Define 'geezer'? Answer : Kingstonian. Blue-eyed crypto-fascist.

Kingstonian and I are bantering, I hope. The blue-eyed stuff is a bit dodgy is it not, but I really don't want to be nasty, so if I have been, I offer my apologies.

Interesting thread. Geezer apparently has vastly different meanings, on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

In the Northeastern US, a Geezer is usually used to refer to a "senior citizen", or a man over, say 70. As far as I know, there are no female geezers. The term is usually meant in a derogatory sense, such as "It took a long time to get through the supermarket today, because the Geezers were taking forever!"

The term carries a very negative image. Picture a guy in jeans, white sneakers, a t shirt, and a baseball cap, standing in line at the restaurant to get the "Early Bird Special", for dinner. They are also out in force in the gambling casinos, standing all day at the .25 cent slot machines.

They are all over the place, and getting more numerous, due to an aging population.

The term "Geezer Ivy" here; would probably refer to the very few, who still care how they look, and wear essentially the same things that they have worn since their first long pants.

Ivy works just as well with the passing years, as it did originally. Wejuns, OCBD, kakis, and blazer never seem to go out of style, if that is your taste.

In the 1980s growing up I knew some 'geezer' types.  I was a working class lad in my teens enamored with the Mod scene and trying to learn and get it right.   There was a big scene in Nottingham and many of the unofficial leaders were genuinely tough types with hard upbringings who were older than us and had been around since the 60s and 70s so were in their thirties.   These were the people involved in violence and their dress was usually more casual than the more well to do stylists. 

Ivy was what we were reaching for but without the internet, books and references we didn't have any knowledge to draw on.   So harringtons were never really Barracuta G9s but were low cost copies, shirts were never Brooks Brothers or Gant but were at best (and only for going out) Ben Sherman.   Polos were always Fred Perry but often vintage and not ever Lacoste, desert boots were rarely ever Clarks and were off markets.   The look was 'good enough' and was a uniform.   Striking out was dangerous and could risk rejection for having fancy ideas.   Suede shoes for example were highly controversial.   

As I grew older and could earn I got out of Nottingham and bought clothes in London or went to such as art shops and vintage places.   I remember wearing all white with Ginsberg or Warhold pop-art t-shirts or plain blue mohair suit with an op-art black and white button down shirt and suede winkle pickers.     It took me a long time to discover the USA Ivy roots of the scene and to progress out of Mod and towards a Suedehead type look that fit more with the northern soul scene I was by then focusing on.

Those geezer types still pop up at Mod dos occasionally and one I knew very well years before once threatened me for looking at him in a Nottingham pub whilst clearly out of his head which was sad.

Most people settle down, fade away and live their lives.   Those who keep hold of their youthful selves and can't grow up are to be approached with caution.

I'm glad I met the people and had the working class upbringing I did in a more innocent time but I'm relieved my kids are being bought up in a middle class area with a comparatively genteel life.   I had an amazing time all before I was eighteen but kids today couldn't have that life and I shouldn't have been hanging around with ex-criminals in their thirties often with no discernible means of income.

So when I read the phrase somebody here wrote:
Ivy strikes me as relaxed, nonchalant, geezer sharp, buzzing. Ivy, Harris tweed, geezer mohair....

... I understood intuitively even if it can't easily be articulated.

Last edited by MarkCoyle (2012-06-22 12:22:04)

You're right about '87.   I left in early '87 and by then I was deeply interested in Chicago house and detroit techno alongside northern soul.   Nottingham has a quite vibrant scene now I believe with an annual weekender in the city and many nights on.   I'm long past wanting to be within scenes so resist the temptation to go back.

A really interesting and thoughtful post thanks Mark. It's funny how many of us went for a certain look when we were growing up without really knowing what it was, something just registered. For me it was a watered down version of the mod look.

The 70s & 80s were violent times alright. Today's young people face extreme risks, the drugs are more dangerous and there are the headline grabbing (usually gang related) incidents with guns and knives, but these are still the exception rather than the rule. Casual violence in pubs, clubs and football grounds has declined over the years and young people today seem to have far more highly developed sensibilities, as with the Princess Diana effect.

"Those who keep hold of their youthful selves and can't grow up are to be approached with caution".

Too fuckin' rite and don't forget it.