Let's take it back to what really inspires us: the originals.
I first came across these photos on the Jack The Cat Was Clean blog (definitely worth stopping by for stories from the people who were there in the beginning). Out of most 1960s photos I've seen, these were the ones that really spoke to me. Photos of a couple (Gill and Del Evans) who really knew their style and went all out with it.
It got better once you read their own story about the time: a couple who met and fell in love amongst a background of cafes and clubs. A shared enthusiasm for clothes and music is what brought them together and, years later, they remain together. And that love of clothing didn't diminish over those years: Del is still a designer dressmaker! And her husband still kicks down with the suit and button-downs!
But let's go back to those early days and zoom in on a photo that, for me, captures what I love most about the Mod thing: the styling!
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| Sorry, ladies, this man is taken. |
Del Evans, 1964, in a self-designed suit (Del drew his own designs) made to measure at Hepworths in New Street, Birmingham. According to Gill's description, the detailing of this suit included black & white tweed, narrow trousers, 4-button front (much coveted among the male Mod set), flap pockets including the ticket pocket AND breast pocket, 8" side vents (8 inches!), and black leather buttons. Top that off with a black knitted tie with tie tack and a pair of black narrow shoes with a subtle pointed toe, and you have a look that the original Mods book really could have benefited from.
Oh, the cane? Shoot, that's just icing on the cake. According to Gill, there was a short period when the walking stick was a necessary accessory to getting your groove on at the local clubs. Gill Evans: "A walking stick was a popular accessory for a time and at the West End Ballroom Birmingham. The Mods would dance in a circle with them."
This is the stuff many of us love: the clothes, the pose, the detailing, and the story behind it all.
And hey, like they sometimes say, behind every stylish man is a stylish woman:
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| Gill Evans: sharp, sassy, and slick! |
- http://jackthatcatwasclean.blogspot.com/2012/03/memories-photos-of-birmingham-mods-del.html
- https://www.facebook.com/ModTogs
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I love my Claiborne four button suit. I've broadened considerably since it was last worn at Dan McClain's wake (drummer for Crawdaddys, Penetrators, and Beat Farmers), so I have to try to get the trousers let out a bit. Jacket still fits fine!
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