Lewis, those shoes are my arch enemy!!! bastard!

re: positives of mod/skin etc....as with all subcultures that are now discovered via internet, at least it exposes one to a foundation where if they are curious enough they'll go out and discover the hidden gems that are associated with it, much like the stuff discussed on this forum.

One of my good friends, in his mid 20s and has been a skinhead (the oi/punk type, not even traditional) for years is now venturing into the world of tailored clothes, due largely in part to the skinhead connection with style and its original roots.  He's more interested in the prototypical British cut but the point is that you can't escape the roots of a subculture, even if you don't prescribe to them.  You are aware of it and it can make a deeper impact than you realize

Great discussion here on both sides & I'm enjoying it very much. Both POVs are valid in my book.

I go down the" timeless", "classic" route myself, which is a bit of a cop-out I know.

I'm always looking for something new though, but for me that something new stays within the loose cannon of Ivy League style.

Same with music - I devour new Jazz finds, but what I like never strays very far from that classic Blue Note sound (to give it a name).

"Retro" isn't too important to me - I want the best of what I can get today wherever it might come from.
And the idea of a "continuum" is strong with me too - Style and music just carrying on, morphing a little along the way, but the whole thing never ending.

Great thread, this. Well done to Lewis for starting it.

Jim.

Last edited by heikki k (2008-02-07 14:12:31)

Heikki, love that info, as has been mentioned on other threads, the look seemed to be a European phenomenon much more than was realised. While being a big thing in England and France, it was all over the place in perhaps smaller pockets. There is such a great story that these threads are uncovering.

On the whole 'stylist' thing...

It occurred to me a while back that the overall idea of 'mod' or what would be thought of as pertaining to the mod look has now become immersed in popular culture in the UK. That vaguely 'mod' look, the silhouette, is all over mainstream menswear now. You know, that look that Martin Freeman from 'The Office' has, or Preston of 'The Ordinary Boys'. Years ago it was subcultural and now it's just cultural, the 'mod' look, diluted and bastardised as it is, is now part of the young British fashion look.

Which is where the stylist has to work harder I think, constantly reclaiming individuality and keeping the squares guessing.

I was talking to our chum Jesmond (He's well) about this the other day & the fun of going out with a fresh haircut looking like "a Skinhead Geography Teacher" (Cropped hair worn with a Tweed Sack jacket, flannels, BD, knit tie and loafers) to the rest of the unhip world until you hit J. Simons and then you suddenly make sense.

There is a nice feeling about being unintelligible to the rest of the 9 to 5 world, but then when you meet someone who knows about style they understand what you're up to.

I wouldn't want any old dullard on the street to clock me (And they don't. Ivy style in England is far too subtle for that) but it is nice if some fellow Weejun fan checks me out in Ray's or Ronnie's.

I got a big grin from a young Skin on Drury Lane not too long ago which made me happy. He was in Jeans, Loakes & a Ben Sherman (looked like). I like to think he was on his way down to John's. I'd just been & was heading up to grotty old All Bar One on Holborn to meet a mate.

http://fancyapint.com/pubs/pub1394.html

Small world, I thought. But a nice one.

Cheers!

Jim

Last edited by David (2008-02-11 06:11:09)