Flare jeans (bell-bottoms)
Also known as: Bell-bottom jeans, Flared jeans, Flares
Trouser cut with a snug fit at the hip and thigh and a distinctly bell-shaped widening of the leg from the knee downward.
Description
Flare jeans, also known as bell-bottoms, are a trouser cut with a snug fit at the hip and thigh and a distinct widening from the knee or just below. The hem circumference is typically 40-55 cm — much wider than the related bootcut, which only opens slightly from the knee.
The origin lies in 19th-century US navy uniforms (documented from 1813); from the 1960s the silhouette became a symbol of hippie and disco culture in London and California, boosted by the Levi's 646 Bell Bottom launched in 1969. After a long bootcut phase in the 1990s and 2000s, flares have made a strong comeback since the 2020s in denim and corduroy versions.
- Leg construction: snug to the knee, then bell-shaped to the hem
- Best proportioned with heeled shoes (platforms, boots)
- Medium to heavy denim (11-14 oz) holds the bell shape best
- Combined with fitted tops for a balanced silhouette
Properties
| Cut | Snug at hip/thigh, bell-shaped widening from the knee |
|---|---|
| Hem width | approx. 40-55 cm circumference |
| Material | Denim 11-14 oz, corduroy, twill |
| Styling | Heel, fitted top, high rise |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Bell-bottoms Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell-bottoms
- Levi Strauss & Co. Archiv levistrauss.com https://www.levistrauss.com/
