Bell Bottoms have recently become a popular topic of conversation among Lainey Wilson’s fanbase, but these stylish pants are not a new look for the country star. In fact, they have been a staple in her wardrobe since she was a child.
“I remember my very first pair of bell bottoms. They were blue leopard print,” she told Variety. “My mama bought ’em. And it got to the point where I was wearing ’em so much, she was like, ‘You gotta take ’em off. We gotta put ’em in the washer.’”
These pants are a big part of the nostalgia that is felt throughout her home back in Louisiana. Wilson explained that it’s not uncommon for her family to hang on to the things that bear a strong meaning within their lives. For Wilson, those special memories are held within her bell bottoms.
She continued, “I just feel like things that are throwback come with a good story. So if you walk in my house, you’ll see like mama’s old china cabinet or my daddy’s old rodeo chaps.”
Wilson went on to explain that the bell bottoms made a comeback in her everyday life when she was looking for something unique to help separate her from the large pool of talented artists trying to make it in Nashville at the same time.
“I was really trying to figure out what could I do to stand apart from the rest of the females in Nashville, because it’s very important to do that. And what is something that is really true to me?” she asked herself. “For me it was the whole bell bottom throwback look. And I’m glad we did.”
Wilson added, “I mean, we’ve been doing it now for probably about six years solid. Probably 2016 is when I decided, all right, if I’m gonna do this, I need to wear bell bottoms and need to wear my vintage shirts and stuff like that, daily.”
The country star revealed that she continued on with this look for about a year before she finally saw some headway in her career and signed a publishing deal. From that moment on, “I just stuck with it,” she shared referring to her flared pants.
Lainey’s bell bottom style ranges from classic denim to cheetah print, stripes, metallic, velvet, and even sweatpants. So even on the days when she just wants to be comfortable, Wilson can maintain her signature look in a more casual fashion.
“Here we are how however many years later, I’ve been wearing ’em every day. I even got bell bottom sweatpants,” she revealed during an appearance on Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast.
Bell Bottom Country
Her defining look has also taken on a whole new meaning in her latest album, Bell Bottom Country, which is all about adding her own flare to country music.
“It’s whatever makes you different, whatever makes you special, makes you, you,” she previously told Country Now of the project. “It’s about finding that and leaning into it as much as you possibly can. I think everybody’s got a little bell-bottom country about them. So that’s what this record is.”
As a co-writer on almost every track, Wilson’s true authenticity shines throughout the entire album. It features songs such as “Heart Like a Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine,” “Hold My Halo,” and her newly added track, “Smell Like Smoke.” The original song debuted during an episode of Paramount Network’s hit TV series, Yellowstone, in which Wilson plays a character named Abby.
Viewers were surprised by the new song that has Wilson narrating the battle against insecurities and coming out on the other side with a newfound sense of resilience and strength.
“If I I look a little drunk, it’s ’cause I drank some / If my neck’s a little red, it’s ’cause I am one / Heaven’s where I’m gonna go, the Bible says so on my shelf / But if I smell like smoke, it’s only ’cause I’vе been through hell,” the country star sings in the chorus.
The “Things A Man Oughta Know” singer recently hit the road for her first-ever headlining tour, dubbed Country With A Flare Tour, with support from Ben Chapman, Meg McRee and Leah Blevins. The completely sold-out trek presented by Stella Rosa Future is Female, kicked off on January 4 in Spokane, WA, and runs through March 31, where the tour wraps up in Columbus, OH.
Lainey Wilson will also join Luke Combs on his massive 2023 stadium tour, which is set to launch on March 25 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The tour will feature support from Riley Green, Flatland Cavalry and Brent Cobb, and wraps up on July 29 in Philadelphia, PA at Lincoln Financial Field.
