I have discovered that high-waisted pants go hand in hand with midriffs. One cannot happen without the other. For example, if you wear a crop top with normal pants and your belly button is showing, you're automatically a hoochie. Or example two, if you wear high waisted pants with a regular shirt, you're automatically wearing mom-jeans. Therefore, to find the perfect balance between a college age clubbing rager and a 57 year old, you have to both cover up your belly button AND show off your stomach. I know, it's so weird. Pants go high and shirts shrink down. That is the only way, otherwise any degree either way and you're a hot mess. Good news is that high waisted pants can hide any Spanx that you may be wearing. Bad news is if you wear Spanx, all that excess fat gets squeezed right up to your midriff. Can't win.