How far do we go back?  To between the wars, certainly, when the card-playing Simons uncles and the hard-working tailors and cutters of Soho were dressing up to the nines during their bit of leisure time.  I'd like to think of Max Miller as having the right 'spirit', and the dance band leaders and their musicians are worth having a look at IMO.  John digs big band as well as modern jazz.  Scott, Dankworth and Hayes are obviously in there.  The mix is maybe Elstree/Soho/Notting Hill/Brighton/North London/The East End/Mayfair...  maybe...  It's Tony Crombie, Mick Mulligan and Cy Laurie...  Movie-wise, it's Ealing: especially the black and white stuff from 1945 to about '52:  "It Always Rains On Sunday": vitality emerging from austerity, rationing giving way to a growing interest in Elizabeth David, greyness and drabness taking a big lick of colour from the Franco-Italian palate...  And America, always America, informing British culture: our rising stars - like Laurence Harvey - going off to Hollywood - their fading ones - like Alan Ladd - coming over here...

Last edited by Chris_H (2009-04-29 07:23:02)

Well, often when we say 'Ivy icon' we don't quite mean 'Ivy icon', I suppose, icon being one of those words that... 

I think Jim and I, being younger, are just kicking ideas around a bit.  I sort of recognise this Ollie Reed look from pictures I've seen of the time, Chris.  He looked a bit tasty in a film called 'These Are The Damned' for Hammer I seem to remember.  (Or possibly he looked a knob - it's been 35 years since I saw it I'd imagine).  Jackets and ties were seen around more then generally, weren't they?  Like Albert Finney in 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'?

This brings me to an interesting point, Chris.  Just how many mods did you see around?  I've read stuff like, you were a mod or you were nothing.  Any truth in that?

Last edited by Chris_H (2009-04-29 07:43:48)

To give them their due, there were a few stylists who threaded in and out before revivalism kicked in.  I think some may have come to it via the rare soul scene.

Perfectly understandable as casuals evolved more or less into chavs - who sipped from the well of hip-hop and rap, but didn't drink deep.  I've seen some very interesting young black guys around who aren't afraid to step up a level, with their deerstalkers and highly polished shoes.  Actually an old jazz-funk look, too, as I remember it: like the goatee: nicked from beboppers.

A guy who turns himself out wearing a Shetland sweater, decent Levis and boat shoes (let alone the likes of Church or Trickers) is always going to get a bigger round of applause from me than the 'cartoon mod'.  He's just got a bit more nous.  Actually quite a lot more.  My brother-in-law always rocks it.  Soul boy from way back with a record collection that could sort out the balance on your mortgage.

Anyone got a shot of the divine Kay?  (Not Peter Kay).

Nice one, Mr. R.

Chris's contribution here is interesting because it suggests a much more relaxed approach all round.  Maybe men were a bit 'dressier' up until a certain point in the 70s than they are now.  I remember being 15 or thereabouts and older lads who were into soul urging me to get a suit made, and how important it was to show out a bit.  They wouldn't necessarily have thought of themselves as 'mods', just lads out to drink, dance and pull.  The rest of it is probably very self-conscious, and I think this is precisely what individualists like Alex want to avoid.