During Super Bowl LIX, the Kansas City Chiefs went head-to-head with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won and the Chiefs lost their chances at a three-peat Super Bowl win.
However, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance captured the hearts and eyes of viewers. Perhaps, the most memorable on the fashion end was his choice of denim bootcut jeans.
Since the Super Bowl, many viewers have taken to social media to share themselves rocking a similar pair of jeans. In the era of 2025, fashion trends come and go more rapidly than ever. While fashion-forward and eye-catching, the flare jeans served as a symbol of the rebellious culture in the 1960s and are now making a comeback.
Flare jeans originally were worn by Navy SEALs during the Vietnam War. Many soldiers wore Levi’s bell-bottom jeans to withstand the jungle, mainly protecting themselves against leeches. Men even customized their jeans by sewing on extra pockets of camouflage material. The Navy replaced the bell bottoms with straight-leg pant alternatives, but bell bottoms were not done yet.
In the late '60s, bell bottoms grew popular among young people. Bell bottoms and flare pants began to be purchased at second-hand stores, sparking a movement of rebellion and cultural awakening. Specifically for men, it allowed them to explore a side of fashion and style with no boundaries.
The hippie movement, a counterculture of people who actively opposed the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, gave bell bottoms a whole new kind of wear. The movement was focused on anti-establishment and is often remembered by psychedelic rock bands and experimentation with marijuana. The peak year of this movement hit between 1966 and 1969.
Many Black men in particular used bell bottoms to explore stylistic creativity and make a statement about their right to dress freely. They often donned colorful and bright options that featured fun textures and challenged the concept of men’s fashion.
Music was coupled with this, as many musicians were seen making displays of creativity and expression through their performances and fashion.
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes performed their popular song “I Miss You” in 1972 on the show “Soul Train,” wearing matching colorful v-neck bell-bottom sets. Their soulful R&B song off the album “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” paired with the bright colors of the period made for an incredible performance and a display of revolution.
One of the biggest musicians of the time, Jimi Hendrix, rocked an iconic pair of bell bottoms at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. After Hendrix's performance, the style of bell bottoms he wore reappeared that fall when Levi’s sold a wide range of the style, eventually growing to be the staple jeans of the ‘70s.
In 1976, the Jackson 5 performed “Forever Came Today” on "The Carol Burnett Show” in matching silver and blue sparkly jumpsuits. They glided across the floor and serenaded viewers while rocking sparkly bell-bottoms, another show of the power of the music and culture of the time.
Kendrick Lamar, an outspoken artistic force of a musician, rocked bootcut jeans, the modern form of bell bottoms, on one of the biggest musical stages in the world. The choice comes at a time when the political climate is in upheaval, and many people’s rights and freedoms are being stripped away.
While Lamar has not confirmed or denied whether the choice of his bell bottoms is more than just a stylistic jean choice, the choice shows a progression of trends and how fashion can coincide with the historical movements at the time. His modern take on the bell bottoms throws a nod to a period where self-expression and anti-government were the status quo.
