The flare is back on the street, not just on the runway. From high-street windows to red carpets, bell-bottoms and flared jeans have re-entered the daily wardrobe, and fast. What changed is simple : silhouettes relaxed, hems widened, and the 70s shape suddenly feels new again.
Context matters. After a decade of skinny fits, designers revived volume and leg lines in 2022 and 2023 shows. Celine, Saint Laurent, and Victoria Beckham sent elongated flares and tailored pants across Paris. TikTok pushed the look into everyday life, then retail followed. The result : a comeback that touches office wear, weekend denim, even evening looks.
Flared jeans are trending again : what’s driving the comeback
Two shifts collided. First, comfort and movement took priority since 2020, and flares create length without squeezing the leg. Second, nostalgia cycles hit a new gear. The 1970s have rotated back into focus, but filtered through cleaner tailoring and better denim.
Shoppers noticed the leg-lengthening effect right away. A gentle knee break that opens at the hem balances shoulders, frames boots, and cleans up sneakers. That alone reduces the risk of the look feeling like a costume from a themed party.
Retail tells the same story. Major denim labels expanded relaxed and flare fits across 2023 and 2024 lines, while luxury houses paired flared trousers with sharp blazers to move the silhouette from retro to refined. Here’s the twist : you don’t need platforms or fringe to make it work.
Common mistakes and how to fix them without overthinking
Length breaks the look or makes it. Too short and the flare chops the leg. Too long and the hem drags. Aim for a half-break over shoes for trousers, and just above the floor for denim with heels.
Rise matters more than many think. A mid to high rise anchors the waist and lets the flare do the visual lifting. Low rises push the eye down and can widen the hips optically.
Fabric weight decides the vibe. Lightweight drape reads elegant at the office. Heavier denim reads casual and holds shape. If the fabric collapses, the flare looks messy. If it’s too stiff, it can feel boxy.
Footwear finishes the line. Block-heel boots, pointed pumps, sleek sneakers, even clogs if the hem is just right. The shoe should barely peek out, not disappear entirely.
A real-world cue helps. When Celine’s Winter 2023 runway put narrow-hip blazers over slim flares, the silhouette moved from throwback to present tense. Street style followed in 2024 with cleaner washes, dark indigo, and pressed creases.
Choosing your flare : cuts, rises, and shoes that truly flatter
Start with the setting. Work, weekend, or evening leads the cut choice more than body type. The right flare can lengthen the leg on most frames when proportions stay sharp.
For denim, pick a structured high rise and a hem that just clears the ground with your go-to shoes. For office trousers, a mid to high rise with a front crease keeps everything tailored. In both cases, keep pockets minimal to avoid extra bulk.
Color simplifies decisions. Dark indigo or black reads polished and slimming. Mid-wash delivers a laid-back feel. Printed or corduroy flares make a statement, so pare back the top and accessories.
Below, a quick starter kit that avoids the usual trial-and-error.
- One dark high-rise flare jean for day-to-night with boots.
- One fluid flared trouser for the office with a sharp blazer.
- One cropped flare to show the ankle with sleek sneakers.
- One pair of pointed shoes to extend the line under the hem.
Proof it’s real : timeline, names, and how to style flares right now
The long arc is clear. Bell-bottoms rose in the late 1960s, dominated the 1970s, returned in the late 1990s, then faded as skinny jeans took over the 2010s. From 2022 onward, runways and retail revived flare lines alongside wide-leg trousers, signaling a broader swing to volume.
Key moments stand out. Saint Laurent Fall 2022 showed tailored flares under structured coats. Celine’s 2023 shows paired slim flares with rock boots and narrow-lapel blazers. At mass level, retailers expanded flare categories through 2023 and 2024 as shoppers shifted away from ultra-skinny fits.
Celebrity styling accelerated adoption. Zendaya stepped out in floor-grazing flared tailoring. Harry Styles mixed flared trousers with 70s knit polos and ankle boots. Those images traveled fast and set an easy formula : fitted top or cropped jacket, long leg line, minimal accessories.
Translating that into everyday outfits works better than it sounds. Try a compact cardigan tucked into dark flared jeans with a block heel for dinner. For office days, a lean turtleneck, a strong-shoulder blazer, and a pressed flared trouser handle meetings and after-work plans without a change of shoes.
Care also counts. Hem for the shoes worn most, not the tallest pair in the closet. Steam or press the crease to keep the shape. If the fabric pools, tailor it. If the knee break sits too high, choose a longer inseam. Small tweaks, big payoff.
One last note that’s definetely practical : keep the top half neat. The cleaner the jacket or knit, the more modern the flare reads. That balance is the missing piece many skip, and it turns a 1970s idea into a 2024 uniform that actually works.