Mod fashion

Mod fashion started in the 60s. A small group of young men and a few girls started to look to French and Italian cool, combined with American Ivy League style to create a uniquely British youth fashion. These early Modernists listened to Modern Jazz, rejecting the prevailing fashion for 'Trad' jazz, as typified by Aker Bilk. They also liked American Negro Blues music. The fashion caught on and the Modernists became the Mods.

Since then Mod has played a part in British fashion. Several revivals have kept the look in the public eye. The first of which started in the late 70s following hard on the heals of Punk. Bands such as The Jam provided the music and 60s Carnaby Street provided the fashion inspiration.

Mod returned in the 90s and has been with us ever since.

Ben Sherman suit and shirt from the Kings Road to Carnaby collection

Mod fashion brands

Brands which played a part in the early days of Mod fashion are still going strong. Many original Mod style garments can still be bought. There is also a constantly changing fashion scene building on the original look of the Mods, Skinheads and Punks.

Ben Sherman

Ben Sherman supplied shirts to John Stephen's famous store in Carnaby Street and launched his own store 'Millions of Shirts' in Brighton. The Ben Sherman button down, a British version of the classic Ivy League shirt, became the staple of the Mod movement in the sixties and the 1979 Mod revival. Ben Sherman shirts were also an essential part in the Skinhead movement which followed Mod in the late 60s.

Ben Sherman has launched a new collection for Spring/Summer 2009. The theme is 'Kings Road to Carnaby'. It is inspired by the contribution made to British youth fashion by London's King's Road and Carnaby Street, in the 60s and 70s.

Fred Perry

The Fred Perry shirt was the original tennis shirt that the Mods adopted in the 60s. It was smart and looked good under a suit, as well as with a pair of Levis. Fred Perry shirts were designed for sportswear, but also kept you cool on the dance floor.

Baracuta

The original Harrington jacket was made by British firm, Baracuta, and is still available today. The Harrington is a short jacket, finishing at the waist. The Harrington was named after Rodney Harrington, a character in the popular US soap, Peyton Place. All things American were considered cool by the Mods of the 60s. Steve McQueen also added to the kudos of the Harrington when he appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in 1963 wearing one. British Mods took to wearing the Harrington from the mid sixties, as it offered a more casual look than the tailored Mod suit.

Mod footwear

Footwear was just as important to Mod fashion in the sixties as any other detail of fashion. Mods in the sixties wore Chelsea boots, Cuban heel boots, chisel toes (Winklepickers with the point squared off), Wing Tips (or brogues) or loafers. Denson was a favourite brand selling fashion shoes for men in the 60s.

For more informal wear, running shoes were popular with jeans and there was a fashion for bowling shoes.

Clarks Desert boots were available all over the country and their simple modern style appealed to the Mods of the sixties.

Clarks Desert Boots

The simple modern style of Clarks Desert Boots appealed to the Mods in the sixties. The Desert Boot became an essential part of the Mod wardrobe. It could be worn casually with Levis or with a suit.

Your comments on Mod fashion

"mod so cool. we are the mods" adex turner

"its classic , its cool and its me"steve turner

By the author of this web site The G-Plan Revolution

Add your comments on Mod fashion

If you have problems completing the form, please email your comments directly to steven@retrowow.co.uk

We reserve the right not to publish any submissions we regard as unsuitable. We may also edit any text submitted.