12 High-Waisted Leggings that Make You Look and Feel Great Amy Marturana Winderl Replay Video The rise of the high-waisted legging High-waisted leggings are having a moment. Unlike their lower-cut cousins, high-waisted leggings come up past the belly button, sometimes, all the way to the ribcage. They're usually made with compression material and have a thick waistband, so they keep everything locked in and don't roll down or dig into your belly when you run, jump, and stretch. They generally feel and look great. It may seem trivial, but a good pair of leggings can really make your workout. A pair that's uncomfortable or ill-fitting can make it harder to get your sweat on.