Opening the glossies and seeing clothes oh so similar in my teenage wardrobe is a really weird feeling. They say fashion kinda repeats itself every 20 years, and being in to clothes – as my instagram account is testament to – I have seen trends fade off and on my feed more than once, but when they come back they, rather frustratingly, have new names.
But it’s not just the names that are different. I was into SKA and 60s music as an early teen and of course Elvis and rock’n’roll, thanks to the indoctrination by my mum. Being schooled by the English Southcoast seaside also meant your clan / clikka, would be identifiable by their clothes, hair and make up. Much to my mum’s disgust, I fell in with the vintage girls and would come home from boarding schools with Crimplene clothes from charity shops and items I made from curtains and frankly, whatever fabric I could get my hands on. I had been taught to sew at a young age, so could make alterations and repairs at the loft sewing room at school, or by hand in the dorm. Replacing broken or rusty metal zips has become a bit of a speciality … but I still hate hemming, even though this element was optional in my younger days, as I wanted to show off my pins.
I cannot tell you how many pencil skirt slits I slitted as they were tight and couldn’t take my one-legged twist (and yes, I can still do this move). Today’s fashionistas have no idea how lucky they are to have elastane and Lycra in fabrics. Ski pants (stirrup trousers to the under 50s) used to hurt to wear! A bit like today’s compression leggings, but without the stretch. The elastic stirrup was ok, but the taughtness of the fabric meant you had to sit sideways when getting a ‘backie’ on a scooter as there was no way you’d be able to manoeuvre to straddle.
But I’m still drawn to the shapes of the 60’s and love a bomber jacket, and there hasn’t been an era when heritage patterns; paisley, dogtooth, Prince of Wales check and houndstooth, haven’t been in my closet. So how do you put together a modern Mod look?
A great look for the office is a pencil skirt, sling back stilettos, fitted shirt with a proper collar and a tight tank, topped with a striped blazer and you’re me at 14. Hair bobbed, or French cropped or if you have long locks, with a backcombed bouffant. Exaggerated eyeliner. Pale lipstick. None of that contouring nonsense. Check out Etsy for legit and remakes of 1960’s clothing, do remember that sizing will be different!
A twinset was de rigour – and I’m sure these will be popping out as the weather gets cooler. Round neck sleeveless tank or jumper, close fitting, with a matching button up cardigan on top. Depending on your style, you toy with which buttons to do up.
A sleeveless turtleneck and ski pants – both in black – with slingback shoes and big clip on earrings and a couple of chunky bracelets, is all you need to dance the night away.
The guys looked flawless. Stay Press trousers, button-down shirt, boating blazer, bowling shoes. Paul Weller was a style god – and stream Quadrophenia to see how the ‘Face’ looked.
I’m glad to say that for once, the music that accompanies the look, is back too. One would have thought timing would have been better – i.e when the MCM revival was happening a few years ago, but hey, isn’t it all about new waves….?
I’ve seen ads for Go-Go dancing classes in London and a recent weekender in Brighton – land of the Mods – is circulating the gram – which could have been on the 60’s or the 80’s – but because of the fabrics is very much this incarnation of the modernists. Look up The Jam, The Who and Dusty Springfield to get you started on the music. Book a trip to Retrofest in Newbury in August and each road is an era of style, where you can learn, shop, listen and dance – all while surrounded by people living the life in their preferred design decade.
Revel – and let’s hope some individualism of the latter half of the 80s is next in line for a revival – before the bands stop touring – and you get to dress and dance in the years of my life I look back on with rose-tinted glasses.
Photos: My own photos are too grainy so recreated using AI and clothes from Zara and Mango,
Scooter image Wirestock Creators – Shutterstock.com
