Boot cut jeans have a date, and Levi's says it introduced the 517 Boot Cut Jean in 1969 as full from the knee for the boot. The brand traces the idea to 1960s flower children who split straight-leg jeans and inserted panels to widen the hem. Here is how to choose boot cut jeans that fit your boots and your proportions.
Boot Cut Jeans: Levi's 517 and the Boot-Ready Hem
A DIY look that became a product
Levi's says that in the 1960s flower children and suburbanites split the seams of straight-leg jeans and inserted panels to widen the hem, and that this do-it-yourself look evolved into bootcut jeans. In 1969 the company introduced the 517 Boot Cut Jean, described as full from the knee for the boot and made of Sta-Prest fabric. The same year it launched the 646 Bell Bottom, long and lean with a flare for fashion. Boot cut jeans began as a hack and became a classic.
The slight flare
A boot cut has a gentle flare from the knee that leaves room for a boot without a bell shape. It sits between a straight leg and a flare. Look at the leg opening, which should be wide enough to cover the top of a boot and no wider. A high or mid rise is comfortable and balances the flare.
Hem and shoes
Hemming matters more than anything. The hem of a boot cut should just skim the ground in a heel, which makes the leg look long. Picture her in dark boot cut jeans with a pointed ankle boot and a fitted knit, hair damp from the rain. If you wear flats, take up the hem a little so they do not drag.
Wash and fabric
A dark, clean wash looks polished and works for dinners. A medium wash looks casual and a little retro. Choose denim with a bit of stretch for comfort and recovery. Wash inside out and not too often to protect the color.
What I would skip
I would skip boot cuts with a low, tight rise and a flare that starts too low, which shortens the leg. They should look as if they were cut for the boot, not around it.
