Looking 'Till I Hit Bell-Bottom

Fashion: Ballin’ on a Budget; The priceless feeling of a good deal

By: Byrdie Franco-Rocha

Looking 'Till I Hit Bell-Bottom

I clearly remember digging through stacks of denim in our dinning room floor. For a few months, my entrepreneurial mom was in the clothing resale biz and let me tell you, there was a reason that clothes was not kept. I had never seen so many ugly pants!  However, despite the mess and occasional odor, my curiosity won over; good thing too because tucked into a large taught bundle of dark and rugged Husky-sized Wranglers was a beam of hope in the shape of faded, stretchy, and perfectly fitting nameless jeans. I couldn’t wait to wear them. But there was one problem: it was 1990 and bell-bottoms were not in style. At least not for this ambitious American girl. 

I was a fashion risk-taker, even as a kid. But, I knew that bell-bottoms were going to be a bit much for my elementary-aged friends. They were used to me pushing the fashion trend line but I didn't think they were ready for a retro throwback. So despite my reservations, I decided to transform the pants into my favorite pair of cut-off shorts.  They were hot! The hip-hugging 70’s fit was unique and there was no other kid on the block rockin’ my style, making me the rock star!                                                                               

It was then, that I first discovered the rush of balling on a budget.

A few years later, I found my soon-to-be favorite pair of jeans lying in a heap of rags in a dingy thrift store. The prewashed, holey, below-the-waist GAP jeans cost me a whopping 10 cents, but I felt like a diva in them. I was Janet Jackson in her 1993 MTV Music Awards performance when I had them on. I even had a black leather vest to match y todo!  The inspirational performance of That’s The Way Love Goes/If also reminded me of my, by then, long lost cut-off shorts and the authentic bell-bottoms they once were.

Just three years after my first balling on a budget experience, my favorite artist brought back the bell-bottom pant. My gut felt tighter with guilt than Janet’s six-pack abs. I should have listened to it back when I butchered those denim bell-bottoms. But I didn’t. Since then, I’ve been in search for another perfect pair of authentic denim bell-bottoms.  When I find them, I won’t cut them into shorts. I’ll wear them as is (well, after a wash or two). And who knows, maybe I’ll bust my “If” moves and have you call me Miss Jackson!

Ah, it's amazing how a favorite pair of jeans can make you feel. Imagine all the stories behind denim threads. My pairs are filled with their share of dreams and nightmares. They are stained with the greenest of soft grass as well as the reddest hard-fall blood from my many journeys. 

They say in America, everything is possible. I find that even more true when I have my good jeans on. So, thank you America for inventing denim. I'm sure you have my bell bottoms out there somewhere so watch with care until I find them. 


Dreaming big in denim, now that's #SoFly