What is the name of the wide, flared leg style of trousers popular in the 1970s?

Bell-bottoms are trousers with legs that flare dramatically below the knee, creating a bell-like outline. The style became one of the most recognizable fashion symbols of the 1970s.

The silhouette was not invented in the 1970s. Flared trousers had earlier associations with naval uniforms and workwear, while bell-bottoms became fashionable among young people in London during the 1960s before spreading through Europe and North America. Denim, bright cotton, and synthetic fabrics were all used.

In the 1970s, television performers such as Sonny and Cher helped popularize the look. The trousers were often worn with platform shoes, which kept extra-wide hems from dragging on the ground. Especially exaggerated versions were called elephant bells or loon pants.

“Wide leg” is a broader description rather than the specific name of this style. Bootcut trousers also flare, but their opening is usually narrower and designed to fit over a boot. Bell-bottoms generally flare more strongly and are associated particularly with the late 1960s and 1970s.