I love this. Maybe I've been reading too much John Waters, but I really am finding beauty in the perverse and let me tell you, this is beautiful:
You guys... a Mod pajama for grown-ups! Someone took the idea of Mods sleeping in abandoned Brighton bomb shelters in their parkas (probably from Quadrophenia) and took it to the next logical step: a parka onesie!
I think one of the best things about this image is the shocked look on
the model's face. Even HE can't believe someone is selling this and
making him wear it for the photo shoot. But I'd rather believe that this
guy just woke up in his parka pajama and was a victim of an early
morning candid photo flash.
Now, maybe it's because I'm seeing more and more onesies in my life thanks to this little baby, but the thought has hit my mind, "What about us grown-ups?" I'm no ageist! Why can't we be waking up in comfortable onesies (preferably with feet) without being looked down upon in shame?
Well, folks, now you can wear one at night with no shame at all, and you can do it advertising your favorite band to all your family and friends last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Heck, this takes all the hassle out of getting ready for bedtime after a good club night.
Any single guys out there reading this? Imagine talking up that pretty girl at a club and winning her over after showing off your spiffy moves on the dance floor. Then, just as you're about to hop on your scooter with her on the back, you bust out with the onesie. All those bunk tickets in their actual badge-festooned parkas are gonna look at you with jealousy. See, in one swift move, you've gone from club wear to sleep wear without missing a beat in your Mod rhythm in front of your date. Recognize!
(And nice to know that even the makers of this pajama commercial have a sense of humor. Won't get fooled again, ey? We'll see about that as the money from sales comes rolling in.)
Christmas is coming up and you're probably thinking I'm putting this at the top of my Xmas list. But, this year, in the spirit of the holiday, I'm going to pass on the opportunity in order to give everyone else a chance to get it as a gift. After all, I'm sure this will be a season sell-out. It would hurt my feelings if someone gave this to me as a gift while other, more deserving Mod types, missed out on it. So friends, a box of See's Candy in place of this great item will be perfectly acceptable this year.
Now, if Christmas passes and by some slim chance these are still available, I just might have to purchase one to keep handy just in case someone ever puts on a Mod White Elephant sale. And if that happens and you're involved... keep your fingers crossed. You just might be going home with the most fashionable piece of Mod sleepwear since, well, this:
I guess this was the natural conclusion.
I mean, what's left? A Union Jack Harrington?
And there is an audience for it. That's been proven time after time. For every guy out there searching out a well-tailored button-down, french-cuff shirt with the perfect collar and detailed buttoning, there are ten guys happy with anything that has a Union Jack on it.
Hey, I'm not perfect. I used to wear a parka with a Union Jack Jam patch on the back... when I was A TEENAGER. But you get to a point where you realize you don't need to walk around looking like a mascot for Anglophilia in order to convince everyone you're 'MOD!'
Hopefully, though, this Union Jack parka is the final straw on the back of the Comedy Mod camel. And hopefully, some of these new Mod labels will start to get more creative with their offerings. Think about all the different types of styles and detailings that were coming out of London at breakneck speed back in the 1960s. Sure, not all of it worked, but you still had some great pieces that stood out. These days, many new 'mod' clothing companies seem to go down the same weathered path laid down by original, iconic labels.
If you're thinking about starting your own 'Mod' clothing company, keep the following in mind:
Fred Perry has perfected the polo.
Ben Sherman has perfected the short-sleeved button-down.
Clark's has perfected the desert boot.
And the 1950s U.S. Army has perfected the parka.
You know what that leaves you with? A wide spectrum of new material and influences to draw from!
Hey, I'm as big a fan of Mad Men as the next guy, really. Sadly, my wife and I have fallen really on the show, leaving off somewhere mid-third season. But we are planning on catching up real soon, because it is an amazing show.
Sure, there's the great set design, the beautiful early '60s costuming, the solid writing, and, of course, all those great characters. But, heck, I was sold by the first episode when they referenced the famous
Volkswagen 'lemon' ad, which is generally credited for shifting the tone of
advertising to a more 'hip' sensibility in the early '60s. (If interested in this subject,
look up Thomas Frank's Conquest of Cool book... yes, I'm a nerd for this stuff.) Over 50 years later, advertisements have pushed the idea of 'hip' way past its breaking point.
And, what's hip these days? Yup, you guessed it: Mod! (To paraphrase my wife, "'Mod' is this season's black.") And what show is delving into the American 'Mod' era of the 1960s? Yup, you know it: Mad Men! So, it makes perfect sense to sell people a hip new line of clothing inspired by 'mod' as filtered through Mad Men.
Want a chance to live the "Mod life" in NYC? Here you go!
It really is weird, if you think about it, though. One of my first posts, way back in 2011, gave slight mention of the influence Mad Men was having on men's fashion. It wasn't the only influence, but it was a good one! Finally, suits were more fitted, lapels were slimmer, trousers were more narrow. No, Mad Men wasn't having a direct major influence on men's style, but it was contributing to a changing approach to a 'new' look for men. Words like 'retro,' European fit,' and 'slim fit' were tossed around to describe this look.
My guess is that, in time, people are just going to refer to this look as (the catch-all) 'mod.' And you'll probably be able to thank Mad Men and Banana Republic for that. You see, the big news all around is that Banana Republic has released an official Mad Men-licensed 'mod' line of clothing! Yup, Mad Men is about to have a very direct influence on men's style.
People are going to be walking around in clothing inspired by the clothing worn on a television show inspired by the clothing worn by real people in the 1960s. Talk about 'life imitating art imitating life!'
Now the weird thing is how the whole 'mod' thing plays into this. You know the basic history of the culture that developed with English youth in the 1960s and remained relatively 'underground' until the media exploitation of "Modsversusrockers." This, of course, led to a commercial bonanza with 'Swinging London,' the 'Swinging Sixties,' and a whole world gone 'MOD'!
Soon, 'mod' found its way to the United States, no longer really used as a noun to describe those English kids, but rather as an adjective used to describe pretty much anything new and 'hip.' And the the American youth ate it up! Feeding them all the 'mod' they wanted were companies mastering all those new hip techniques of advertising.
Stuffy old adults just looked upon this as another teenage craze. In time, though, even those adults fell into the Mod pool. After a few years, their uptight clothing choices became more free, youthful and, yup, mod!
Modnick slacks & shirts for the older man.
(And remember, in the 1960s, 'older man' probably meant anyone older than 25!)
And this is where Mad Men comes in. Think about it. The characters on Mad Men aren't young (by 1960s standards). The 'mod' look they're about to be wearing in this new season is what people their age would have been wearing in the 1960s, a look that was no longer that cool with 'hip' American youth. If you were an American kid in the 1960s, would you have wanted your parents dressing like you?
Now, don't get me wrong... you all know I LOVE the Mod look! But let's be real here. Banana Republic is releasing a 'mod' line of clothing based on what un-hip adults would have been wearing in the United States in the late 1960s.
I know, Pete Campbell, right?
And, boy, is Banana Republic going for it! "Mad For Mod" is the tagline for the ad campaign. But mad for what kind of 'mod'? This type of 'mod'?
Hey, look, the clothing isn't bad, really. For new clothing, it's quite nice. You wouldn't expect anything less from Banana Republic, which has developed a well-earned reputation over the years.But when it comes to "Mad For Mod," I'm not sold. Other than a slim fit, the men's line doesn't do a whole lot for me. The women's line looks a bit nicer, of course, what with the geometric shapes and bright colors and all. But what all this does is make me wonder what this means for those of us already into this Mod thing. Are you going to walk around in Banana Republic Mad Men®(yes, all rights reserved) attire?
My wife pointed out a key reason why she'd avoid the women's selections
of this new 'mod' line: "Are you kidding? The minute you show up in one of
those pieces, everyone will know. 'Hey, she's wearing a Mad Men dress!'" Heck, imagine showing up to a party in your new chic Mad Men-approved dress and finding one or two other women in the same exact dress? Quelle horreur!
Plus, for me, it'd be a little weird buying clothes based on a fashion designer's interpretation of1960s styles found on a television show taking place in an era I've been interpreting on my own all this time. It'd be like rockabilly people buying a line of clothing based on Happy Days. Steampunk people buying a line of clothing based on Wild, Wild West. Or, I don't know, gothic people buying a line of clothing based onTwilight(don't know if this analogy makes sense, but I like it).
But hey, always look on the bright side, right? When you're walking down the street you'll be hearing a lot less "Hey,
it's a Beatle!" Instead, that'll be replaced with "Hey, it's a Mad
Men!" And, you won't have to bother explaining what you're about to strangers anymore. "Oh, I know what a Mod is. Mad Men, right?"
The flip side of that is that in a few years time, when mainstream fashion has moved away from the "Mad For Mod" look, you'll get to hear comments like, "Hey! 2013 called. It wants its Mad Men clothes back!"
But in the end, if I'm being honest with myself... yeah, I'll probably be looking for one of those Mad Men ties in the sales bins.
Besides, somehow we survived The Nanny going 'Mod' in the '90s. We'll survive this too.
Sure, I can spend the next page showing off photos of me in my favorite outfits. I can brag about a tie I own or a pair of shoes I've been lucky to find. I can spend the day celebrating myself and acting like Mr. Cool. But that's not really who I am. Me, I like to give to others. And because I'm such a giving person, today, I give you a birthday gift... examples of me at my worst. So, here you go, my Top 10 Personal Fashion Failures!
1. Sure, I'm wearing a suit at around the age of 6. But, look at those lapels, will ya. They're wider than my head (and that's sayin' somethin')! It looks as if I'm wearing my father's dress shirt, what with my pencil-neck and all. And that beautifully '70s tie... it's a clip-on! Faux-pas! Hey kid, what, did your mommy dress you? (Well, probably...)
2. While many of you '80s Mods were riding around on scooters, attending Untouchables shows, and wearing high-water pants with white socks, I was hanging out at home looking like this. A rare photo of me in shorts as it's photos like these that keep me away from shorts these days. Yes, those are Velcro shoes and yes those are white tube socks. (Hey, maybe some of you '80s Mods can relate after all!) Of course, there is a dash of cool going on with that Admiral Ackbar t-shirt. Hey, I may not be looking Mod here, but this was the height of 11-year-old fashion in 1985!
3. Oh yeah, sure, you might think I was a junior high stud, but the reality is that during one week of dating, this was the only time we held hands. I'm pretty sure this young girl was a tad embarrassed by my kinda new wave outfit. Plain, untucked white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and, it's true, acid wash Bugle Boy jeans! Really, the only new wave going on here was my Flock of Seagulls haircut and pointed Dr. Martin shoes (cut off in the photo). By this time, though, I was already starting my Mod path. Despite what those acid wash jeans are saying.
4. Okay, I've mentioned before how I wasn't one of those kids that transformed over night. Remember those guys back in high school? Punk rock on a Friday, Mod on a Monday. A week later, Rockabilly. A week after that, Skinhead. Not me, boy. No, I took my time slowly morphing into a Mod kid. And this photo proves it. I was super into the Jam, but walking around in a 2-tone t-shirt with my residual skater haircut (I wasn't a skater) that would be shortened in about a month or two. I felt that if I was going to get into something, I wasn't going to rush it. Otherwise, what was to stop me from rushing away from the Mod thing if I was able to get into it so easily?
5. 18 years old and full-on Mod. But darn it... high-water pants with white socks! I think I'm wearing the same Dr. Martin shoes from the Bugle Boy photo above. And look at that... Mod pins/badges on my suit lapel! See, back then, I think I needed those pins just in case anyone walking by had any doubts about what I was. The 'Mod' pins just confirmed my existence. Ugh...
6. Three words: bottom button buttoned.
7. Hey, I'm man enough to admit it when I go overboard in the color department. On paper, this all looked great: turquoise jacket, green shirt, turquoise/green paisley tie, with a spot of purple pocket square. Unfortunately, it was just too much color and too obvious of a color coordination. Yes, I get it... trying to match the colors of the tie, but sometimes, you just gotta contrast the tie a bit more. Don't let it control you.
8. Superman has Kryptonite. Green Lantern has the color yellow. And Freddy Krueger has a cup of espresso. Me, I have humidity and heat. Those are my weaknesses. Unfortunately, on a trip to Greece, when this photo was taken, my arch-enemies were out in full force. The heat and humidity joined together to muddle up the synapes in my brain so that I couldn't put a decent outfit together. Look how confused I look here at the airport. Obviously, I don't travel well under these conditions. Cole Haan sneakers (which are actually pretty cool), flared jeans (which look really baggy here thanks to the expansion caused by the heat), an untucked Ben Sherman shirt, and a light jacket that I didn't want to pack away. On this day, I lost the style game.
9. Hey, I'm man enough to admit it when I go overboard in the pattern department. I actually really like this photo of me with my wife. But, man, this is what I get when I try to push boundaries. Striped shirt, paisley tie (with colors too light to really stand out), and a polka-dotted pocket square. I'm surprised I wasn't also wearing a Madras jacket! The main problem I have here is that these patterns don't really work well together. That shirt should have been pin-striped instead of bold. Maybe the tie would have stood out more instead of being lost. And that pocket square should have been a less obvious color. Aw well, lessons learned.
10. And this, right here, my favorite Fashion Failure photo. You know why? It's shown up on Facebook and other discussion groups, posted by people who think this is how I actually dress! The sad thing is that there are Mod types out there who do dress like this, normally. So, it's natural for someone who doesn't know me to think this is my Friday night Ace Face wear. No, no, this was actually a Halloween costume: me as the teenage me. But I don't mind it when strangers think this is the real me (can ya? CAN YA? Sorry... force of habit). I get a kick when I see this posted on Comedy Mod sites and all... because really, this was a damn good costume!
Alright, there you have it. Day in and day out, I toss my opinions out there on what I think Mod fellows should be doing. But as you can see, I'm not perfect and I don't mind showing off my mistakes. Hopefully, as the years go by, there'll be less examples to share with you.
Christmas is tomorrow and hopefully all your shopping is done. But even more importantly, hopefully you've avoided the following list of gifts!
First up, let's take a look at this nice gift idea: a black cotton mac from (drum roll, please)... Pretty Green!
A cotton mac for the wealthy Oasis-obsessed Mod set.
I can't believe I'm going to say this but this isn't a bad piece of coat. Yup, a Pretty Green item I actually don't think is that bad. Nice, short collar with side pockets and epaulets. A step up from a parka if you're looking for protection from stormy weather. There's only one tiny snag in this little coat: it costs $1,100! Yes, you read that right: ONE-THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Pretty Green, are you for real? If ANY of you have the money for a gift like this, don't be stupid. Please use it for a gift certificate to your local tailor instead. Seriously, for that kind of money you could probably get an even more stylish jacket made to your specifications PLUS a tab-collar shirt to boot!
One for the ladies. So, you think you look 'mod.' You think you dance 'mod.' You think you pose 'mod' in all your Facebook profile pics. But guess what. You probably don't smell 'mod'! Well, now you can fix that with this offering from Avon:
And this stuff just won't make you smell like any ol' mod. Nope, you'll be engulfed in the aroma of actual "60's mod". Personally, I don't know what that's like, seeing as I was born a few years after the sixties ended. But this little item might just complete your total vintage experience. You're at a club and spot some gal who thinks she looks like Peggy Moffitt. She's out there doin' her Sandy Sarjeant dances while eyeballin' that fellow you're with. Well, all you need to do is walk right past her, let her take in a whiff of "60's mod," and watch that crestfallen look on her face. She just lost the 'mod' game.
Some of you have families, right? You probably don't have much luck driving your kids to school on your scooter. You and the wife need to hit the supermarket for a week's worth of groceries and scooters just don't seem very practical. In these cases, life forces you to bust out the Mazda or SUV. How embarrassing it's gotta be if you're driving by people who think you're just some regular ol' joe barely existing through life. Well, solve that problem with this little window decal to let the whole world know exactly what you're about:
With this little sticker, you'll announce your presence to the world.. After all, it's an important thing to make sure strangers know you're 'mod.' After all, why else would you walk around in a parka covered in advertisements for your favorite bands or a Union Jack pin on your lapel?
A few weeks back, there was some 'controversy' over Paul Weller and his tank-top/flip-flop look. Many of you thought, "What's the big deal? He's just relaxing and they're just clothes!" Well, for those of you who enjoy relaxing and don't think style is all that important, have I got a gift suggestion for you! Union Jack Uggs!
Lucky for you, I can't read German and I'm too lazy to find the actual link to buy these things.
After all, Mods need down time too, right? If flip-flops are an acceptable shoe, then why not Uggs? And hey... these are Union Jack Uggs! They'll go great with jeans and a parka.
Aw hell, everyone's suffering from Quadrophenia Fever lately! Well, show off your love of everyone's favorite Mod opera with this awesome tee:
Show up to that next scooter rally dressed in this and a green pair of sta-prest and I guarantee you'll still be better dressed than 70% of the people there! (Trust me, I've seen photos of enough scooter rallies these days.)
Now, this last item is on the wrong list. Do NOT avoid this but rush out now and get it if you're a dog owner or know a Mod dog owner. It's so silly, it's so ridiculous, it's so wrong... that it's right.
In general, I'm not into clothing for dogs. But, in this case, I'll make an exception. Your dog will be the Ace Face mutt runnin' around the yard in this thing. And if you're hungry for mod dog puns, then the We Are the Mods Facebook page as you hooked up!
That's it for bad gifts this year. Have a GREAT CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! *
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:
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!
This guy's pure, exuberant joy while riding on the back of that scooter as part of the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games reflects the pride I'm sure most Londoners must have been feeling during the ceremonies, and that's enough to melt any sarcasm left in my heart.
Y'know, I just didn't feel right committing an entire post to picking apart Fred Eagle's photo in that last post. I was worried that others might pile on with negative comments, but luckily, the Facebook comments showed that people appreciated Fred's sportsmanship above all else.
Well, if I'm going to get down on Fred Eagle's photo, it's only fair I offer up a personal photo for balance. Here's one that goes beyond Mod Gone Wrong. And yes, this was probably how I dressed at age 18.
You all know how much I love this Mod thing already, but there's also a lot I don't like.
I don't like the clichés, the stereotypes, the overall bunkness of Mod 101. Why? Because there's so much more to the Mod thing than that. Yes, I started out engaging in those types of stereotypes as I'm sure most people into this did. But you stick with something long enough and, hopefully, you get better with it, growing and improving over time. After all, why stand around looking like you're part of the parka-clad, desert boot, Merc suit-wearing army, when you could be developing your own particular look and style, similar yet separate from the rest?
Well, today, in honor of a year of criticizing the weaker aspects of Mod looks, my pal Fred Eagle has offered his services as a guineau pig to demonstrate the typical ways in which Mod has Gone Wrong. I know it was tough for him to put himself on the line like this, but I thank him greatly. Here he is after committing Mod Stereotype #17: attending a scooter rally for a screening of Quadrophenia.
Now, before I get into this, let me tell you some positives. Fred Eagle really is a great guy and a fantastic photographer. He's got a great energy that spreads to all around him. And, if you meet him on one of his Paris trips, he can help you navigate the Metro with ease. Recently, he shared a great post demonstrating his excitement over recent Mod happenings. Then, he gave me permission to let loose on the photo above.
So, let's get to dissecting his look! Here are 10 ways in which Mod has gone wrong:
Sunglasses At Night - Hey, despite all the doom and gloom out there, I still think our future's pretty bright, but not so bright you need shades on in the evening. Or indoors at a club. Sunglasses should only be worn on sunny days, otherwise, you'll look like you're trying WAY too hard. Mods, take note... you ain't foolin' no one by wearing sunglasses in the dark.
Parka - If you've read this blog before, you know my opinion on parkas. Why wear a grubby ol' army coat, when you could be bustin' out the style with a slick overcoat? Okay, San Francisco evenings can get pretty chilly, so MAYBE I can see wearing a parka in weather like this or if you're out in snowy conditions. But if you're in a sunny climate, no need for a parka!
Patches On The Parka - Hmm... looks to me like this may be a Who shirt cut out and made into a patch. Yes, in my youth I used to wear a ton of pins and patches on my parka (when I wore one). I even cut up my old Jam t-shirt and sewed it to the back. But these days, parkas are bad enough without plastering them with all your favorite bands. Personally, I don't need to display all that information to strangers. What ever happened to sublety? And besides, bands like The Who have made a pretty good living off of what they do. Why give them the free advertising? Now, if they bought ad space on your parka, that's a whole different matter.
Dog As Accessory. I think Paris Hilton has the monopoly on dogs as accessories. If you really need to walk around holding something, try shooting for a walking cane or a curve-handled umbrella. But if you really need to walk around with a dog under your arm, French Bulldogs are way more cool-looking.
Wrinkled Trousers - Sharp lines, my man, sharp, clean lines. Them trousers need a nice, ironed crease right down the center of the legs. Sta-prest are the way to go in most cases.
Desert Boots (Especially As Evening Wear) - I know, I know... I'm in the minority on this, but desert boots just don't do it for me, especially if you're out for the evening. For one thing, they contrast too much with the black trousers. What's needed here is a nice pair of polished loafers or dress shoes.
Clenched Fist - Hey man, what's with the aggro? There aren't any Rockers around and even if there were, there's no need for fighting. Sharp Mods don't go in for violence. Loosen up that fist and hang mellow. We're all friends here.
Parka Covering Up Your Clothes - Another problem with the parka here... it's buttoned up, hiding all the clothes underneath. For all we know, that's a pretty sweet sweater being worn. Unfortunately, the parka just covers everything up. If you insist on wearing a parka (ugh), take it off as soon as you're off your scooter. We don't want to see you in the same jacket worn by all your buddies surrounding you; we want to see what great clothes you're wearing underneath!
Aggressive Attitude. Again, man, why do you look like you want to steal our lunch money? You didn't just get out of an oi show. Throw a smile up on that mug! Too often Mods have gotten the 'snob' label tossed out at them, but they can be a welcoming lot for the most part. (Just please don't quote lines from Quadrophenia to try and win them over.)
Hair Style - Nothing really wrong with the hair, but since I see a nice hairline with no missing sections, I say go for a Marriott cut. Or grow out some bangs with slightly longer sides (but not TOO long!) and you got a nice Mod cut there! Still, his hair looks fine here. (Although, I must ask... is it dyed à la 1986 Style Council?)
Despite all these points, there is one very important thing to keep in mind. No matter what, you should not judge a person by the clothes he or she wears. (Yeh, yeh, something I need to learn to do more often...) The dude in this photo is a great guy who wouldn't hurt a fly. And this just goes to show that even when Mod Goes Wrong, sometimes the person underneath is a Man Gone Solid. And they don't come much more solid than this fellow.
Seriously, a round of applause for Fred Eagle for allowing me to harrass this photo of him! Next time I see this guy, I owe him a can of Budweiser!
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And don't forget, today is the last day to enter the Mod Male drawing for a chance to win 'The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman' by Robert O'Byrn and Lord Dunsby! For full details, visit the Mod Male blog post, The Mod Male Blog Is One Year Old Today. But for the short version, all you have to do is one of two things:
Become a follower of this blog, if you're not already, and leave a comment on the blog telling me how you got into the Mod thing OR how you got into whatever it is you're obsessed with (i.e., goth music, a baseball team, your favorite author). Doesn't have to be Mod-related. Or,
'Like' the MOD MALE Facebook page and leave a comment on the page, telling me how you got into the Mod thing OR how you got into whatever it is you're obsessed with (i.e., goth music, a baseball team, your favorite author). Doesn't have to be Mod-related.
Ever wonder what the correct way to dance 'mod' is? Well, a few days ago, Parka Avenue posted a great video on Facebook. Now, take a moment, appreciate the lack of music to focus in on the actual dance steps, and learn a thing or two.
Feel like taking a fork and plucking your eyeballs out? Yup, I know how you feel. Don't get me wrong... I've no doubt these are 'professional' dancers. But, my god... that guy's horrible Beatle wig, peace necklace, and shirt made my skin crawl. And don't even get me started on that woman's stripper "go-go" boots! (Although her micro-mini-skirt is Mod Male-approved.) Then, you toss in all that hopping and those regimented dance moves we've seen over the years on-screen ranging from Troop Beverly Hills to Dancing With the Stars and I just can't take it. Things like this make me think, "Man, I hate the sixties!" until I look in the mirror and realize, "No, I don't."
Look, I know some of these dances were performed and popularized in the sixties. It was the times, making a dance fad out of anything possible. These days, however, my guess is that these dances are usually reserved for 1960s-themed costume parties across the nation.
Now, although the instructional video above refers to those dances as 'mod' and although there's a chance that some of these dances might have been performed by actual Mods in the sixties, I'm guessing that a lot of Mods were most likely dancing to a different set of dance moves... dance moves created in the clubs and then broadcast on the weekly Ready, Steady, Go!
I love watching these clips of actual 1960s-era Mod kids getting down with their foot-steppin'. This is the stuff that has inspired so many over the years. The foot shuffles, the ankle twists, the hip shakes... that's how you work it! From what I've read, the popularity of these dance steps changed as often as the fashions. Things are different today though.
Personally, I don't do the Freddie. I don't do the Underarm Scratch (or whatever that guy in the top video was doing). And, so help me God, I definitely do NOT do the Batman. I do lean more toward the foot movements demonstrated on Ready, Steady, Go! But, you don't have to be tied to any of these moves to dance 'mod'. And you definitely DON'T need to dance like the couple in the first video. In fact, please please please spare us those dance moves!
Here's a secret for you: I used to HATE dancing. When I was in 7th grade, I asked a drill team member to be my date to the first dance of the year. Surprisingly, she said yes! She had to work the refreshment stand at the dance so I had to meet her there, but I didn't care. I was on my first junior high dance date! When Stacey Q's 'Two of Hearts' hit the speakers, she and I jumped on that dance floor and got down! Well... I thought I was getting down. I remember the exact dance I was doing: the same dance Lisa Bonet did on the Cosby Show opening credits. I thought I was doing pretty well until the one nerd kid at the dance started making fun of my dance moves. Yes, I was so bad that even the class NERD looked cooler than I did.
That was the last time I danced... until I learned how to 'skank' a few years later. Of course, I was even doing that dance pretty badly. I was doing the running-in-place skank. Ugh. I was even more hesitant to dance when I started going to Mod parties. Some of these guys were great, but I had less rhythm than that character on the Fresh Prince show.
Things changed though. One night, well into the early morning when one of these parties was still going on, a few people started dancing to Small Faces videos. One of them grabbed me to join, but I was too nervous. Luckily, I was also a little drunk so I gathered up the courage and just went for it. No one made fun of me, despite the fact that my feet were not moving to the songs playing. But it didn't matter... no one cared. We were all just there to have fun! It wasn't a game to see who could dance the coolest. It was just a chance to dance to awesome music with your buddies.
Despite that experience, I did want to try learning how to dance a little better. I did want to try learning how to make use of rhythm. There was one image I really took to in the Mods (Richard Barnes, page 52) book... an image of a kid about to unleash some massive dancefloor magic:
I wanted to learn whatever move this kid was doing. That's when I started to study old videos. I wasn't looking at instructional videos, like above. I wasn't looking at videos of people dancing "sixties"-style. Naw, I went straight to the masters. If you're new to this whole thing, I definitely recommend the same. No, none of us will ever be as good as these guys, but it'll give you some great direction. And notice the most important thing. Everyone in these videos just moves so effortlessly. They're not thinking about their steps.
Take Sam and Dave, for instance. Dig on this whole piece, but if you want to get straight to their steps, check out the 3:23, 4:04, and 4:34 marks:
Whew! I gotta loosen up my collar after that!
Of course, when you think of soul dancing, I'm sure James Brown is the # 1 guy you think of and for good great reason! Here he is, doin' his thing with Sammy Davis, Jr. If you go out onto a Mod dancefloor, chances are you'll see at least 3 people trying to work these moves.
I said before that I don't really like doing regimented 1960s dance moves. Y'know why? Because the early '70s happened. As much as I like sixties music, it's those early seventies funky dances that can really get one to steppin'! Some of those dances can be as mellow and controlled as Michael Jackson here at the 2:24 mark:
Or, you can just go all out and really let loose, 1971 Soul Train-style (to Curtis Mayfield, no less)! These dances may not really be 'Mod,' but, hell, who cares? If you got funky moves like this, you shouldn't keep them hidden.
And now, there are even more modern dance moves to try borrowing from. Check out Aloe Blacc here, lookin' slick and lookin' hip, all while gettin' his groove on:
Mods of today, you know how this works: take a little of the old and mix it with some of the new. Apply that to your dance style and roll with it!
I didn't get much into Northern Soul dancing here because, frankly, I'm not super into it. Don't get me wrong, I think some of those dancers are amazing! I know a couple who blow minds out on the dance floor. But, I absolutely HATE talcum powder on a dance floor. And, I'm not really into those feet sweeping moves. Personally, I think more Mod dancers ought to shake their hips more and pick those feet & knees up when they're dancing (see Sam & Dave above)! But like I said, when you got good Northern Soul dancers out on the dancefloor, they really rock that floor.
I'm not a great dancer, but I do like having a good time at Mod/Soul/whatever dances. You might not be a good dancer either, but that's not the point of all this. Forget regimented dances like the Monkey or the Frug. Forget the idea of 'Mod' dances. JUST GROOVE. But... try groovin' well! And try not to step on your neighbor's toe.
So, a couple of weeks ago, some discussions were generated about jeans and the Mod thing. Over on the MM Facebook page ('LIKE' it... it's a neat thing to do!), people were talking about vintage 501s and A Modernist shared this link to Union Made Goods. In the comments section of this post, a couple of original 1960s Mods started posting about their views on Levis jeans back in the day.
But, of course, I'm not going to write about good jeans today.
Personally, I'm not a heavy jeans guy in general. I do like them if I'm cleaning up around the place, doing something manual, or if I'm feeling really lazy on a Sunday. I don't do 501s as much anymore and tend to stick with the Levis boot-cut 527s (slim fit and low rise) or even H&M 'Lads' because I like the way the flares look with my shoes. (But the discussions mentioned above do have me re-thinking 501s.)
That said, there are some jeans I've found online that look to be geared toward people who share my obsession... but, oh, just miss the mark! Listen, just because you make a mighty fine scooter, doesn't necessarily mean you know how to make a pair of jeans that Mod scooterists should be wanting. Take these, for example, from Lambretta (yes, they're in the clothes game too):
Yup, a nice pair of faded, easy-fit (aka, loose), denim with the ol' Mod stamp of approval right on the ass! If you wear these to the next scooter rally and strut on down that aisle of scooters, be ready for a bevy of mini-skirted, bobbed-hair ladies swarming around you. Hip-shake that target to new levels of lovin'!
Check out the more macho 'dark' Lambretta Mod jeans for a close-up of that back pocket:
How slick would these things be with your matching target t-shirt and tennis shoes while you're out riding your scoot? Who cares that your scooter will be better dressed than you are! At least you'll be sitting on a piece of Mod denim.
Okay, okay, tired of the target look? Well, Lambretta also released this beautiful pair 'Mod' jeans with a trio of 'official' Mod badges pinned to the rear end:
These look to be out of stock, but keep your eyes open on Ebay!
You have there a badge representing the Union Jack, the roundel, and the Lambretta shield: the axis of Mod, if you will. Personally, I ain't too comfortable sitting on badges, what with the pointy pins and all, but that's just me. But if you're wearing these and some yahoo tries giving you guff, you can just reply, "kiss my Mod ass!" Heck, you'll mean it!
Friends, I don't know about you but I think I'll stick with the Levis 527s (sometimes 517s), 501s, and occasional H&M 'Lad's. And Lambretta, you may want to stick with the scooter-makin'.*
*Reader Syd W. informs us that Lambretta doesn't even get with the scooter-makin' these days. Seems they're into the branding business instead.
