Men’s Fashion Part 3 Teddy Boys In Detail

Previous Parts Of This Post
Men’s Fashion Part 2 Teddy Boys
Men’s Fashion Part 1 Introduction

Last time I looked at the history of the Teddy Boy and where his style of dress came from.

Initially, as I said, there was no distinct Teddy Boy style but this grew over a period of years as more and more people adopted a similar look. That is, it was peer inspired fashion and spread slowly. It did not emerge fully formed as a created fashion as is often the case nowadays.

Eventually, of course, Teddy Boy fashion began to die out in the early 1960s and Teddy Boys more or less disappeared from the mainstream until a revival of the style began to appear in the 1970s. This time it was a fashion style that was promoted and designed and, as well as Teddy Boy influences, it contained much of the flamboyance and visual fun of Glam Rock. This style emerged fully formed and was much more pronounced and ostentatious with greater emphasis on modern materials. It was shiny, glittery, over-the-top and it appealed, as intended, to that current generation and not to the original Teddy Boys who, I believe, hated it.

In the 1980s and 90s there were further and more true-to-the-original revivals which led to the formation of The Edwardian Drape Society (T.E.D.S). A more modern movement is the Manchester Peacocks and a link here on the TEDS website discusses these revivals.

Note that on this page is also the Articles Of Association of the Manchester Peacocks which itemises the style of dress and is well worth a read.

A detailed look at Teddy Boy clothing
It’s hard to be precise but here is an attempt to sum up the Teddy Boy look. The jacket is probably the first thing that is noticed, long and straight often with velvet trim on the collar, pockets or sleeve. In addition there may be twin breast pockets as well as a double side pocket on one side, the pockets being usually flap. Although the material can be heavyweight and plain, it can also be of check or any normal suit material. Not being fitted at the waist, it is this jacket that gives the overall look of the clothing.

A waistcoat can be worn which, if a suit, will be of the same material or else will be fancy in whatever style and colour the wearer desires. Normally suit waistcoats are traditional with lapels and either two or, more formally, four pockets. Most suits in the 1950s (and 1960s) came with a waistcoat, that is, they were three-piece suits. Originally waistcoats might have been worn with the very English fob watch on a chain and this accessory is often retained in the fashion now. Whether the jacket is part of a suit or not, trousers are straight, often with turn-ups to allow them to hang correctly and are usually slim.

Hair was important and is usually greased and formed into a quiff with the sides swept round in a DA or duck’s tail style. Note that the hair was greased, for example with Brylcreem, and of quite a different and much ‘wetter’ texture than normally seen today.

Shirts were usually white, plain and fully fitted and the tie was a sober one either patterned or of one colour. Ties got steadily narrower as the 1950s rolled on and the bootlace tie was also worn.

Shoes are chunky, often brogues or crepes, and designed to be solid and reliable rather than fashionable and colourful. Socks were usually dark coloured and sometimes, in the 1950s, hand knitted although many modern Teds these days wear white.

The links already given are repeated below and a look at these webpages will provide a lot of important original and modern information including some excellent pictures which add to the explanation above.

Teddy Boys clothing is a very important example of men’s fashion because they were the first group after the war to show, both in dress and outlook, that they were different from their parent’s generation and thus worthy of their own respect and understanding. The clothes that they wore helped to mark them out and defined a very definite look which is instantly recognisable today. Teddy Boys are, and should be, proud of their heritage.

Links
Teddy Boy History
Teddy Boy contemporary pics 1
Teddy Boy contemporary pics 2
Teddy Boy contemporary pics 3 (and interesting article)
Teddy Boy contemporary pics 4
Teddy Boy contemporary pics 1
Teddy Boy Clothes close up 1
Teddy Boy Clothes close up 2
Bing Search – Teddy Boy images