cover for this problem. Or just always tuck in your shirts. Plumber’s butt can definitely be an issue, so caution must be used when crouching or bending. 🙂 A belt helps keep things in place though, as do longer shirts. I also tend to stick to slim fitting pants, which don’t fall as easily as baggier pants would. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/24 "2013-05-06T01:58:21Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > It’s about time for a [handy visual reference](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHK9u1Q7Ak8/UBirUl5oobI/AAAAAAAATW4/ZRhVK0GcC3w/s1600/mid+rise+jeans.jpg). This is how I wear mine (I’m 29), which I would consider just below the hips (on me it’s slightly below the hip bones). So, “low on the hips” by the OP’s definition, right? Bingo. Pretty much spot on what I mean by low on the hips. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/25 "2013-05-06T02:14:28Z")
Over the navel or higher, 23, American. I’m absolutely disgusting and I try my best to make sure nobody will ever see a glimpse of anything other than my arms or face (I also never ever wear shorts, only long pants – my feet always have socks because my feet are terrible too). Honestly, if I could wear a face mask and long sleeves I would, but people freak out at masks and long sleeves get too hot in AZ. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/26 "2013-05-06T02:25:17Z")
I’m 57 and skinny. Belt goes over the hips. That and my shirt tail tucked in is the only way to keep my pants up. I think the rising belt line is due to beer guts and aging. I have a gut, but at 5’ and 120 lbs, I can grab it in my fist. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/27 "2013-05-06T03:50:01Z")
Male, 40, US. I wear mine generally below the navel, but above the hips, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/28 "2013-05-06T03:59:39Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I don’t understand how anyone wears pants as low as so many of you guys do. And I’ve watched other people–they normally wear them at the navel, too. Not only does it make you look fatter, but, more importantly, guys don’t tend to have hips that can support pants. Their hips are much more flat than those of women and thus said pants will slide. > > I mean, I knew my one fat friend who did this and thought everyone was stupid for wearing them on their navel, but I always assumed he did that because he couldn’t find pants big enough. And, of course, his hips were less flat than those of most people. > > I mean, where I put them now I still have to occasionally watch out for plumber’s butt. It would be much worse down at my hips. Granted, I realize most of you are probably shorter than I am (or at least have shorter torsos) and thus can get untucked shirts long enough to cover for this problem. Or just always tuck in your shirts. > > Unless you guys mean something different than I do by over the navel. I literally mean that’s where my waistband hits–right at the navel or just below it. Because, based on my interpretation, I can’t figure out what low on the hips means unless it is synonymous with the “gangsta” option. > > BTW, I’m 28 and I’ve never worn pants differently. And, lest this become yet another way to make fun of me, neither has anyone else I’ve seen other than said friend. Where are you from? I see very few men who wear pants that high. By “navel” you mean “belly button” right? What brand of pants do you wear? I just tried pulling my pants up to that level, and it crushed my balls. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/29 "2013-05-06T04:06:33Z")
55, where belt-line is suppose to be. As God and Levi intended. Any lower and the boys wouldn’t be supported. Any higher and the boys would be indoors. ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/30 "2013-05-06T13:39:10Z")
41 American - Low on hips. ---
**Author:** ![geneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e4f/32.png) [@geneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geneb)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/31 "2013-05-06T15:31:23Z")
28, American. At the navel. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/32 "2013-05-06T15:58:49Z")
57 and I’ve got a bit of a gut. I was just buying pants at the Men’s Wearhouse recently when the sales person commenting on the fact that I wear my pants below my belly. She wanted me to wear them around where my belly button is. That changes my ‘waist’ measurement somewhat. So, my new dress pants I wear at my navel, my old pants on my hips. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/33 "2013-05-06T18:54:27Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I wear mine generally below the navel, but above the hips, if that makes sense. Same here. 45, US ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/34 "2013-05-06T19:03:49Z")
41, American, at top of hip bones, below navel. I don’t wear a belt. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/35 "2013-05-06T20:21:22Z")
The top of my belt is even with the top of my hipbones, which doesn’t seem to qualify as either “on top of the hips” or “low on the hips”. So I haven’t voted. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/36 "2013-05-06T20:47:53Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > It’s about time for a [handy visual reference](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHK9u1Q7Ak8/UBirUl5oobI/AAAAAAAATW4/ZRhVK0GcC3w/s1600/mid+rise+jeans.jpg). This is how I wear mine (I’m 29), which I would consider just below the hips (on me it’s slightly below the hip bones). So, “low on the hips” by the OP’s definition, right? 29 here, too. That’s how I wear my pants. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/37 "2013-05-06T22:41:47Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > 57 and I’ve got a bit of a gut. I was just buying pants at the Men’s Wearhouse recently when the sales person commenting on the fact that I wear my pants below my belly. She wanted me to wear them around where my belly button is. That changes my ‘waist’ measurement somewhat. So, my new dress pants I wear at my navel, my old pants on my hips. I actually tried that this morning just to see if my suit pants would go up that far. They did (just) but my junk was crushed up like I was wearing a leotard or something. Very uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/38 "2013-05-06T22:56:16Z")
Top of hipbone. Male, 64. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/39 "2013-05-07T00:16:12Z")
48, American. I wear pants (be they jeans or dress pants) just above my hipbones (the bottom of my belt is more-or-less even with the top of my hipbone). I have a little bit of a gut, but not nearly as much as I did a decade ago, so pants just fit better now, period. Technically, I can go without a belt, but I’m just more comfortable with a belt, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Saraya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Saraya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saraya)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518/40 "2013-05-07T10:06:55Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > And how old are and what country are you from? > > My theory based on limited observation is that the older men are the higher they wear their pants. That doesn’t mean as you get older you start lifting them, but it seems to be a generational thing that they’ve gotten lower with each generation. You mean wearing them properly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-high-do-you-wear-your-pants/657518.md?page=3)