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Flared pants became an iconic fashion item of the 1960s and 70s, especially during the disco era.
However, few people know that the original design of these pants didn’t come from fashion designers or dancers—it was directly borrowed from sailors in the age of sailing fleets.
If you’ve ever seen an old naval uniform, you may have noticed that the trousers flare out in an unusual way. At first glance, this style might seem impractical for working on a ship, but in reality, it was chosen for a very good reason. In the past, sailors valued this design for its comfort, safety, and functionality in emergency situations.
So why did flared pants become an essential part of a sailor’s uniform?
Let’s take a deeper look at this question in this article.
The name trapezium itself comes from the French word cloche, which means "bell" in Hungarian. This term was coined because of the distinctive shape of the loose-fitting trousers, which (as you might guess) resemble a bell.
Although the name has French origins, the earliest records of these pants date back to 1813, when an official uniform was introduced in the U.S. Navy. This uniform included long blue trousers that flared from the hips and featured a front button closure (as seen in the image above).
This style of pants wasn’t widely adopted by sailors in Russia, France, and Britain until much later.
Historians are confident that this style of trousers didn’t emerge by accident.
This type of pants provided sailors with comfort and freedom of movement, which was crucial when performing daily tasks on board. Sailors needed to easily climb masts, hoist sails, and steer the ship. To do so, their trousers couldn’t be tight, restrictive, or cause discomfort.
Additionally, the loose fit made it easy to roll up the pant legs, which was particularly useful when scrubbing wooden decks with seawater. This way, sailors could avoid salt crusts forming on their trousers.
And if a sailor had to disembark in shallow water, the pants could be quickly rolled up to avoid unnecessary wetness.
But the main reason they wore such pants is rather unusual…
Sailing has always been a dangerous profession, with a constant risk of sailors falling overboard, especially during storms or shipwrecks. Because of this, a sailor’s clothing wasn’t just designed for comfort—it was also meant to improve their chances of survival in critical situations.
This is where the true advantage of flared trousers became apparent:
If a sailor fell into the water and their pants got caught on something (such as debris falling from the deck during a storm), they needed to remove them as quickly as possible. Thanks to the wide pant legs and front button closure, they could take off their trousers in just a few seconds—without even needing to remove their shoes.
Other elements of the uniform were also carefully considered: their wool shirts had wide neck openings so they could be pulled off over the head easily, even underwater, and sailors' shoes had no laces, allowing for quick removal.
Moreover, flared trousers were made of cotton fabric, which expanded when wet, trapping air between the fibers. This allowed sailors to use their pants as a temporary flotation device: they would remove their trousers in the water, tie the pant legs together with a special knot, then inflate them to keep themselves afloat until rescued.
Although flared trousers were comfortable and practical, their usefulness gradually declined over time. However, in the 20th century, they found new life as a countercultural and fashion statement. They became hugely popular among hippies, who decorated them with embroidery and vibrant patterns, symbolizing freedom and rebellion against established norms.
Many famous musicians and bands, such as The Beatles, Queen, and The Rolling Stones, also contributed to the popularity of this style. Perhaps that’s why many people don’t realize that these pants were originally invented for military sailors—not for fashion lovers dancing on the disco floor.
However, few people know that the original design of these pants didn’t come from fashion designers or dancers—it was directly borrowed from sailors in the age of sailing fleets.
If you’ve ever seen an old naval uniform, you may have noticed that the trousers flare out in an unusual way. At first glance, this style might seem impractical for working on a ship, but in reality, it was chosen for a very good reason. In the past, sailors valued this design for its comfort, safety, and functionality in emergency situations.
So why did flared pants become an essential part of a sailor’s uniform?
Let’s take a deeper look at this question in this article.
The History of Flared Pants
The name trapezium itself comes from the French word cloche, which means "bell" in Hungarian. This term was coined because of the distinctive shape of the loose-fitting trousers, which (as you might guess) resemble a bell.
Although the name has French origins, the earliest records of these pants date back to 1813, when an official uniform was introduced in the U.S. Navy. This uniform included long blue trousers that flared from the hips and featured a front button closure (as seen in the image above).
This style of pants wasn’t widely adopted by sailors in Russia, France, and Britain until much later.
Why Did Sailors Need Flared Pants?
Historians are confident that this style of trousers didn’t emerge by accident.
This type of pants provided sailors with comfort and freedom of movement, which was crucial when performing daily tasks on board. Sailors needed to easily climb masts, hoist sails, and steer the ship. To do so, their trousers couldn’t be tight, restrictive, or cause discomfort.
Additionally, the loose fit made it easy to roll up the pant legs, which was particularly useful when scrubbing wooden decks with seawater. This way, sailors could avoid salt crusts forming on their trousers.
And if a sailor had to disembark in shallow water, the pants could be quickly rolled up to avoid unnecessary wetness.
But the main reason they wore such pants is rather unusual…
A Life-Saving Design
Sailing has always been a dangerous profession, with a constant risk of sailors falling overboard, especially during storms or shipwrecks. Because of this, a sailor’s clothing wasn’t just designed for comfort—it was also meant to improve their chances of survival in critical situations.
This is where the true advantage of flared trousers became apparent:
If a sailor fell into the water and their pants got caught on something (such as debris falling from the deck during a storm), they needed to remove them as quickly as possible. Thanks to the wide pant legs and front button closure, they could take off their trousers in just a few seconds—without even needing to remove their shoes.
Other elements of the uniform were also carefully considered: their wool shirts had wide neck openings so they could be pulled off over the head easily, even underwater, and sailors' shoes had no laces, allowing for quick removal.
Moreover, flared trousers were made of cotton fabric, which expanded when wet, trapping air between the fibers. This allowed sailors to use their pants as a temporary flotation device: they would remove their trousers in the water, tie the pant legs together with a special knot, then inflate them to keep themselves afloat until rescued.
From Practical Gear to Fashion Icon
Although flared trousers were comfortable and practical, their usefulness gradually declined over time. However, in the 20th century, they found new life as a countercultural and fashion statement. They became hugely popular among hippies, who decorated them with embroidery and vibrant patterns, symbolizing freedom and rebellion against established norms.
Many famous musicians and bands, such as The Beatles, Queen, and The Rolling Stones, also contributed to the popularity of this style. Perhaps that’s why many people don’t realize that these pants were originally invented for military sailors—not for fashion lovers dancing on the disco floor.
