ooh gosh I almost deleted your post by accident! whoops
You know you're right, I can't stand having my waist belted in for some reason, but the hip belts have never bothered me, even tight costume ones. How does it feel to you?

For me, personally, it is interesting that women of my mother's generation wore pants up to their natural waistline, which seems to split them between the 2nd & 3rd chakras. (And, in my 'feeling', this really conceals & binds the first and second chakras.)

Since the first 2 chakras (root & sacral) are more oriented to our primal, physical experience, this seems to really underscore for me how these women were oppressed sexually and in terms of providing for their basic needs: food, shelter, etc. (Men were supposedly the bread winners.) These attributes are divided, by the high waistline, from the 3rd chakra which is the seat of our self-esteem.

Not to diminish anyone who is comfortable wearing their clothing that way, just a point to ponder. I find that most often, conservative ladies prefer the higher waistline, which I think speaks a little to how we perceive that 2nd chakra.

I absolutely agree with everyone!!!

I feel unable to even breath when wearing belts or jeans that are waist-high.
Sometimes, when I wear yoga pants that are high, I roll them down. It really makes me feel split in two!

Magdalene, thank you for the wonderful explanation of the chakras!