Did Kendrick Lamar just put bootcut jeans back in the spotlight?

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance is already the most-viewed halftime show in history, and with all the thought that went into it, it’s shaping up to be one of the most powerful ones in years. Beyond the obvious Drake disses, the show was packed with cameos, cultural nods, and sharp social commentary—giving us plenty to talk about. But in a twist no one saw coming, one of the biggest post-show debates has been about Lamar’s trousers. The Good Kid, M.A.A.D City rapper hit the stage in a pair of light blue flared jeans by Celine, instantly making them the MVP of Super Bowl 2025 fashion. But these jeans might have more history than you’d expect.

The rockstar-approved history of flared jeans

Whether Lamar intended it or not, his choice of jeans is just the latest chapter in music’s long-standing love affair with bootcut trousers. Sure, most people associate them with the colourful, free-spirited style of the ’60s and ’70s, but their origins are far from groovy. In fact, flared trousers started in the 19th-century British and American navies, where the wide-legged design made it easy for sailors to roll up their cuffs while working in wet or muddy conditions. Functional, yes. Fashionable? Not quite yet.

For nearly a century, the style stayed strictly military—until the ’60s counterculture movement shook things up. Young people were ditching department stores in favour of army surplus shops, searching for clothing that set them apart from the mainstream. At the same time, many of them were protesting the Vietnam War, customising their military trousers with peace signs, floral embroidery, and bold patterns. What started as practicality turned into a fashion statement—and a rebellion.

From hippies to pop icons

Even with its newfound meaning, flared trousers were still seen as a symbol of the fringe—until Sonny and Cher changed that. The pop duo, known for their bold fashion choices, helped bring bell-bottoms into the mainstream, and soon, the biggest names in music followed. Jimi Hendrix? Check. Mick Jagger? Of course. The Beatles? Absolutely. By the ’70s, even luxury designers were sending flared silhouettes down the runway.

As pop music exploded, so did the popularity of bootcut jeans. ABBA, the Bay City Rollers, and countless other disco-era icons turned them into the look of the moment. But as the glittery disco ball came down, so did flared trousers. Punk and rock bands rebelled against the flashy, colourful aesthetic, swapping flares for ripped skinny jeans. Rock concerts replaced disco lights, and with that, bootcut jeans disappeared from the spotlight.

The big comeback

But here’s the thing about fashion—it always comes back. By the late 2010s, bootcut jeans started creeping back into the scene. They offered a happy medium between baggy and skin-tight styles—fitted to the knee before flaring out at the hem. Plus, with the high-waisted trend still going strong, they created that effortlessly leggy silhouette that Bella Hadid and her equestrian-inspired looks helped bring back into style.

And let’s be honest—bootcut jeans are just plain fun. Whether it’s Veer Pahariya’s viral dance moves or Kendrick Lamar’s show-stopping Super Bowl moment, the trousers are having another fashion moment. Searches for bootcut jeans have skyrocketed since the halftime show, and Celine’s website? Sold out.

So, is this the official return of bootcut jeans? If music history has taught us anything, it just might be.

Lead image credit: Getty Images 

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