jesmond wrote:

heikki k wrote:

wouldn't that constant learning and knowing that one is never ready but one must learn -attitude be a big part of the mighty thing called 'suss'?

I`d say so Heikki.I love the fascination that comes from constantly learning new things and from re-appraising my own current and former perceptions or ways of looking at things.I like it when others can make me look at things , looks , attitudes or clothing items anew.Constant re-vigoration...The beauty of it is that there really are no rights or wrongs.If there are rules , then maybe those rules just need to be broken.

exactly so. in my - sort of - humorous-ish question i meant just the above. nor being a great writer neither english i find putting my thoughts on paper (or the www if you like) rather hard.

the style councillor wrote:

Ahhhhhh, I do believe I have found a kindred spirit, jesmond! What looks ok on someone else might not be my cup of tea, [i.e. the brogues ballinger thread] and I will say so, but that's not to say I expect that person to stop wearing them on my, or anybody else's say so! My outlook is this: If you like, you buy - you wear? The problems arise [IMO] when you put yourself on public forums but then whinge if and when the flack flies. if you don't like the flack, don't post your pics [complete with your clock] for all the world to see and then take the comments all so precious and personal?
For instance, today, I have just been to a business meeting with a very, very wealthy man in a knitted short sleeved three buttoned [grey with red & black piping] limited edition Fred Perry, a pair of black Giorgio Armani needle cords sat flush [no puckering at all in the leg, my pet hate!] on top of my Oxblood Russell & Bromley tassled loafers [£65 in the sale] with blood red pantherella socks. My outfit definetly cost more than his cheap off the peg ill fitted suit, shirt, tie and shoes, but that's another argument for a different day] Now I don't give a flying you know what if he didn't like my attire and I don't get the contract because of it. What you see is what you get and I make no excuses for it. I do not bow or scrape before any man. In fact, I would rather swing from a tree than have someone dictate to me what I should wear [you are free to comment all you like about my sartorial eloquence, but it will make not a jot of difference to me or change my mind], because once they start on your clothing they are effectively telling you how to live. I know full well who I am and what I've got, and no one will change that.

Forgot to add the polarised black Ray Ban aviators to today's garb :-)

Only London has Suss. Only London has the concept & the attitude.

Suss is a stone-cold hard evaluation of everything which never stops. It's a ruthless and never ending process which gives London its edge.

An example: Some American will tell you that Alden are the "Gold Standard" of loafers to which a Londoner will reply "Well how good can they be if somebody like you knows about them and is promoting them?"

Adolpho Dominguez was hip in London until Robert Elms was heard to drop his name. R.E. is fine, but if he's talking about A.D. then A.D. is over.

Wear Kenwoods & don't take any crap from anybody and you'll be Sussed for this week.

Next weeks rules will be strictly on a 'need to know' basis.

- I'll need to ask Chris_H & John Gall what they are.

Stay Sharp -

Jim wink

Can't let this go without adding my two penneth :-)

1/Only London has Suss - What a load of unadulterated, sycophantic bollox.

2/ Robert Elms is fine - No he isn't, he's just another Cling - On in a long list of Cling - On's whose wrote some shyte books yet because he's got a public platform he's lauded by the SUSSLESS has some sort of expert.

3/ A plant pot in a Baracuta will always be a plant pot in a Baracuta, end of.

absolute beginner wrote:

Can a mod who always goe for safe accepted mod-choices a la Smedley, tailored strides, Tootal, DNA Groove be consider Sussed?

Obviously that's very subjective. I'd say the above is a bit lazy ( if that'd be a fair comment ) and at least only sussed in a traditionalist way. Real suss, IMHO mind you, has always been about moving forward and giving a classic look a contemporary twist. I'd venture to state that the essence of Mod is just that: constantly updating that classic style in order to try and stay ahead

the style councillor wrote:

:-) Like your style AB, unfortunately I do not class myself as a mod, seeing as I take from my Suede, Skin & smooth days and put it all into today's melting pot, plus the fact that you only got a glimpse of a couple of day's of my wardrobe. Horses for courses old boy!

Thanks SC. Would'nt go so far as to say unfortunate, I thought your stuff sounded ok.

The melting pot theory is ok but all too often you end up dimissing your origins (not a bad thing for some!) and end up with bland goo.

Not saying that about anyone in particular mind just a broad generalisation.

col

Alex Roest wrote:

Basically I think 'suss' has very little to do with 'Mod' as such because after all that was just a ( 60s ) concept. ... I love the whole idea of Mod mind you, but it should be read in spirit and not to the letter, that's where the true clued up thing would appear now wouldn't it ?...

Not my scene since my teens either its often just a pretty crude demonstration of lower class spending power (lots of bitchy cash register looks if you know what I mean) plus everything has to be new which often looks cheap.

absolute beginner wrote:

Alex Roest wrote:

Basically I think 'suss' has very little to do with 'Mod' as such because after all that was just a ( 60s ) concept. ... I love the whole idea of Mod mind you, but it should be read in spirit and not to the letter, that's where the true clued up thing would appear now wouldn't it ?...

Not my scene since my teens either its often just a pretty crude demonstration of lower class spending power (lots of bitchy cash register looks if you know what I mean) plus everything has to be new which often looks cheap.

Go on then, AB, i'll have a bite. Name me one cultural movement in this country that's not been started by those little rascals, the lower classes, come on, I'm all ears.

Last edited by the style councillor (2008-08-27 11:19:04)

Or Modernists, the essence of UK IL, which started as a middle class movement in the late 50's when MC was MC.

Or Beatniks

Can someone lighten up this thread!!!

RH

I remember blue worsted suits on mods and side vents on the suits. Before that I seem to recall centre vents were the standard.

I do not remember blue mohair suits. They were mostly light greys. Tans and chocolate browns (not mohair) were also popular in the late 60s

the style councillor wrote:

Modernists were middle class? What utter tosh. And WTF gives a monkeys about Beatniks, since when were they influential, apart to plums like Dylan Jones, etc.

SC, Suggest that you start researching the subject of Modernists. I don't have to. Also Beatniks I don't follow the link between Beatniks and Dylan Jones, perhaps I will research that one myself!!!


RH

^ Tasty banter, Lads!

I have much to catch up on...

... And my belated welcome to Mr. Absolute Beginner - AB are you aware that I came home to an email asking if you were me? These thing happen ...

Best -

Jim

RH, don't need to do any research, my old fella and uncles [Bow born & bred] were there from the start.

SC, So, your "old fella and uncles " represents every Modernist?

I am generalising, and talking about Modernists, not Mods. late 1950's

I know this quote comes from Wikipedia, but there is more from more reliable sources, if you care to look.

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While several historians and cultural theorists have argued that mods had originated from working class families, including Hebdige,[17] Mary Anne Long argues that they were mistaken in making assumption, which she argues that Dick Hebdige and others made due to their structuralist ideology. She claims that "first hand accounts and contemporary theorists point to the Jewish upper-working or middle-class of London’s East End and suburbs". Long cites an interview with Steve Sparks, who claims that he was "one of the original mods, one of the real Wardour Street mods. Not the post-commercialized mods". He argues that "Mod has been much misunderstood... as this working-class, scooter-riding precursor of skinheads." Sparks claims that before mod was commercialized, it was essentially an extension of the beatniks. "It comes from ‘modernist’, it was to do with modern jazz and to do with Sartre" and existentialism. [18]
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