#DenimMonth Here is a bit of History about Flare Jeans. Bell-bottoms (or
flares) are a style of trousers that become wider from the knees downward,
forming a bell-like shape of the trouser leg. Naval origins: In the early 19th
century, when a standardized uniform did not yet exist in the U.S.Navy, some
sailors adopted a style of wide trousers ending in bell-shaped cuffs. In 1813, one of the first recorded descriptions
of sailors' uniforms, written by Commodore Stephen Decatur, noted that the men
on the frigates United States and Macedonia were wearing "glazed canvas
hats with stiff brims, decked with streamers of ribbon, blue jackets buttoned
loosely over waistcoats, and blue trousers with bell bottoms." 1960s and
1970s In the 1960s, bell-bottoms became fashionable for both men and women in
Europe and North America. Often made of denim, they flared out from the bottom
of the calf, and had slightly curved hems and a circumference of 18 inches (46
cm) at the bottom of each leg opening. They were usually worn with Cuban-heeled
shoes, clogs, or Chelsea boots. Toni Basil, who was a go-go dancer when the
1964 concert film the T.A.M.I. Show was released, appeared in the film wearing
bell-bottoms with a baby doll blouse. 1990s and 2000s In 1996, women's
bell-bottoms were reintroduced to the mainstream public, under the name
"boot-cut" ("boot-fit") trousers as the flare was slimmer.
By 1997, flare jeans had come into vogue among women, which had a wider, more
exaggerated flare than boot-cuts (boot-fits). The boot-cut (boot-fit) style
ended up dominating the fashion world for 10 years. By around 2006, the
bell-shaped silhouette started to fade as the skinny jean rose in popularity