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The style was called "bell bottoms" because of the leg's flair from the knee to the ankle. This style is actually a lifesaving device!

The sailor who is washed overboard can tread water until he can remove the trousers, knot the legs (easier to do if there's a lot of material), and splash water at the waist. Believe it or not, this will create a temporary flotation device. This is also the reason there's a drawstring in the waist band, to close the device to hold air. It can be renewed as necessary by splashing more water and refilling the air in the pants.

Sailors are taught this technique in boot camp.

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15y ago

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