Jorts experiment

Last week I ordered some jorts to try. Unfortunately, Zara recommended the wrong size for several items, so the below the knee ones I'd really been aiming for do not fit. I will try them in another size and see, but my hopes are not super high. 

Zara recommended two sizes for the shorter version of jorts, and one of those sizes fit, so I threw them on quickly with a few things to try. My conclusions? When rises/ proportions change, you've got to think through how you'll wear the thing....no throw on and go until you've got that sorted! Unless the new look is a slam dunk for you, it is going to take some time and consideration to make it work. 

The jorts themselves are nice quality denim with a raw hem and a cute little buckle detail in the back (which unfortunately would prevent one from wearing a belt). They have a button fly and (most significant) a slouchy mid-rise -- coming just below my navel. They are baggy, so are super comfortable, and would be much cooler than snug denim. 

To my eye, the proportions are not right... or at least I'm not comfortable with them, in any of these combos. It could be a question of needing my eye to adjust. It could be a question of my always having had preferred higher rises for correcting my natural proportions (i.e. for figure flattery reasons). It could be that I don't have the right items to pair with them, or didn't choose the right items from my closet. 

Either way, despite the practicality these would have in my life, I think I'll send them back and keep searching, or simply look for very lightweight long pants for summer wear. I'm not so inclined to expose my legs these days anyway, so summery long pants (available now as never before) could be good to stock up on.....

How about you? Are you making the switch to mid-rises? Or lower rises? Will it come with costs or benefits for you? 

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This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

14 Comments

  • kkards replied 7 months ago

    So, and this is just my opinion-the length of the shorts is off. imo they either need to be a couple of inches shorter or a couple of inches longer,  right now they are just hitting in the wrong place. 

  • Kyle replied 7 months ago

    Suz, I like these with the button-down striped blouse. It’s a casual look with a bit of polish. But rises are such a personal thing. I don’t think I’ll be influenced by trends when it comes to this. I prefer a higher rise and that’s that. At least for now. Have you considered or tried the Athleta barrel pants? I find them to be high quality, versatile and breezy for a summer pant. Plus, they do have a higher rise.

  • Angie replied 7 months ago

    Thanks for the detailed report and analysis, Suz. Always interesting and helpful!

    You are soooo right about rise lengths and trends. I shared my feelings on a recent post about preferring them on the higher-on-me side too: 

    https://youlookfab.com/2025/05.....-epiphany/

    Always good to experiment, and try things on - like you're doing now. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

    These jorts look cute! You pull them off despite your reservations. All outfits work. That said, I prefer you in a higher rise like you do. And I personally prefer knee-covering jorts. Looks more elegant and polished to my eye, especially with the excess width. And there is sun protection. 

    Soooo, I fully support sending these back. 

    Worth trying the longer jorts though! Just to be thorough. If that fails, onto fab summery pants in full and cropped lengths :) 

  • Suz replied 7 months ago

    Thanks, Angie -- helpful thoughts! And I do think it's great to show all of this because they could work really well for others! They are decent quality. 

    Kyle, thank you! And yes, I've considered the Athleta pants but alas, they won't be available in a colour that works for me and/or size until mid-September, by which time I'll be wearing fall weight pants! 

    Kkards, grateful for your insights! I agree - -the length is neither here nor there and it cuts me right in half. If I loved these enough, I could remedy the situation by styling them with a mid tone, almost matching in colour value top, or even denim on denim....but that sounds like a lot of work and less versatility than I'm aiming for. 

  • LJP replied 7 months ago

    This is interesting . I don’t mind the low rise in you at all . In fact it’s looking fresh again after a few years of such high waists . That said , I agree with kkards in that the length is off . What happened with the darker longer dressier pair you’ve shown above ? I absolutely do not need these but was tempted to order - but they are out of a lot of sizes now . Probably for the best ;).

  • Suz replied 7 months ago

    Lisa, thanks. They sent me the wrong size of the longer ones -- for reasons I do not know. Anyway, I ordered a different size to try and we'll see if those work. They have a higher rise, too, I believe, so they might be easier all round. 

    I am not against a mid-rise slouchy look -- I loved BF jeans, after all. But those are slimmer on the leg. And I do think it's easier for me with my shorter legs and long natural rise make a higher rise work, though like Janet, I have to be a bit careful due to a short waist. Regardless, I agree with everyone that the length is off for me on these shorter ones. It could work great for someone with longer calves, though! 

  • Karie replied 7 months ago

    The rise looks fine to me, but i hear you on changing rises and how it affects proportions. I much prefer high rises now and I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to a mid or - absolutely not - a low rise.

    I also think I would like these to be a bit longer in length. The below the knee pair in the first Finds photo are super cute.

  • Dee replied 7 months ago

    Yep, although I think the lower rise looks good, I feel it's the shorter length that's making it not quite the look you were after. Your stylings do have that cool relaxed vibe though.

  • Brooklyn replied 7 months ago

    I’ve started incorporating lower rises. I really like slouchy pants. I had my own epiphany that you need a lower rise (and generally a slightly dropped crotch) for slouch. High rises are generally fitted around the hip area and generally don’t drop at the crotch.

    That said, I wouldn’t do a fully tucked top into a mid or low rise pant. That has always felt a bit odd to me because it emphasises the length of my torso. And sometimes looks a bit odd - you get a kind of rumple happening between hip and waist. I would do untucked or loose, semi tucked. My memory is that semi tucking became a thing during the era of low rises.

    Reflecting my preferences, I really like no 3 and think it works just fine. I agree with others that a slightly longer short might look a bit more cool and interesting.

  • Jaime replied 7 months ago

    I agree with kkards and everyone that the problem is more the length than the rise. I could absolutely see a slouchy, boyfriend rise for you but the length would have to be longer. 
    As for me, mid-rises are high rises and high rises, with a few exceptions, don't really work on my slightly short torso and overall short self. The best fit for me is usually a lower rise because my hips are in proportion to my legs, whereas my waist is proportionally bigger than both. 

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 7 months ago

    Thanks for sharing these try-ons, Suz. I think these shorts are cute on you, and I especially like outfit 3. I have baggy jeans shorts that I find a bit difficult to wear, too, but mine are high- rather than mid-rise (on me). I just don't like the huge legs on me. So I'm wondering if it's a matter of the leg width, perhaps combined with the length, that makes these difficult to adjust to. I am starting to think for me there is a sweet spot for leg width, especially in shorts, but also I find it true for long pants. You're right to send them back if you're not feeling them, for whatever reasons, but I know it's also good to figure out those reasons.

  • Suz replied 7 months ago

    These are all good thoughts. I agree a mid-rise can work on me, and/or a slouchy fit pant. While I ike the polish and the feel of pants that are fitted at the waist and hips,  (especailly wider legs) I also enjoy the slouchy vibe. After all, I still wear and love BF jeans! 

    But the length and width have to be "just so" for a lower rise to work.. I do semi-tuck with that style, for sure. i know just what you mean about the weird rumple, Brooklyn! I see it  (or felt it) in some of these pics. Semi-tucking is definitely a good way to go, but that tends to work better with a knit that collapses a bit vs. a woven or a stiffer knit (which I am wearing in these photos...) Also, with a lower rise, I may also have to be more careful about contrast, etc. It's all do-able with the right complements. I just need to be more aware and pay attention to what else I might need to make the look work. Which might be too much work altogether! ;) 

    It's fun to experiment, though, no? 

  • bella replied 7 months ago

    Like others, I see no problem with these outfits. That said, the dark colored, below the knee version you collected in your post looks very promising. I bet it will look killer. Do show us if/when you order it. 

  • Lisa replied 7 months ago

    I like how these look but if you think they are off then return them. Anytime I've kept something thinking I'll adjust, it's never worked out for me.

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