By Kayla Gately
Fashion is like a revolving door; what goes in goes back out— and then comes right back in again. Fashion trends recycle themselves. Remember when those ‘80s bodycon skirts and elastic belts made a comeback in the early 2010s? Or, for an example that’s in full force right now, ‘90s-esque scrunchies and chokers are totally back in style. It kind of makes you want to go full hoarder and never throw your old clothes away, because they’re bound to make a reappearance in a fad 20 years from now. And that fad right now, ladies and gents, are the groovy bell-bottoms of the 1970s.
Bell-bottoms are making a major comeback in modern fashion, whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is completely up to you. Now,a little fashion history. Believe it or not, it wasn’t a peace-loving flower child that was the first to sport these iconic pants, no matter how many hippie Halloween costumes try to tell you so. It was actually the sailors in the War of 1812. Since bell-bottoms are flared at the end, they made it easier for the sailors to roll up their pant legs in high water. But, like most things born out of functionality, it was only a matter of time before they were turned into a trend.
After that came the easily recognizable “Sonny and Cher” style bell-bottoms of the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Once Sonny and Cher, the entertainment staples of the time period, started wearing them on their popular TV show, the trend exploded in the United States, cementing bell-bottoms as the clothing item people immediately associate with the decade.
Bell-bottoms gave way to their less dramatic cousin, the boot cut, in the 1990s. Both styles are tighter on the thigh and then start to flare out from the knee down, but bell-bottoms, or “flares,” tend to have a more exaggerated opening that resemble a “bell,” hence their name. After the boot cut came skinny jeans, a trend that was big all throughout my middle school and high school career. Fashion went from one extreme to the other, starting with “bell”- like flares and going all the way to boy band-esque skinny jeans, and back again. Looks like we’re still trapped in that revolving door.
Modern bell-bottoms can fall anywhere on the bell-bottom/ boot cut spectrum. If you’re still skeptical about the bell-bottom resurrection currently going on, just check out these celebrities rocking the style.
The super model and style icon paired her high-waisted denim-flared jeans with a black and silver belt, and a simple deep V-neck. She even completed her look with ‘70s-esque round sunglasses.
The Duchess of Sussex went for a more sophisticated look with her black flares. She paired the chic trousers with a long, light gray pea coat and classic black, pointed toe heels.
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star and super model definitely had a different take on the bell-bottom resurgence when she wore this monotone, knit getup earlier this year, but isn’t fashion all about taking risks?
Get The Look
Although celebrities wear styles a lot of us want to imitate, most of their actual clothes are way too expensive for a normal person to ever think of buying. Here are a few different style bell-bottoms that are a lot more affordable for the average girl.
These simple dark wash, high-rise jeans make the perfect staple item to build your outfit around. They combine the classic bell-bottom look with the current high-waisted jean trend. Like in the picture, the flare at the bottom goes perfectly with booties. Available at American Eagle for $39.95.
These high-waisted flares are like the previous pair’s cool older sibling, complete with a cropped leg and a little distress above knees. These flares definitely stand out from the crowd more so than the other ones, but they’re still pretty casual and can be worn with basically anything. I’m always a fan of a good crop top with anything high-rise, like pictured above. Available at American Eagle for $49.95.
This dark red statement piece is definitely more of an homage to the classic ‘70s bell-bottoms than the first two pairs were. This pair is made of velvet, and is paired with a lace up white crop top on the Forever 21 website. If you want to keep the focus on the pants, try pairing these with a simple black or white cropped cami. Available at Forever 21 for only $12.53.
These bell-bottoms aren’t as basic as the denim pair, but also aren’t as outlandish as the velvet flares. They live in a middle ground between the two. The best part is, you get the classy look with the comfort of wearing ribbed knit pants. They’re pictured here with a belt, kind of like how Bella Hadid wore hers, and a long sleeved white crop top. They come in a few different colors besides navy, including black, red, and olive. The marigold and rust colors are currently sold out. Available at Forever 21 for only $10.43.
These black high-rise flare jeans are a sleeker version of the regular denim bell-bottoms. Black jeans are a great way to change up a casual outfit, and go great with basically anything. This pair comes distressed, which adds another little something to your look. Available at H&M for $17.99. Unfortunately, most sizes are currently sold out online.
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