I never heard any such thing said about bell bottoms. How is dogmatic to find repulsive, well, repulsive? Bell bottoms may have looked unattractive, but had a fashion precedent in sailor pants of a bygone era. Not even close to apples and oranges. I doubt anyone ever feared a bell bottom clad youth whereas today their aggressive look whilst sagging, grabbing their crotch sends an immediate rape chill up any woman's spine. Recently there was a youth thus attired and walking about with an open shirt. A female cop stopped him and disgustedly ordered him to pull up his pants and button up the shirt.
No doubt bell bottoms were talked about, but no one crossed over to other side of the street because of bell bottoms.
I met such a fanciful street chess dude in Memphis, TN. He has his board set up on Beale St. Asked five bucks a game. I asked his rating. He asked what I meant. I told him in Washington Square Park in NYC you can play blitz with a GM for $5. He says, black belt, but rusty so perhaps only brown at present. His board was set up with pieces on wrong squares and rotated board. I walked away. I saw him again my next trip to Memphis. No more board. I asked what happened. "I gots my ass kicked by six year old who scolded me about how I set my board!" he said. "I gave up chess for now!" He then offers to tell me the story of Jazz for $5. I walked away again!