The Mods
Leslie Castromayor
Costume History
Fashion Zeitgeist and Icon Report
February 19, 2013
With the end of World War II came the rise of the comfortable middle class. In Britain, middle class families were experiencing an increase in wealth; there was no longer a need to rely on elder children of the family to provide money for survival. This provided a new kind of consumer. Teenagers and young adults were acquiring after school jobs to have extra income, parents could afford to give them bigger allowances, and all the money was theirs to use. With disposable incomes, the end of the war, and the need to rebel from conservative notions and dress, the youth culture of Britain was on the cusp of a modernist revolution. The revolution was known as The Mods. The Mods were identified as “cool, hip, and modern.” Mod boys would wear tailored Italian suits and expensive shoes while the girls embraced androgyny-wearing mini-skirts and short bob haircuts. To understand The Mod culture, a phenomenon that spanned from the late 1950’s to the early to mid 1960’s, it is important to look at its origins, influences, beliefs, motifs, and how it has shaped and influenced the modern culture of today. As mentioned before, The Mod generation was beginning at the end of World War II. It is important to note that many youth subcultures began to emerge during this time. Melissa M. Casburn, writer of “A Concise History of the British Movement,” describes the cultural climate for British youth: “Struggling to escape the oppressive morals, family obligations and strict discipline in schools and on the streets, a string of youth cultures emerged as a way of rebellion and self expression…”(Casburn, p. 1). The Mod culture origins come from a few different preceding subcultures. Before The Mods’ signature flashy Italian suits, the Teddy boys were a group of young men reviving the British “dandy” look: drape jackets with drainpipe trousers or jeans with their hair in a “quiff” all
Costume History
Fashion Zeitgeist and Icon Report
February 19, 2013
With the end of World War II came the rise of the comfortable middle class. In Britain, middle class families were experiencing an increase in wealth; there was no longer a need to rely on elder children of the family to provide money for survival. This provided a new kind of consumer. Teenagers and young adults were acquiring after school jobs to have extra income, parents could afford to give them bigger allowances, and all the money was theirs to use. With disposable incomes, the end of the war, and the need to rebel from conservative notions and dress, the youth culture of Britain was on the cusp of a modernist revolution. The revolution was known as The Mods. The Mods were identified as “cool, hip, and modern.” Mod boys would wear tailored Italian suits and expensive shoes while the girls embraced androgyny-wearing mini-skirts and short bob haircuts. To understand The Mod culture, a phenomenon that spanned from the late 1950’s to the early to mid 1960’s, it is important to look at its origins, influences, beliefs, motifs, and how it has shaped and influenced the modern culture of today. As mentioned before, The Mod generation was beginning at the end of World War II. It is important to note that many youth subcultures began to emerge during this time. Melissa M. Casburn, writer of “A Concise History of the British Movement,” describes the cultural climate for British youth: “Struggling to escape the oppressive morals, family obligations and strict discipline in schools and on the streets, a string of youth cultures emerged as a way of rebellion and self expression…”(Casburn, p. 1). The Mod culture origins come from a few different preceding subcultures. Before The Mods’ signature flashy Italian suits, the Teddy boys were a group of young men reviving the British “dandy” look: drape jackets with drainpipe trousers or jeans with their hair in a “quiff” all