May 2012 Mod clothing had a very distinct style and has started to enjoy a revival today. Originating in the 1950s and continuing into the late 1960s it grew from Beatnik and Teddy Boy roots. Most of the clothing could be worn by men or women as the fashions were very similar. Men’s Mod clothing included some of the following;
The Mod suit was taken from Italian fashions of the time and was tight fitting, stylish and with narrow lapels.

It was straight and could be very expensive. Teenagers and those in their 20s had more money than they had ever had before, in prosperous post-war Britain. Drainpipe trousers were also worn and again were tight, around the waist and narrow right down to the ankle. For shoes, there was the Winklepicker, a show which came to a point at the end, hence their name. All of these combined to produce an image that was very different from their parents’ image, which was the point as they wanted to rebel to a degree.

Aside from the Mod suit, men’s Mod clothing featured some defining garments, including different jackets, such as the Harrington, Crombie and Parka. The Harrington was a slim jacket with tight wrists and often had a tartan lining, this is usually the jacket most associated with the Mod in retrospect. It was waterproof which helped with its popularity, as well as it being comfortable to wear. The Crombie was an overcoat, usually made from wool. The Parka was worn as it was ideal to be used as a jacket while riding a scooter, as it was neat and robust.

At the time when these clothes were most popular, the main place, and the most popular place to get them from was Carnaby Street in London. It was the place to go for all the new fashions. Many of the bands from the 1960s defined the fashion of the era. The Who were particular wearers of these clothes. Hairstyles were normally short and untidy and if it was long enough to come over the forehead it would usually be swept to the side.

Mod influences enjoyed something of a revival in the 1980s, owing to many venues recreating clubs of the era, mainly in the Shepherd’s Bush area of London. The comeback of some bands from the 1960s also made a contribution. Alongside this revival of fashion, there was an increase in the amount of scooters and this can account for the surge in popularity of the scooter during this time. The Lambretta scooter was a frequent choice of scooter with Mods, both during the 1960s and subsequent revivals. Scooters were preferred over motorbikes as they were more stylish due to body panelling which kept the internal parts hidden from view, a much smoother style and a fashion that fitted the image.

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