Yes, there’s more to buying pants than waist size and inseam. I’m talking rise – the distance from the middle of the crotch seam (the space right between your legs) straight up to the top of the waistband.
Rise determines where your pants rest on your body, which in turn creates your perceived waistline. If you choose the incorrect rise for your torso-to-leg ratio, your body can look unbalanced. Case in point: here (okay, joke). Let’s break it down.