DITTOS JEANS, THE 1970'S ICONIC WOMEN'S PANTS

Hi Everyone, Today I'd like to talk about Dittos Jeans.  Not the modern, Frankie B version with the below the waist treatment and weird pockets, but the original, high-waisted, twill fabric Saddleback pants with flare or bell bottoms from 1974.
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Online I've witnessed that many Baby Boomers out there remember these pants from their high school or junior high school days. The ads said "feel the fit" and were quite suggestive.  There was one ad you can still find online that has a woman taking off an outer pair of jeans to reveal a pair of Pink Dittos underneath.  You had to wear these pants as tight as possible for the best effect.  There were a number of different styles as well.

The most popular Dittos Pants were made of a medium weight, brushed cotton twill that just got softer and smoother with every wash.  They had a snap, (British term:  Popper), instead of the top button.  They all had a fly front with metal zipper.  They all had a high waistline.

Fabrics used:  Medium weight, brushed cotton twill, corduroy, light weight or thin cotton denim, thin gauze.

A possible sewing pattern for the Saddleback Dittos Jeans, the only one I've found that comes fairly close, is the McCalls 5182 Carefree Patterns below.  With small adjustments here and there, such as removing the point from the back of the saddle and not doing the rainbow side seam treatment and pocket this pattern is essential a pair of Dittos Jeans.  Also rather than having the saddle seaming going down the outside seam you would need to move it to the center back instead, while you should be careful to follow a kind of curved shape as seen in the original pair above.  You can see this is a unisex pattern right from the front of the envelope so it is fine for women as well.

Saddleback colors:  Light lemon yellow, White, Baby Pink, Baby Blue, Light Mist Green, Light Gray, Black, Brown, Tan, Medium Red, Burgundy, Forest Green, Coral, Teal, Medium Blue

Bareback pants:  These had no saddle just the seam in the back.  Colors:  Light Lemon Yellow, White, Baby Blue as in the photo, Baby Pink, Tan

Highrise pants:  These were similar to the Saddleback, but the saddle part came higher nearer the waist line, wider towards the hips and had a point in the back for this design.

Highrise pants colors:  Red, White, Light Lemon Yellow, Baby Blue, Mist Green, Brown, Burgundy, Forest Green - there may be others that I don't recall right now.

Side Saddle jeans:  I never saw this type that was not made of a thin, washed cotton blue denim.  The only picture I have for these is the Simplicity Pattern 7093 which is not quite an accurate idea, but it does have the side saddle seaming.  The side saddle seaming part went higher on the hips.  The front was interesting.  It had the side-slit or hidden, in-seam pockets, like on a coat, and several European pleats for a trouser look along with a 1 1/2 inch wide waistband with the jeans type of non-sewn copper or brass button and the heavy brass zipper fly front.  There were also heavy brass zippers at the ankles and these jeans were not flared at all, they were tight fitting skinny jeans!  The idea behind the Side Saddle Dittos Jeans was to make the person's hips look narrower.  At about the same time as the Side Saddle Dittos Jeans came out was the invention of the Earth Shoe.  The Earth Shoe quickly died as it was impractical to wear.  These were mostly in a rust suede leather and were lace up shoes.  They had a higher ball of the foot part and a lower heel part.  The sole was a light cream colored rubber.

Colors for Side Saddle Jeans:  A medium to light wash, thin, light-weight cotton denim and black/charcoal.

Chevron:  I saw this type of Dittos very rarely and I believe they came in near the end of the run in the later 1970's.  They had essentially no waistband and a Chevron like design at the back.  There were two buttons on the front.

Double Chevron:  I never saw this type in person, maybe this type was worn in Europe?

I'm hoping to make a pair of the saddle back jeans when I can - health allowing.

Hope you like my post and let me hear from you!

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Kathy