Looks like the 70s’ decade is set for a dramatic comeback with the return of bell bottoms. From Priyanka Chopra, Shweta Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Maliaka Arora to Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, everyone loves to style these pants with embellished jackets and graphic tees.
Divya Aggarwal, designer at Kazo, mentions that a lot of retro trends will be seen on fashionistas as the world is waking up to sustainable fashion. “Not just celebrities, but everyone who cares about the environment is trying to reduce the excess and is recycling old clothes. Bell bottoms or flared pants were quite popular in the 70s and are now back to charm us. One can pair them with different types of tops, jackets and matching accessories to create interesting looks each time. They are also easy to carry by all body types.”
With the retrograde fashion, people can mix and match their old fashioned clothes lying untouched under the debris of their closets by reusing the clothes they would have never worn. Designer Anushka Bajaj points out, “Bell-bottoms are definitely in vogue and with that one can also see the return of ruffles on sleeves, necklines, collars, and hemlines. A lot of celebs are also seen sporting interesting organza tops, gowns, saris and jackets that are inspired from the retro era of Bollywood. To join the bandwagon, opt for flared pants, retro saris and fish cut gowns for fun dos and events.”
Not just young college goers and celebrities, but even new mommies are big fans of the stretchy bell bottoms as it covers the bump strategically. Talking about the popularity of these pants among new-age moms, Surbhi Bhatia, founder of The Mom Store, mentions, “These pants are very popular in maternity collections as they support the growing belly without making it look too prominent. The denim and cotton jersey pants are comfortable and easy to pull up, which provides a better fit. Both petite and tall women prefer wearing flared bell bottoms with a structured top to be on top of the fashion game even during pregnancy.”
Bell bottoms are comfortable, sassy and at the same time fit perfectly on all body types. Shilpa Bhatia, founder of The Clothing Rental, believes that women and men love wearing high waist pants to look taller and slimmer. She says, “They cover all the tricky areas and accentuate the curves. Even in pantsuits, one can opt for flared pants and a matching business jacket and a scarf for a smart boardroom look. According to me, the retro pieces that are coming back with this trend are round thick glasses, matching headbands, loose shirts, and combat boots — so keep an eye for these items.”
To nail the flared pants, it is important to get the high-waist fit right and the length should ideally touch the ankles. Pair them with pencil heels or platforms and you can conquer the world, suggests designer Ridhi Mehra.
Celebrity stylist Nidhi Sharma recommends wearing bell-bottoms with a fun floral shirt and formal jacket for semi-casual business wear. “For me, it’s a classic statement piece; it makes you look slimmer and if you pair it with pointed pumps or heels and top it with some glam accessories, it can even transition into party wear. Invest in retro items like corsets, cat eye glasses, blouses with bishop sleeves, animal prints or simply borrow them from your mother’s wardrobe to recycle,” sums up Sharma.
