Mod Gone Wrong: Halloween 2012

It's that time again... time to start planning your Mod costume for Halloween next week!

Actually, now I remember one of the reasons I used to hate Halloween. Yeah, you try walking to school on Halloween dressed in your normal clothes while people around you point out, "Look! He's a Beatle!" or "Oh man, great sixties costume!"

Well, I'm not one to dress up on Halloween, but maybe this year, I'll give it a shot with something simple like this:

Let Harlequin Costumes show you how to "Mod up."

Quite frankly, the only reason why I know this is a 'costume' rather than a photo of an actual parka Mod at a rally is because it says it right there on the outfit's webpage: 'fancy dress costume'. But if you took this guy and dropped him down into a photo of a scooter rally, he'd probably fit right in!

Interesting what this company did to create this outfit, too. It's almost as if they took a Snuggie (look at how long this thing is!), dyed it green, and added fur to a fake hood. Then, they painted on the target to complete the 'Mod' look. Psh! And you were going to spend 3 paychecks on a Pretty Green parka? Just rent this out for the night!

Now, I can't confirm whether or not the pointed shoes or badly-cut trousers are part of the oufit, but I do know one thing. It's not only getting the thumbs-up from the guy wearing it... it's also winning over Rockers!

Aaayyyyyy...

Mod Gone Wrong: 'Austin Powers' Costume

One day, back in 1997, I was wasting time in the school's computer lab searching for random information on either Infoseek or Netscape (Google before there was Google, for those too young to remember). Somehow, I came across a news story that Mike Myers of Wayne's World was working on a film set in 1960s Carnaby Street. I couldn't believe it! Myers, who was comedy gold back then, was actually going to spend time, money, and energy on a Mod film! I got home and shared the news with my friends. We wondered if this film would get people excited about sixties Mod fashions and start a(nother) new... mod revival.

I'll never forget the day the film opened. I went to check it out with work friends and, despite the fact that it was a slapstick comedy, really dug it. Sure it was making fun of the sixties, but I thought it did that pretty well. No, this wouldn't be starting revivals of any sort, but it was great to see a period of Mod history I loved so much as the backdrop of a major film. Even if that whole scene lasted less than 5 minutes.

But then something strange happened. As I walked out of the theater, laughing with my friends, I started to notice people whispering and pointing at me. I didn't get it... was there something on me? Did I have popcorn in my hair? Was it... something... I was... wearing... ?

Oh no... it hit me. People thought I was dressed up for the film. They thought I was a part of the show. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of Austin Powers jokes to haunt me and my kind for years to come.

Thanks to this film and its sequel (which I'm proud to say I've NEVER seen), the phrases "Groovy, baby" and "Oh, behave!" would be heard over and over again. Local '60s dance clubs would be filled with brit-pop types, skinheads, Mods, and, yes, people dressed up as Austin Powers complete with fake teeth. Whenever I was cornered by someone not in the know and forced to explain what I was into, the response was generally, "Oh, like Austin Powers!"

And now, Austin Powers costumes are here to stay. For ever:

Relive the 1997 Halloween trend and go dressed as once-funny super spy Austin Powers.

The funny thing is that several years later I started noticing some Mods at world-wide events dressing in similar outfits.

Was it art imitating life or life imitating art? Whatever the answer, I just hope the fake teeth and "Shagadelic" phrases are left at home.

Mod Gone Wrong: 'Mod Revival' Costume

[Mod Male is on vacation at this time so won't be able to respond to any comments.]  

Wow, these guys got specific with this 'fancy dress' outfit! It's not just a 'Mod' costume, it's a 'Mod Revival Dress' costume!


Looking for something to wear while you're cheering on Jimmy as he fights Rockers? Here you go!

Now, it doesn't look like the creators of these outfits put a whole lot of effort into them. We've got the 2-Tone ska Mod dress with obligatory checkerboard headband. I think this was actually someone's party outfit from back in the day.

And the fellow's costume is basically just... a parka. Without patches. Without badges. This costume needs a little more work. Well, at least he's got 2-Tone basketball sneakers on. I wonder if the costume comes complete with Quadrophenia dialogue? Maybe a little button in the pocket he can press so that a speaker in the hood can blast out, "Get in there, my son!" over and over again.

All the work this company put into their "Mod Revival" costume makes me curious as to what their "Punk" costume consists of. What, a safety pin? And I bet their "Goth" costume is a black cape.

After looking at this photo more closely, though, there seems to be something really familiar about these people. I can't quite put my finger -- oh wait! I think I've seen them before! Yeah, at practically every scooter rally photo I've seen on the internet!

Mod Gone Wrong: 'Carnaby Street' Costume

[Mod Male is on vacation at this time so won't be able to respond to any comments.] 

I guess this type of costume could only work in the U.K., seeing as how most people in the U.S. wouldn't get the Carnaby Street joke. In fact, I can guarantee that if you walked into an American Halloween party with the following costume, you'd be greeted with a chorus of "Hey, it's Austin Powers! Grooooovy, Baby!"

Want to dress up as a walking Mondrian painting?

You really have to hand it to the company who came up with the male version of this costume. In American dollars, this would be almost $40 for a black shirt and wide tie to rent! And I'm only guessing that's a tie because it could easily pass as a bib to protect your clothing if you happen to be eating lobster at a fancy art museum restaurant.

Ahh... I think I figured out why these costumes are for rent only. I imagine that if it were for sale, you'd see a lot of newbie insta-Mod gals hitting nightclubs all over town in, what they might think, was an Yves Saint Laurent knock-off! Still can't quite make out what the deal is with the blue wig. Maybe her boyfriend's wide Mondrian tie wasn't wacky enough?

Oh, and look at that... seems she's got the same type of go-go boots worn by Moddish women who still haven't gotten the memo.

Mod Gone Wrong: '1960s Mod' Costume

[Mod Male is on vacation at this time so won't be able to respond to any comments.] 

Well, Mod Subculture, you know you've hit the big time when you've got a Halloween costume based on you. Looks like you're not 'underground' any more, old friend.

Hey, just in case some of you want a parka but don't want to hunt one down at a surplus shop, just go here!

According to the description of this outfit, it would be "perfect for any 60's Mod"... because, I guess, you'd want to go to a Halloween/'fancy dress' party as yourself? The designer of this costume spared no expense in its authenicity, thus creating an "effective Sizties" costume which includes a "Parker Coat."

My favorite bit about this whole thing is the target on the back, because it just can't be 'mod' without the target. And just in case people at the party can't quite figure out what you're supposed to be, the costume comes complete with two patches declaring "Mods" and "Mods RULE." Now let's be honest here, how many of you guys reading this actually have those exact patches on your parkas right now? Looks like your costume search is over!

I do wish I had seen this several years back, though. It would have saved me a lot of time and effort when I decided to go as a teenage me!

This outfit worked for Halloween and would probably work for plenty of scooter rallies too!

Although I do hate dressing up, I do love October and Halloween, so expect more Halloween Mod Gone Wrongs in the coming weeks!

PARKER POWER!!