Philadelphia - May 09, 2007

Hot Pants

Dittos Jeans

Pliers? Check. Vice grips? Got ’em. An extra pair of hands? Yes. Now: On your back, take a deep breath, and pull up that zipper. Exhale, turn around, and check out your ass.

Smile! Dittos are back.

The painted-on, high-waisted jean that was huge in the ’70s and dead by the launch of Guess is making a comeback for all fans of keeping it high and tight.

Frankie B. jeans designer Daniella Clarke has relaunched the line known for curve-hugging cuts, a slightly flared leg, and U-turn stitching down the backside. The pants come in rainbow hues (an ode to the Technicolor decade), blue jeans, and classic white. They may be tricky to get into, but once they’re on, they fit like a glove. And true to the original: The tighter, the better.

They may require a bit of work.

But the effort is well worth the end result.

Available at Grasshopper, 727 Walnut Street (215-925-3959 or grasshopperproject.com).