Just like historical cycles, after years of absence, flared jeans always make a comeback, adapting to the contemporary style. And while for many people it is easy to link flared trousers to the hippie culture of the 60s and 70s, in reality, these models no longer exude an overtly flower-power aesthetic today.
Flared jeans have managed to renew themselves and still offer many style alternatives today. High or low-waisted, and with a more or less pronounced bell, their peculiar shape provides a unique and playful detail to your outfits.
Without forgetting an essential aspect: they are very versatile garments. You can wear them in your daily life with ballet flats, sneakers, or boots, combined with basic T-shirts, sweaters, blazers, and trench coats. But they are also perfect for formal occasions with elegant tops, thin heels, and platforms.
In this article, we will explain the differences—which sometimes seem small, but exist—between the various models, and we will also give you some tips on how to best style them.
What are bell-bottom jeans?
Let’s start from the basics, or perhaps it's better to say, from the knees. In fact, flared jeans are tight down to the knees and then widen as they go down.
The lower part of flared trousers can feature a traditional flare, like bootcut jeans, or have wider and larger legs like bell-bottom jeans.
As we have already said, many link these garments to the 60s, but in reality, they became one of the most significant fashion trends even at the end of the 20th century. Today they are a wardrobe must-have because, like all jeans, they are comfortable and easy to wear and pair.
Flared jeans are not all the same, here are the differences between the various models.
Bootcut jeans.
We could define them as more conservative or perhaps more dynamic, depending on your point of view. In any case, bootcut jeans resemble a scaled-down version of flared trousers. The leg always tends to widen at the ankle, but this time the flare is just hinted at and does not create exaggerated volume or hinder your stride. Bootcut is the kind of jean that can be styled in so many outfits.
High-waisted flared jeans.
High-waisted flared jeans sit just below the navel and pair well with tank tops, T-shirts, and other tops that can be easily tucked into the jeans to accentuate your waist. If you feel like daring a little, you could choose them very long and pair them with stiletto heels or platforms. The effect? Legs that look miles long and tapered!
Cropped flared jeans.
An alternative, perhaps more common in the past, is to create your own flared jeans by cutting the bottom of the trouser legs. In this case, you can choose to keep the dangling threads or trim them for cleaner edges.
Wide-flare jeans.
These flared trousers have the widest opening compared to the others and are the most fashionable models today. For this reason, we will give you some simple fashion tips on how to wear flared jeans.
How to wear flared jeans in all seasons.
How do you style flared jeans? Here are some outfit tips to always stay on trend, in all seasons.
Flared jeans with sneakers and a T-shirt.
If you want to wear flared jeans, but don't know where to start, try pairing them with a T-shirt or a white top. A pair of sneakers and a leather jacket are ideal for making your look even more cool!
Choose an “all-denim” look.
If you love jeans and want to try an entire denim outfit, a valid alternative is to wear a basic T-shirt (black or white) and pair a denim jacket with your flared jeans.
Try smart casual with a blazer.
For a work look, you could wear a button-down shirt tucked into your trousers, pairing it with your favorite blazer and a belt.
Create a summer ensemble.
These blue jeans are also ideal for a summer look: they can easily be paired with a top, a beach hat, and sunglasses. They will give you an airy style, perfect for the beach and spring aperitifs.
Get comfortable in a cardigan.
In autumn and winter, pair your flared jeans with a cardigan or a turtleneck: they will be the ideal companions to keep you warm in any situation!
Choose suitable shoes or boots.
Even though flared jeans adapt to all types of footwear, it can be annoying to drag part of the fabric that gets under your shoes. We recommend wearing shoes with a bit of height, such as sneakers, ankle boots, or any footwear with a slight heel.
Add a belt.
If you are wearing a top or tucking your shirt into your jeans, you will have the opportunity to show off a belt that can match your outfit or, on the contrary, create a distinctive contrast.
Dare to go all-in and return to the 70s.
If you like the 70s and colorful looks, go for vintage: denim silhouettes with accessories inspired by past decades like platform shoes, printed scarves, crossbody bags with animal print, and oversized sunglasses.
Or choose a minimal look.
Do you want to dress elegantly? Then focus on the essentials! Flared jeans will help you highlight the basic elements of your wardrobe, such as a long coat, a white button-down shirt, and a black bag. You don't really need much else to look good!
Flared jeans are a must-have in your wardrobe.
The beauty of flared jeans is precisely this: you can wear them in many ways, depending on your mood and your day's schedule. Take a look at our collections and choose an evergreen that reconfirms itself as a trend season after season. An ideal garment for playing with lines and proportions, making your look never boring.