Mod Style
Mod Style originated in London, during the 1950s & 60s. A mixture of British scooter culture, African American soul, Jamaican ska, British beat music, and French/Italian fashion. Mod is an easily identifiable and often mimicked fashion.
In 1950s London coffee bars were associated with jazz and later R&B music which catered and gathered the the younger crowd. This crowd, which came to be known as the Mods, used these influences mixed with French and Italian fashion for inspiration. It was common of Mods to wear suits day and night. Later, the Mod movement produced many offshoots including; hard mods and later the skinheads who incorporated some of the Mod style (Such Ben Sherman & Fred Perry apparel). The Northern Soul scene, a subculture based on obscure 1960s and 1970s American soul records, can also be seen as a Mod offshoot. Take a look below at some Mod fashion from throughout the years.
Image Via: http://www.life.com/image/74386495 from the South End, United Kingdom
The Scooter Scene
Mod on Scooter
Image Via: http://arkmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mods-e1277479030924-549x425.jpg
Mods used motorscooters, such as the Vespa, for transportation throughout Britain. The scooter rally and hangouts cemented the Mod in British popular culture and many still view the two as one-in-the-same. Fights with the Rockers, who the Mods considered as a going-no-where and out of date crowd, produced a view that Mods were violent scooter riding youths.
Image Via: http://www.modculture.info/2008/11/an-interview-wi.html
Mod Fashion
Image Via: http://spyvibe.blogspot.com/2009/03/mods-and-moongirls.html
Twiggy, an iconic Mod model
The early Mods wore suits night and day. The long jacket or trench coats also became a Mod fashion staple. The Mods are generally known for a developed Fashion sense, that was produced by an affluent post WWII Britain.
The Who during the Mod Era
Many popular bands of the time Mimicked the Mod stye and fashion,(though many later distanced themselves) such as The Who (shown here early in their career) and Small Faces.
Image Via: http://retrophilia.tumblr.com/post/414604104/the-who-in-their-mod-era
Hard Mods
Hard Mods of the mid-to-late 1960s had working class roots and emulated the ska & Rude Boy music scenes. This group is seen as a forerunner to the Skinhead. Hard Mods had a simplified style and started mixing working class attire, such as braces, into their wardrobe. Many West-Indians and other groups comprised the Hard Mod scene.
Skinhead Style
Image Via: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ukbSzbjpZ8Y/SmkifuRGdvI/AAAAAAAAEio/vuu7jPLL_kU/s400/Skinheads02.jpg
Skinhead Boots
A mixture of Mod and working class roots the Skinhead emerged as a tougher, streetwise and unique group of English youths. Many skinheads wore the clothing of the working class such as braces, Doc Martins and tighter fitting jeans.
Images Via: http://londonskinheads1970sand1980s.webs.com/
Mod Revival
The 1970s in the United Kingdom produced a Mod revival of fashion and music, which has continued on. The mod scene of the 80s in Los Angeles is also of note and had many 2-Tone and ska influences. Mod continues to live on in fashion, culture and youth movements up to today.
Mod fashion & Mod Style Resources:
Great Mod Site from England: http://www.modculture.co.uk/style/
Retro & vintage mod style blog http://retrovintagemodstyle.blogspot.com/
The Mod Style Lounge: http://modstylelounge.blogspot.com/
The Union Jack in Mod fashion http://www.designfloat.com/blog/2011/03/24/union-jacks-showcase/
Mod style Ready, set, go!http://www.copiousmagazine.com/08_summer/fashion/ready_steady_go.html
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