I am looking for high-waisted trousers.
'Vita' — VI-ta. 'Alta' — AL-ta.
Use when looking for a specific style of trousers. Italian fashion staff appreciate specific style requests — it shows you know what you want and helps them direct you to the right section quickly.
'A vita alta' (high-waisted) is a fixed descriptive phrase in Italian fashion. 'Vita bassa' = low-waisted, 'vita media' = mid-rise. These terms are used exactly as in English fashion vocabulary. 'Cerco' = I am looking for.
Preferisco i pantaloni a vita bassa.
I prefer low-rise trousers.
Opposite preference.
Avete modelli a vita regolare?
Do you have regular-rise models?
Middle option.
La vita è elasticizzata?
Is the waistband elasticated?
Comfort feature check.
High-waisted ('vita alta') silhouettes have been a constant in Italian fashion since the 1950s. The look is associated with the classic Italian 'bellissima' aesthetic — the elongated silhouette celebrated by Italian cinema and design.