Mod the subculture that began in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and spread in varying scale to many countries even to date. Short for ‘modernist’ mod style was generally characterized by very bold and bright fashions. It may come as no surprise then that Mods have had such an influence on today’s streamlined fashion silhouette. With a desire to break away from the uptight, stuffy image set in the early 50s, young guys and girls sought out French and Italian film and books as they began to use their disposable income to buy stylish clothes.
The original Mod outfit of choice for young men was without a doubt the slim fitting dark colored suit, an outfit that is often replicated by many people today.
However the beauty was in the detail and the young Mod would opt for tonic or mohair fabric, slim lapels and three buttons to the front and with endless choices with a good tailor.
Mod style was also associated with scooters, and is one of the main characteristics of mod style. Most of the mods used scooters for transportation, particularly Vespa or Lambettas. The mods treated scooters as fashion accessory. Italian scooters were preferred because of their clean lined, curving shapes and gleaming chrome. For young mods, Italian scooters were the “embodiment of continental style and a way to escape the working-class row houses of their upbringing”.
Throughout the mid-60s, pop art became a big influence within the mod wardrobe with the symbolic use of arrows, union jacks and the RAF roundels sewn onto parkas and jackets.
These are some of our students’ creative mood boards on MOD and POP.
