Yeah, the old Levis from the '79s were very comfortable. Some of mine are still going strong. I can't really wear them out of the house, as they're almost 'see-thru', lol.
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Flare or bell bottom jeans
- Thread starter SwitchGear
- Start date
Oh, my boot cuts are new. All my jeans are Levi's Standard Boot cuts. I buy 'em new and blue and wear 'em through. But then again, I wear lots of boots. Actually, if they brought back flares and bells, I'd be tempted to wear a pair.
^^^This. I jumped right on the bell-bottom/flare bandwagon in 1968 or '69...when I was 8 years old...and probably stopped wearing them by the time I was 15 years old. Wouldn't be caught dead in them now; I'm just not a fan of impractical fashions.
I'm not sure if they still sell them. I remember seeing a resurgence in 2006, or so. For a year or two, kids walking home from school looked very similar to the way kids looked in 1972. They had huge flares on them. It didn't last very long though. I think they cycle round every 30-40 years or so, then flash out, like most fashions.
Back in the day, oh yeah.
Bell bottoms, platform shoes, polyester shirts and snap button rodeo shirts.
Bell bottoms, platform shoes, polyester shirts and snap button rodeo shirts.
I was born in 1959. I don't think that I owned a pair of pants that were not belled or flared from about 1968 until around 1977. I couldn't imagine that they would ever go out of style.
And yes, they were a pain in the butt for drummers. I either tucked my pants legs into my tube socks, or used a rubber band to keep the bass drum beater(s) from getting caught on them.
And yes, they were a pain in the butt for drummers. I either tucked my pants legs into my tube socks, or used a rubber band to keep the bass drum beater(s) from getting caught on them.
I wouldn't be caught dead in bell bottoms. But back in the 70's, quite a few of them were caught dead between the crank and chain of my bicycle...
That weaned me off for good of unnecessary cloth adornments.
That weaned me off for good of unnecessary cloth adornments.
Born in '58. I was the first kid in my elementary school to wear Beatle boots and then bell bottoms.
Mid to late seventies flares became popular and around 1980 straight legs were back in.
After Reagan was elected pres the hippie style went out and once again it was "hip to be square." Lol
Bells were popular throughout high school (68-72) and a few years after. I think the diameter maxed out in '73 at about 18", then rapidly contracted back to straight legs. Some standard accessories:
- suede fringe vest (bonus points for matching suede pouch attached to tooled leather belt!)
- mutton chop sideburns (generally, as much hair as possible)
- paisley shirts with puffy sleeves
- aviator shades, preferably blue
I don't miss any of this groovy stuff for myself, but on ladies I do dig hip-hugger bells and a halter top.
- suede fringe vest (bonus points for matching suede pouch attached to tooled leather belt!)
- mutton chop sideburns (generally, as much hair as possible)
- paisley shirts with puffy sleeves
- aviator shades, preferably blue
I don't miss any of this groovy stuff for myself, but on ladies I do dig hip-hugger bells and a halter top.
They made bike riding a hellish experience back when I wore them. My right pant leg on all of my jeans looked like they'd been chewed by a moderately irritated chainsaw.
Not a fan. I went to high school in the late '70s and early '80s, so they were going out of style by then except among the stoners.
I was into straight-leg jeans (still am, basically) with my Chuck Taylors. And I'm 6'6", so platform soles would have had me banging my head against more things than I did already.
I was into straight-leg jeans (still am, basically) with my Chuck Taylors. And I'm 6'6", so platform soles would have had me banging my head against more things than I did already.
+1. Back in the day I always liked the low rise waste hip-hugger jeans with just a slight flare on the legs. I always thought they were complimentary on young ladies.
I'm pretty sure that Levi doesn't make a bell-bottom anymore. They do have a couple boot cut styles though, with the 527 being a pretty decent cut.
I grew up in the 90s, the era of baggy pants. The late 60s and 70s had bell-bottoms. We had JNCOs, which had legs that could be almost cartoonishly large.
I grew up in the 90s, the era of baggy pants. The late 60s and 70s had bell-bottoms. We had JNCOs, which had legs that could be almost cartoonishly large.
I remember seeing the first pair on a family visit to NYC as a 5 year old, thought they were wild! My parents bought them my brother and I and we were the first in our neighbourhood to have them. I also got my first medallion that trip. I remember being called a hippy in Grade 1, because my hair went over my collar. Some kids still had buzz cuts, it was a time of big changes fashion wise.
The worst were 'elephant' pants, tight at the waist but hugely flared all the way down the leg.
Thankfully I just missed the platform shoes and huge flares look, though my older brother didn't. Purple and brown leather pimp shoes, who knew?
The worst were 'elephant' pants, tight at the waist but hugely flared all the way down the leg.
Thankfully I just missed the platform shoes and huge flares look, though my older brother didn't. Purple and brown leather pimp shoes, who knew?
