What is the real reason why royal navy sailors wear bell bottom pants?
They were a tailored version of the Pantaloon with a bit of ‘flair’ to set the Navy sailor apart from the civilian sailor: Bell-bottomed Trousers Another feature of the square rig naval uniform were bell-bottomed trousers. While they have appeared in modern dress as a trendy styles, for the seamen they were very practical garments for sailors. They could be rolled up securely to free the feet and ankles when working the rigging. Not all sources agree with this asertion. [Royal Navy] One American expert writes, “There is no substantive factual reason for their adoption, i.e., easier to roll up or kickoff in the water, but rather appear to be a tailored version of the pantaloon, designed for a bit of flair which set the sailor apart from his civilian counterpart.” [Cruse] The sailor, like all other items in his kit, kept his trousers neatly folded ready for use in a kit bag. They were folded inside out to avoid fluff on the outer surface and to prevent ‘shine’ as a result of ironing. The
