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 (wait, today's Tuesday!), 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.
But I'm not a total sports ignoramus. I know who Wayne Gretzky, the Refrigerator, and Fernando Valenzuela all are. (Valenzuela was actually a hero to all us Mexican kids growing up in our neighborhood in the 1980s.) And, yes, I even know who George Best is.
I'm going to go ahead and assume that many of you are football fans who don't need me to waste my time copying and pasting a Wikipedia entry, the extent of my knowledge, on him. Let's skip the sports stats and get straight to the style:
George Best with Mike Summerbee in front of Edwardia, the clothes boutique they owned.
This jock was so sharp he had to go and open his own boutique! (Bradley Wiggins, ball's in your court.) And check him out, kickin' it with ease in his double-breasted suit, pressed shirt, and polished boots. Sure, he would have done well to leave that bottom button undone, but I wouldn't have told him that unless I wanted to risk a head-butt to the noggin'.
Really, this post is for any sports fanatics or jocks that might stumble across this blog. Hopefully, they'll learn a thing or two. After all, these days, most sports heroes are happy just hanging out in their workout clothes or a t-shirt, shorts, and sideways baseball cap with signature sneakers. Or, worse yet, like this:
But George Best is proof that you can sport a stylish suit-oriented look in your off-time while saving the sports gear for the field. Seems his style sense has been passed on some 45 years later, too.
And now I get why Paul Weller featured him on this cover:
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.
Quiz time!
Q: WHAT IS COOL?
A:
Do I really need to write anything about this? Do I really have to talk about the perfect, short-brimmed, chocolate-brown fedora? Do you need me to point out the floral tie that provides a little snazz-action and matches the hat? Is there any reason for me to comment on the shape of the lapel notch on the suit jacket or the narrow double-breasted front? Haven't I gone on long enough on the need for a good pocket-square to complete an outfit? And should I even bring your attention to the absolutely perfect pose going on here?
No? Good!
Then that gives us time for a little Sonny Phillips soul-jazz jammin':
First off, this week, I was welcomed to the We Are The Mods radio show to discuss Mad Men and the Banana Republic 'Mad for Mod' look, along with April Rodriguez of the well-done Ahoy Ahoy blog (which digs into contemporary fashions influenced by past Mod stylings). As you're reading today's links, tune in to the show and put on your headphones for a good talk on the subject. Plus, the very kind Andy Lindsay is interviewed, discussing his blog on Mod shoes (like those worn by The Who, for instance). I think it was a fun time for all and there are some great tunes thrown in there (including a new Hidden Jazz Quartet song!)
Very sad news this week for all fans of film. The great Roger Ebert passed away. For some reason, this celebrity death kinda got to me, mainly because of just how brave Ebert had been during his recent fight with cancer and how his writing prevailed through his continuing reviews and social stances. Chicago's horror host, Svengoolie, offers a nice remembrance here.
The reviews for that new "MOD: A Very British Style" book are becoming my new favorite literary genre. Here's my current favorite.
I love corduroy, but never feel like I look good in it. Too bad, it's a great casual style.
I love 45s as much as the next guy, but with all these great new comps coming out, my pocket cash is going to CDs lately!
Oh, but wait! One of my favorite comps of the 1990s (has it been that long?), Mod Jazz, is finally getting a vinyl release! Man, I can't tell you how influential these comps were in my djing days.
Maybe these sunglasses hats will appeal more to the sunny California ladies who might read this blog, but let me tell you, if someone created a sunglass fedora hat... I just might have to pick one up!
Back when we visited London, I was bummed we didn't make it to the Tate Modern. But if you're around the area, check out the Lichtenstein exhibit! Trust me... we have a few at the SFMOMA and they are worth taking a look at close-up.
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.
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!
Sorry, ladies, this man is taken.
BOOM! You just got served with a class act.
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:
Gill Evans: sharp, sassy, and slick!
Interested in reading more about their story? Check these links:
So, I think Anorak Thing and Monkey Picks have been on to something good with their monthly music picks. Something so good, I think I'll join them!
Years back, I used to take part in one of those Live365 internet station things and I used to love uploading a wide range of good music. I got burnt on having to convert everything to MP3 though, so I eventually pulled out. But, now that YouTube has grown into a vast video archive, I can just grab songs off of there. Hopefully, I can keep this up on a monthly basis.
Anyways, here's a Top 10 list of stuff that's been hittin' me just right this past month:
1. Herbie Hancock - Fat Mama - Makes me miss the days a couple of years back when I used to DJ jazz/soul tunes in between sets of live jazz from The Nick Rossi Trio at the Burritt Room in San Francisco. It was a mellow time when I got to experiment with '50s/'60s/'70s jazz along with newer tracks, then taking a break to enjoy a drink and listen to the guitar, bass, and vibes from the Trio.
2. Nina Simone - Cum By H' Yere (Good Lord) - Pulled this album out again recently. Amazing voice and stripped-down instrumentation. Love the way it just soars as it goes.
3. Simon & Garfunkle - Homeward Bound - One of my fave S&G tracks, amongst many. I was always a fan, in general, but that fandom went up a few notches when we picked up their 'Old Friends' live CD a few years back. They still have that chemistry!
4. Prince Phillip - Keep On Talking - Received the Hall of Fame: Rare and Unissued Gems From The FAME Vaults compilation for Christmas and it's been playing often on our system. The track that gets me going and makes me want to go back to hunting for good soul 45s, though, is Prince Phillip's 'Keep On Talking' written by Dan Penn.
5. Gil Scott Heron - I Think I'll Call It Morning - This one off another album I hadn't listened to in a long while. You know how it is: you get into a record, put it away for a couple of years, and when you re-visit it you re-discover songs that you may have overlooked before. This track became my new favorite.
6. Rodriguez - Crucify Your Mind - We're late to the Rodriguez party, barely catching the Searching For Sugarman movie at our local Elmwood theater over a month ago. And yes, it IS as good as you've heard. I couldn't decide on which track to include, so I'm sticking with my wife's favorite.
7. Dexy's - Nowhere Is Home - This new Dexy's stuff ain't bad, I tell ya. I keep coming back to this one, playing it over and over while I'm at work. Just has that type of mellow beat I'm really into these days.
8. James Hunter - Minute By Minute - Caught the James Hunter Six earlier this month and, as always, it was a great show. Now, his CD is playing non-stop in our car and this is the fave track.
9. Ten Year After - If You Should Love Me - Sad news earlier in the month when Alvin Lee from Ten Years After passed away. Admittedly, as a young Modnick, this is a band I NEVER thought I'd ever get into. Then, one day, I heard this song and my musical horizon expanded just a bit more.
10. Dr. Robert - Heavenly Thing - Back in the '90s, my friends and I got on a huge Dr. Robert kick. Some of you might have remembered him from his Blow Monkeys days, but when he released his solo EP, Coming of Grace, we were hooked. Now, in all honesty, it may have had a lot to do with the fact that the EP featured back-up from people like Paul Weller, Mick Talbot, and Rhoda Dakar. No matter what, though, it was Dr. Robert's voice and the songs' compositions that kept that thing on re-play. Egad, almost 20 years later, and Dr. Robert has done it again with this sweet slice of modern soul! (This clip includes a sample of the track mixed with 'Realms of Gold' which was my fave track off the Coming of Grace EP.)
That's it for this month. Hope these songs grab you like they grabbed me! *
I'm sure, for many of us, The Jam played a huge role in providing an introduction to this whole thing. Read up on how the Anorak Thing got hip to these guys.
After catching The Specials over the weekend (and YES, they were fantastic), I'm now in a ska/rocksteady mood. Luckily, Funky 16 Corners has what I need!
A Modernist speaks with Donn Trenner, one of Charlie Parker's last remaining band members.
Speaking of A Modernist, got to enjoy a great road trip up to Northern CA yesterday, which got us on an Alfred Hitchcock kick. Got me more curious about looking into the Bay Area-Hitchcock connection!
Working to look sharp for a rare evening out on the town can actually be easy. The tough job is trying to look sharp on a daily, casual basis. Yeah, you might have your Friday night suit at your beck and call, but what does it matter if you spend the rest of your time in target t-shirts and jeans? Every Friday, I'd like to offer up some style inspiration for tightening up your casual look, because let's face it... sometimes you just don't feel like wearing a tie, but still want to keep it sharp.
Casual comes in all kinds of different flavors. There's the type of casual you wear when you're out being active (hiking, long walks, working in the yard). There's the type of casual you wear when you want to just take care of errands or want to spend the day hanging out with friends. And there's the type of casual you wear when you want to look sharp, but, well, a tie's just too much. (My favorite kind of casual, really.)
Martin Freeman knows how to do up that type of casual. Recognize:
Image from the December edition of British Esquire from Freemanweb.
Friends, this is how you lay down the suave. This is the type of casual that just sets you apart from the Fred Perry and Adidas army. Simple, pale-colored shirt that goes with most anything (not sure how I feel about the button-to-the-neck though), dark 3-button jacket that's trim and well-fitted, light-colored pants (it is Spring, afterall) and a beautiful pocket square puffed up just right with a nice pattern to provide a bit of focus to the whole outfit.
Now unless you're spending the day playing socc football with friends, this is a casual look that can be very versatile. Dress like this when you're out grocery-shopping. If you're a single fella, you just might find yourself with a Friday night date by the end of the check-out. Dress like this when you're out just having a cup of coffee. Your hero, Paul Weller, sometimes still does. Dress like this when you're out having a drink with friends. Who knows... if they're the target t-shirt and patch-covered parka type, they just might learn a thing or two from you.
Sure, many people dress like this when they know other Mod types will be about, but screw that! Dress like this regardless of whether or not you'll be seen by your fellow modernistos. Don't save up your good outfit for that one Saturday night of the annual scooter rally.
Set a higher bar for yourself and pump up the casual!
