Mod to Suedehead

[smalltownbigboots]

Just picked up a new pair of Wranglers and thought I'd photograph the multi-year progression from new rigid denim to worn out jeans. Previously I've tapered them from the knee down to about 7.5 inches at the hem and shortened them to show off my boots, but I'm thinking about wearing this pair as-is with 8.25 inch leg openings and leaving them long enough for turn-ups.

I'm sure I could find the answer somewhere far back in this thread, but does 8.25 inches sound close to what the kids would have been wearing in 1969? Or was it even wider?

 

[Thin White Duke]

Sick fades maaan … or something!😁
Sorry can’t help with the hem width question.
Levi’s were hard to come by oop north when aa were a lad. Wranglers were available in the long-departed Binns department store (part of the House of Fraser group) in the early to mid seventies.
Our Mam didn’t believe in name brand gear so I don’t know how I managed it but I clearly recall having two pairs of Wranglers one after the other when I was a pre teen in the early seventies. The knees went out of one pair and I had denim patches on them. They had the tell-tale lines around the hems where they’d been hemmed up then gradually let down to accommodate my growth.
I had one more pair of Wranglers in 1978 when I was a young teen, which I remember were so rigid I used to lay them on the bed and beat them with a tennis racket to soften them up and they went in the wash every week whether they needed it or not.
I got some Lees on my first trip after our O levels with mates to London from Dickie Dirts and along with a pair of Jesus jeans my mate had grown out of they lasted me till college by which time Levi’s were then freely available and hitting the advertising hard with the retro Nick Kamen TV ads. It’s been Levi’s all the way since then although I try to limit wearing jeans as I find them a bit boring. Got a couple of Uniqlos which are OK too. Would usually rather wear sta pressts, linens, chinos or five pocket canvas in different colours to indigo these days.

 

[Man-of-Mystery]

I can imagine Otis singing that.

Oh blimey, aye!

 

[Thin White Duke]

Coming to the end of my Scotland / England trip. Didn’t have time for much in the way of sartorial pursuits but this is perhaps the oddest MtS observance during the trip so far …

 

[Swampster]

Thought it was going to be Brighton - surprised to see where it actually is. Did you try the chips? Worth a diversion from the A1(M)?

 

[Yorky]

Coming to the end of my Scotland / England trip. Didn’t have time for much in the way of sartorial pursuits but this is perhaps the oddest MtS observance during the trip so far …

View attachment 2200253

Was Northern Sole or Rock(er) fish on the menu?

 

[Man-of-Mystery]

Just picked up a new pair of Wranglers and thought I'd photograph the multi-year progression from new rigid denim to worn out jeans. Previously I've tapered them from the knee down to about 7.5 inches at the hem and shortened them to show off my boots, but I'm thinking about wearing this pair as-is with 8.25 inch leg openings and leaving them long enough for turn-ups.

I'm sure I could find the answer somewhere far back in this thread, but does 8.25 inches sound close to what the kids would have been wearing in 1969? Or was it even wider?

It honestly depended where you were living. I can remember, when I lived in London, seeing a couple of Northern lads hitch-hiking, and their jeans were much wider than our standard 501s. I think the answer is to settle for a width that suits you and looks good on you, without having them clinging like Teds' drainpipes or flapping like Northern Soul baggies.

 

[Man-of-Mystery]

Latest podcast - a Northern Soul Special.

 

[themodernmod]

hey does anyone know of any newish mod bands that are still going?

 

[Yorky]

hey does anyone know of any newish mod bands that are still going?

It all depends on what you mean by a Mod band.

 

[Swampster]

Latest podcast - a Northern Soul Special.

Had a listen today. Just about all new to me - even those by artists I knew of, so quite an education. The final track was the only familiar one

 

[Swampster]

It all depends on what you mean by a Mod band.

Is it a self-identifying thing? And/Or a label applied by others due to the band's appearance etc. rather than the music?

https://www.mainlinemenswear.co.uk/blog/2015/best-mod-inspired-musicians-right-now/ is almost a decade old and I know nothing of any of the acts (my finger is not exactly on the pulse of current-ish music). Interested me that Jarvis Cocker was described as a mod icon though I don't suppose he would give himself a label.

 

[Swampster]

https://www.mainlinemenswear.co.uk/blog/2015/best-mod-inspired-musicians-right-now/ is almost a decade old and I know nothing of any of the acts (my finger is not exactly on the pulse of current-ish music).

Ah - Jake Bugg did the 'Happy Valley' theme tune. Shows how varied the "Mod music" of that list is - he has a slight early Dylan* vibe whereas at least one of the 'Missing Andy' tracks has a rap section. Wasn't so keen on that one but 'Kings for the Weekend' had more appeal. Their videos have target t-shirts and parkas galore, so safe to say how they identified.

Seems I'm not alone in thinking so. The NY Times "If You Like Bob Dylan, Try Jake Bugg".

He, though, gives his influences as the Arctic Monkeys, Everly Brothers, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

 

[Yorky]

Ah - Jake Bugg did the 'Happy Valley' theme tune. Shows how varied the "Mod music" of that list is - he has a slight early Dylan* vibe whereas at least one of the 'Missing Andy' tracks has a rap section. Wasn't so keen on that one but 'Kings for the Weekend' had more appeal. Their videos have target t-shirts and parkas galore, so safe to say how they identified.

Seems I'm not alone in thinking so. The NY Times "If You Like Bob Dylan, Try Jake Bugg".

He, though, gives his influences as the Arctic Monkeys, Everly Brothers, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

Wouldn’t identify anyone that you’ve mentioned as being mods (Cocker, Bugg etc) but mod’s might like their music.
Back in the sixties there were bands who had mods in them e.g. The Action, Small Faces, The Eyes, The Game to name a few.
I remember being at an organised mod do in the early 90’s and Jarvis Cocker tried to get in but was refused entry because he was wearing tatty blues jeans.

 

[Thin White Duke]

Forgot to mention at my niece’s wedding (shes 32 the groom is 40 just to give you an idea of the median age demographic) there were two - TWO - lads, including the groom’s brother who was best man, with exaggerated ‘Wellend’ haircuts. I thought this was just some sort of mythical internet trope but I’ve now seen it with my own eyes.
I suppose many of us have been guilty of unfortunate barnet experiments in our youth but I would have thought by that age things would have settled down!😁