beltbottom

Beltbottom refers to a style of men's trousers that were popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These trousers were characterized by a low rise, meaning they sat significantly lower on the hips than traditional trousers. The waistband was often quite wide, intended to be worn with a belt, hence the "beltbottom" name.

The silhouette of beltbottom trousers typically featured a fitted thigh that would then flare out dramatically from the knee down to the hem. This flared style is often referred to as bell-bottoms, and the term beltbottom is closely associated with this overall look. The exaggerated flare was a key element of the fashion of the era, often seen in conjunction with vibrant patterns, synthetic fabrics like polyester, and wide lapel jackets.

Beltbottom trousers were a departure from the more tailored and straight-legged styles that preceded them. They reflected a more casual and expressive approach to fashion that emerged during the counterculture movement. While the term beltbottom specifically points to the design of the waistband, it is almost always used interchangeably with or in reference to the broader bell-bottom silhouette of the trousers. The style eventually faded from mainstream fashion by the late 1970s, though it has seen revivals in subsequent decades.