Bell-Bottoms Day Date in the current year: April 5, 2025

Bell-bottoms, also known as flared pants or simply flares, are a style of pants that widen from the knees down, giving the trouser leg a bell-like shape (hence the name). Their origin can be traced back to the wide, bell-bottomed trousers worn by some enlisted sailors in the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy in the 19th century, when there were no standardized uniforms for enlisted sailors. Flared trousers, slightly different from today’s bell-bottoms, became part of the standard uniform in the Royal Navy around the mid-19th century.

Bell-bottoms were also traditionally worn by carpenters in many European countries because their bell-shaped cuffs protected shoes from sawdust. Even today, bell-bottoms are worn in some countries by carpenters who choose to spend several years as journeymen after completing their apprenticeship. German journeymen carpenters, for example, usually wear black bell-bottoms, a waistcoat, and a broad-brimmed hat.

Modern bell-bottoms became fashionable for both men and women in the 1960s. The fashion started in London and then spread to the rest of Europe and North America. Bell-bottoms were often made from denim and were usually worn with Chelsea boots, clogs, or high-heeled shoes.

The fashion continued into the 1970s. In 1971, Derek and the Dominos released a single called “Bell Bottom Blues”, written by Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock. According to Clapton, the song was inspired by George Harrison’s wife Pattie Boyd (who would eventually divorce Harrison and marry Clapton), who asked him to bring her a pair of bell-bottom jeans from the US. Bell-bottoms were also popularized by Sonny and Cher, who wore them on their popular show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

Bell-bottoms worn in the 1970s were wider than their 1960s counterparts: up to 26 inches at the bottom of each leg opening versus 18 inches. They were typically made from denim, satin polyester or light cotton. Extremely popular, flared pants became a symbol of 1970s fashion and a cultural icon in their own right.

By the end of the 1970s, however, bell-bottoms gave way to slim-fit and skin-tight pants. Since then, they have experienced several revivals: in the late 1980s and early 1990s, then again in the mid-1990s to 2000s (under the name “boot-cut” or “bootleg”), and most recently in the early 2020s, which saw a resurgence of interest in several fashion trends of the past.

The origin of Bell-Bottoms Day is unclear, but that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating. You can join in the fun by wearing bell-bottoms, adding a pair to your wardrobe if you don’t own one, or even throwing a 1960s or 1970s themed party. And don’t forget to post a photo of yourself wearing bell-bottoms on social media with the hashtag #BellBottomsDay to spread the word about the holiday!