On one hand, low rise jeans were a result of the beauty ideal at the time being “heroin chic,” which was undoubtedly harmful and caused many to develop eating disorders.
On the other hand, high waisted jeans are a result of the beauty ideal now being Kim Kardashian, which is still harmful (ask all the women out there with botched Brazilian butt lifts), not the least because the Kardashians lie about their bodies being natural so they can shill useless products.
Although having a small waist is still ideal, I’m glad the window has shifted back from the time when celebrities were slammed in every magazine as fat for looking like this.