Fashion Article Series

1970s: Bell Bottoms

One of the most popular fashion items in the '70s were bell-bottom pants for both men and women. While bell-bottom pants had started their rise in the late '60s with non-conformist youth (also know as hippies), the '70s welcomed a time of mass-produced flared pants in a variety of different fabrics. They have now come back in different textures such as denim, velvet, and a structured fabric.

During the 70’s nearly everyone wore bell bottoms, from children to middle-aged people, and it’s a trend that has returned many times throughout history with a slightly different look each time.

The 70’s were characterized as a decade of "the bigger the better.” People would actually tear the hem and add extra fabric to make their bell bottoms wider. The extra wide bell bottoms were known as elephant bell bottoms. The bell bottoms were made so wide that you could trip over them if they were too long and you didn’t watch where you were walking. The bell bottoms worn during the disco era were worn with a fancy belt that was nearly as sparkly and bright as the disco ball itself! 

The collections debuted in Spring 2015 were all about a '70s silhouette, especially when it comes to denim. That’s right, Bell Bottoms are back! They are back but not completely in the same way, they are a more modern version of the '70s classic. They are more sophisticated and sleek than how the hippies wore it in the 70’s. They make you appear taller and give the illusion of having longer legs, especially if worn with a pair of heels. The heels will be hidden with the boot cut style and will make your legs look a lot longer. The bell bottoms that have been seen this spring, have been styled in many ways. They have been seen as high waisted and tight around your curves and then loosely flow out towards the bottom of the leg. These bell bottoms have been paired with a loose tucked in blouse, worn with a monochromatic color platte, or with a cropped jacket or coat. 

Rebecca Eames 

Principal Blogger