Bell-bottom jeans are often associated with the 1960s and 70s, during which they were the “go to” choice of pants for millions of men and women. In the years to follow, however, they were gradually replaced by the newer and more modern styles. But there’s a been a revival of the classic bell-bottom jeans in the world of fashion, with this unique style edging its way back into mainstream popularity.
What are Bell-Bottom Jeans?
Bell-bottom jeans receive their namesake by their unique design in which the trousers become wider past the knees, forming the shape of a bell. Sometimes known as “bootcut” or “bootfit” jeans, they offer a wider fit around the calf and ankle opening, which is something that many people prefer. It’s a relatively simple concept that quickly grew to define the 1960s and 70s. In fact, if you’ve ever watched a movie or TV film from this era, the actors and actresses were probably wearing bell-bottom jeans.
Just how far do the leg openings flare on bell-bottom jeans? It really depends on the exact style as well as the manufacturer. Traditionally, though, bell-bottom jeans have a leg opening of 18 inches (circumference) at the bottom.
The design and manufacturing process of bell-bottom jeans remains roughly the same as traditional jeans. Denim is used as the base material, with various dyes added to give the jeans its intended color. But the key difference between traditional jeans and bell-bottom jeans lies in the opening. As previously mentioned, bell-bottom jeans become wider past the knees, so much in fact that it often hides the wearer’s shoes (see image below for example).
A Look Back at the History of Bell-Bottom Jeans
While most people are familiar with the general concept behind bell-bottom jeans, they do not know from when and where the originated. Contrary to popular belief, bell-bottom jeans did not originate from the 1960s. Instead, the style has roots dating as far back as the early 19th century. According to Wikipedia, the U.S. Navy lacked any standardized uniform dress code during this time, so sailors began to experiment with various styles, including the use of trousers with a bell-like cuff. What began as a style experiment quickly spread to something much more, with tens of thousands of sailors throughout the U.S. Navy choosing to wear bell-bottom trousers. The British Royal Navy even followed a similar approach with its uniform standard, adding bell-bottom trousers to their dress code.
Of course, it wasn’t until the 1960s when bell-bottom jeans truly entered mainstream popularity. During the mid 1960s, the bell-bottoms became a popular fashion style among both men and women, not only here in the United States, but throughout the United Kingdom as well. According to Wikipedia, bell-bottom jeans were frequently worn with Cuban high-heeled shoes, clogs and Chelsea boots. A few later in 1967 bell-bottoms had transitioned to the hippie cultural movement, with men and women often wearing them with tie-dye shirts, beaded necklaces and granny glasses. The popular 60s-70s rock group Derek and the Dominos even produced a hit song based on around this fashion trend, which was rightfully known as “Bell Bottom Blues.”
1970s Bell-Bottom Jeans
Throughout the 1960s, bell-bottom jeans were largely associated with the hippie movement. It wasn’t until the 1970s when they transitioned from the hippie movement into mainstream fashion — a transitioned that was inspired largely by the famous duo Sonny and Cher, both of whom wore the stylish jeans while filming their TV show. Many people were introduced to bell-bottom jeans for the first time after seeing them on TV, allowing the style to explode in terms of popularity.
Variants of Bell-Bottom Jeans
The newfound popularity for bell-bottom jeans paved the way for several variants, one of which was the loon pants. Also known as “balloon pants,” they featured an even wider flare at the ankles and were frequently worn by dangers on the music TV show Ready Steady Go. Bell-bottom jeans already have a significant leg opening the flares outwards, but loon pants took it one step further by increasing the flare.
Another variant of bell-bottom jeans were elephant bells. First appearing in the mid 1970s, they were characterized by a marked flare just below the knee that often concealed the wearer’s shoes. When wearing elephant bell jeans, they would often be accessoried with platform shoes of at least 2 inches in height, which was helpful to prevent the hems from touching the ground.
Bell-Bottom Jeans Today
Like many fashion styles of its time, the trend of bell-bottom jeans gradually faded in the 1980s. Slowly but surely, they were replaced by more modern styles like straight-leg, slim-fit, boot-cut and low-rise. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that bell-bottoms have gone the way of the dinosaur. On the contrary, they’ve been making a comeback in recent years, edging into the denim market.
If you’re thinking about purchasing bell-bottom jeans, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, pay attention to the leg flaring, because this will play an important role in their appearance. If the leg flaring is too wide, it may overtake the rest of your outfit to become the central focus point. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but some people prefer a more subtle leg flare in their bell-bottom jeans.
Also, consider the material from which the bell-bottom jeans are made. 100% denim is by far the single most popular material/fabric used in their construction, but stretch denim has also become popular in recent years. Stretch denim is characterized by the use of regular denim with some type of elastic fabric like polyester. Just a small amount of elastic material will give bell-bottom jeans greater elasticity. This means you can literally stretch them without causing any damage.
Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding of bell-bottom jeans and their history/origins. Before they were popular during the 1960s and 70s, bell-bottom jeans were worn by sailors in the Navy. Today, they’re making a comeback in the world of fashion, with men and women alike seeking to wear them.
