Why high-waist trousers work
The visual logic of the high-waist trouser is straightforward: the higher the waistband, the longer the leg appears and the shorter the torso looks in relation. For men who are tall, this creates a pleasing length of leg. For men who are shorter, the high waist can correct what a low-rise trouser exaggerates — a too-short leg proportion against a longer upper body.
High-waist trousers are worn with braces rather than a belt. Braces hold the trouser from above rather than cinching the waist, which means the trouser hangs from the shoulder rather than being held at the waist by friction. The result is a trouser that falls in a clean straight line from waistband to break, without bunching or gathering at the waist during movement.