--- title: "The Navy freaked out when it got rid of bell-bottom pants" description: "Some uniform changes are welcome in the U.S. military (goodbye, ABUs!) and some are very much not." date: "2021-10-22" modified: "2021-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/bell-bottom-pants-navy/" categories: - "History" - "Join the Military" - "Military Culture" - "Navy" --- # The Navy freaked out when it got rid of bell-bottom pants ![]() Some uniform changes are welcome in the U.S. military (goodbye, ABUs!) and some are very much not. There are uniform features troops love because it actually makes their jobs easier. There are fabrics that are easier to wear, and there are styles that just became iconic over time. For instance, imagine if the Marine Corps suddenly changed their dress blues to an all-white uniform to match the Navy whites – there would be rioting from Lejeune to Pendleton. --- That's almost what happened when the Navy ditched the bell-bottoms on its dungarees. ![]() *That just does not look like a good work uniform. (U.S. Navy photo)* The U.S. Navy had been sporting the flared cuffs on its work uniforms since 1817. The idea was that sailors who would be working on the topmost decks, who were presumably swabbing it or whatever sailors did up there back then, would want to roll their pants up to keep them from getting wet or dirty. Sailors were also able to get out of their uniforms faster in the event that they had to abandon ship for some reason. When in the water, then-woolen pants even doubled as a life preserver. Now, that's a utility uniform. In 1901, the fabric of the uniform was changed to denim, and the Navy's dungarees were born. They still sported bell-bottom pants. ![]() *The Navy will still find ways to look absurd to the other branches, don't you worry. (U.S. Navy photo)* Bell-bottoms even appeared on the sailors' dress uniform as far back as the early 19th century. The Navy got rid of the bell-bottom on its dungarees at the turn of the 21st Century, some 180 years later. In 1999, the Navy phased out the pants with flared 12-inch bottoms for a utility uniform that features straight-legged dark blue trousers. Sailors were not thrilled. "They are trying too hard to make us look like the Coast Guard and the Air Force," said Petty Officer Chad Heskett, a hospital corpsman on the frigate USS* Crommelin*. "It's taking too much away from tradition. It will cost the Navy more to buy these new uniforms." By 2001, the bell-bottoms were gone. Heskett wasn't alone in his disdain for the new uniforms. The loss of "tradition" was echoed throughout the Navy, as is often the case with new uniforms. The Navy was adamant about the change, however, and the new utility uniforms were phased in on schedule. It turned out to be a good decision. For tradition, the Navy will always have its crackerjacks. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()