Mod

Mod is a subculture that began in London in 1958 and spread throughout Great Britain and elsewhere, eventually influencing fashions and trends in other countries, and continues today on a smaller scale. Focused on music and fashion, the subculture has its roots in a small group of stylish London-based young men in the late 1950s who were termed modernists because they listened to modern jazz. Elements of the mod subculture include fashion (often tailor-made suits); music (including soul, rhythm and blues, ska, jazz, and freakbeat); and Italian motor scooters (usually Lambretta or Vespa). The original mod scene was associated with amphetamine-fuelled all-night dancing at clubs. Mods were known for their violent behaviour when in groups, mainly toward the rival subculture of 'Rockers,' who focused on American music, clothing and motorcycles contrasting the Mod's Italian styles.

History[]

As Mod became more cosmopolitan during the "Swinging London" period, some working class "street mods" splintered off, forming other groups such as what eventually became known as Skinheads. There was a Mod revival in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s, which attempted to replicate the "scooter" period look and styles of the early to mid-1960s. It was followed by a similar mod revival in North America in the early 1980s, particularly in southern California.

Mod Revival[]

Mod revival was a music genre and subculture that started in England in 1978 with the popularity of The Who's film Quadrophenia, and later spread to other countries (to a lesser degree). The mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence lasted for decades. The mod revival post-dated a Teddy Boy revival, and mod revivalists sometimes clashed with Teddy Boy revivalists, skinhead revivalists, casuals, punks and rival gang members.

Fashion[]

Feminine[]

Straight or A-line dresses worn above the knee in fabrics that hold their shape
Geometric shift dress (example: the Mondrian dress)
Op Art prints
Bold, geometric patterns like British flags, polka-dots, and stripes
Mid-calf white go-go boots with pointed toes and flat heels
Chelsea boots
Mary Janes
Low kitten heels and flats
Plastic-belted trench coat
Knitted jersey mini-dresses with opaque and colorful tights
"Wet look" PVC coats
Skinny-rib knitted sweaters in stripes or solid bright block colors
Patent-leather square-toed shoes and pilgrim shoes with buckles
Bold white/blue/gray eye shadow applied all over the eyelid
White/nude lipstick or lips painted over with pale matte foundation
Groomed natural eyebrows
Thick black winged eyeliner applied all the way around the eye
Thick mascara or doll-like false eyelashes
Sheepskin coats
Suede/leather mini-coats
Dresses with low-slung, wide loops to hold a hipster belt
Plain or button-up A-line miniskirts worn with sandals in warmer months and knee-high boots in colder months
Tunic dresses worn over polo-neck sweaters
Ankle-length bell-bottom trousers
Beehive hair or short bob with bangs
"Five point" Vidal Sassoon haircut: a short, angular five pointed pixie cut.
Large plastic bracelets
Huge round plastic earrings clipped on the ear
Lucite rings with polka dots
Big or small boxy over-the-shoulder handbags in bright colors, or geometric designs
Clear/white painted almond-shaped nails
Peter Pan collars

Masculine[]

Tailor-made three-button black/grey/brown suits with narrow lapels, vests, and pocket squares
Thin ties
Button-down collar shirts
Wool/cashmere jumpers (crewneck or V-neck)
Chelsea or Beatle boots
Clarks Desert lace-up boots
Oxfords
Levis jeans, shrunk to fit
Slim-fit chinos or tapered trousers
Either a Fred Perry polo shirt or John Smedley knit polo shirt buttoned all the way to the top
Turtleneck
Green/tan parka to protect your outfit while riding on your scooter
Newsboy caps
Brightly striped boating blazers
Harrington jacket
Shaggy hair or a bowl haircut
Buttons from mod bands and British flag pins
Round glasses

Designers[]

Music[]

The Mid-60s Mod scene opened the way for bands such The Who, Small Faces and The Kinks; All of which were popular around the first wave of mods.

The British rock/Britpop band Blur played an important role in the Mod revival in the 1990s in the U.K. A Mod revival/Punk Rock band called The Jam spearheaded the Mod revival movement in the 1970's, with the head of the band, Paul Weller, often called "The Modfather."