Sharp Stylings #37: Keith Mansfield

We can learn so much from yesterday’s fashion icons.  And living in a post-Mad Men world means we can even enjoy aspects of current male fashions! Every Friday, I’d like to start your weekend off right with a little style inspiration from either then or now. Hopefully, my fellow Mod enthusiasts will find the whole or some detail of the whole to appreciate and maybe even adopt.

Still trying to get my mind off of certain, lame t-shirts. This image of 1960s composer and arranger, Keith Mansfield, should do the trick!

This scan taken from the Blow Up A Go-Go! blog. Check it out for other great LP scans!

Many of you know Mansfield though his work with bands like The Marmalade and the UK's KPM library music series which was popularized by the UK dance club, Blow Up and their compilation series. Along with other composers like Alan Hawkshaw and James Clarke, Mansfield became a big name amongst record collectors thanks to songs like 'Boogaloo' and 'Soul Thing' (aka 'Funky Fanfare'), which lit up dance floors from Europe to the US. 

However, did you also realize Keith Mansfield knew how to pump up the style? Dig him up there, just leaning up loose against that magical tree of musical instruments. He ain't bothered by the weirdness of that tree... he's too busy lookin' sussed.

I wish we could zoom in on the photo a little more, because that paisley tie is just waiting to be admired more. Contrasts perfectly with the broadly-striped suit Mansfield's wearing. This guy doesn't just funk up a dancefloor... he also funks up his style with these patterns! And check out the cut of that suit! Nice overall drape, three-button jacket with a high button stance, and a tight peak lapel that adds to the overall sharpness of the suit.

Y'know what? Keith Mansfield's outfit needs its own soundtrack. Hm... I think this'll do nicely:

So, did you dig what you just heard? Well, if you're in San Francisco this Tuesday, guess what? You can hear more of it! The legendary Blow Up club which introduced many of us to music like this will be returning to San Francisco on Tuesday night! And I'm honored to say that I've been asked to be one of four guest DJs that night!! So please, if you're in the area and don't mind risking going to work late the next morning, come on out and dig on some good dancefloor music with us! (And if you can't make it in San Francisco, maybe you can catch them tonight in Los Angeles at Club Underground or on Saturday in Sacramento with live act The Cellar Doors!)

If you're in town, check out the details and RSVP here!

Hope to see you then!