Bell bottom pants from the 1970s are back

Mumbai: Bell bottom pants are back and how! As all eyes are on actresses on a whirlwind promotion tour for their films and what they are wearing, Bipasha Basu sported bell bottom pants from the 1970s and it rocked! We talk to stylists and designers, to know if the pants are here to stay and find their place in the current fashion scenario.  

The wide-legged pant genre has seen many variations and many comebacks, the most famous of them in recent times being the palazzo pants. And Nabonil, from the brand Dev R Nil, tags the trend of bell bottom pants as an off-shoot from the palazzo trend. “You will see more and more celebrities wearing bell bottoms, mainly because of the palazzo pant trend. Not just that, even shararas are making a comeback in the Indian garment industry. It’s all about the outfit being comfortable.” But with the trend of printed pants not too far away, Nil suggests fun prints on bell bottom pants, as otherwise it would be “too dull”.

While Nil thinks it’s best paired with something structured like a tucked-in collared shirt or even a racerback top, Pearl Shah, the editor of The Juice from Jabong has more to say. “The trend now is to opt for high-waisted flared trousers. It’s best to pick one in a classic dark denim. You can pair dark denim flared pants with nautical striped tees, crop tops, lace or crochet tops or just simple tucked-in shirts. This is a great silhouette for hour-glass body types to highlight their waist. Wear closed wedge heels with these pants as the hem tends to drag when worn with flats,” she says.

It’s not easy to pull off bell bottoms as you are sure to get attention with flared pants. Stylist and designer Rick Roy puts in a word of caution, “Bell bottom pants look better on people with long and thin legs. Since the bottom part flares out, it doesn’t look good on someone with short legs. It’s a strong element of your outfit so it’s best to play it safe.”