I Can Hear the Bells

Not as romanticized as the 1960s, or as popularized in office parties and music as the 1980s, lies our adolescent 1970s. It's understandable why this happened: the 1960s had the civil rights movement and new subcultures started forming within the populous baby boomer generation, the 1980s was a pretty decent time for U.S. citizens (countries we invaded, cold war holdouts, and marginalized citizens? Not so much) given the fun tunes and the economic boom, but alas the 1970s didn't have all those benefits.

Many theme parties, Halloween costumes, and vintage style skip over the 1970s completely. While I find this deeply disappointing due to my love of the warm-toned style trends, it is also understandable why pop culture tends to avert much of the decade.

For one, people in the western world were really struggling in the 1970s. While Thatcher didn't assume PM of Britain until 1979, she led the conservative party’s charge for austerity and social conservatism which many young Brits rejected. In the U.S. halfway through the decade, we pulled out of the Vietnam War, which at the time was the longest war in U.S. history, but the scars of war remained. Whereas the activism of the 1960s could be watered down and easily digested (cue the reductionism of MLK's activism and dodging of the violence that incited civil rights protesters in U.S. textbooks) the 1970s weren't as easy. The Black Panthers grew in size and in media attention, from trials of prominent members to their bold stance against the Vietnam War, revolutionary rhetoric, and pro-second amendment stances they made many white Americans deeply uncomfortable. Women's liberation and punk rock movements were incredibly vocal for sex positivity and rejecting societal norms. Additionally, icons of the 1960s like Jimi Hendrix and Martin Luther King Jr. died towards the tail end of their decade to say nothing of the numerous bands that broke up.

All this is to say, pop culture didn't, and doesn't, really know what to do with the 1970s. The decade posed more questions than answers, every movement was more of an evolution than a complete revolution. The Vietnam War's end left countless veterans struggling, many activists saw more work was left to be done, and so many struggled economically. These realities were not necessarily something the dominant culture wanted to address. Don't lean towards that change and you are a conservative hold-out, lean in too much and you are a radical danger to our children. The main piece of media that informs our image of the 1970s, in my opinion, is Charlie's Angels. Few people I know have actually watched Charlie's Angels, but the fashion iconography, complicated feminism, and dancing around controversial issues like race and class persist to this day. As well as numerous lack-luster remakes. To a lesser extent, Taxi Driver, Watergate reporting, and exploitation films also define the decade. Unsurprisingly, you won't find many people cosplaying as a mentally ill vet or old news anchor.

This complicated shifting of tides is part of why I adore bellbottoms, aside from how flattering and impressive they look. Bellbottoms are denim jeans that are elevated. They are usually fitted towards the top and feature a large flare heading towards the ankles, more than your typical flare jeans. Think of it like the jeans version of bell sleeves. Every feature of bellbottoms is interesting on a cultural level to me.

Denim jeans became popularized in the 1960s, they were a fashion style that young people adopted as they were previously sturdy pants that were mostly worn by working people and farmers. Wearing jeans was eschewing typical fashion expectations and represented solidarity. Bellbottoms continue that trend but elevate the fashion. They are loud, they take up space, and the wearer is unapologetic and bold with their clothes.

Bellbottoms are very easily DIY'd and personalized. If you take a regular pair of jeans, cut along the outside seam at the bottom of the pants, you can easily stitch in any fabric of your choosing. If the jeans are a little distressed, especially around the knees, you can also stitch in some fabric under the holes. The upcycling and DIY aspect encapsulates environmental sustainability and the DIY punk attitude of the 1970s. I used to have a pair of jeans like this when I was a high school freshman, sadly that pair has been lost to the sands of time.

Finally, they are just eminently fabulous. They are masculine in their material but feminine in their style. Bold but not overpowering. You can move easily and dance but not feel restricted or exposed as with skirts and dresses. An all-around comfortable, wonderful garment.

Recently, I've felt a little left behind in fashion. I want to enjoy the styles but I find fast fashion unsustainable, sustainable fashion too expensive, and trends too tight and constrictive. Bellbottoms can help us unlock our individuality and upcycle from home. I hope that someday soon I can see a veritable barrage of these revolutionary garments around town.

Signing off from the front,

Lucy Richardson.