The Heritage of Mod

Del Speaks!

There’s an old saying that states the 1960s actually began in the 1950s and when it comes to the origins of Mod, never has a truer word been spoken.

The original ‘Modernist’ emerged from a late 50s stew concocted of sharp suited American Modern Jazz played by the likes of Miles Davis, seasoned by French ‘New Wave’ films starring Jean Paul Belmondo, spiced up by stylish Italian motor scooters, all consumed by street smart sons of North London Jewish tailors who could construct clothing which somehow took elements from all of the above and produced a definitive ‘look’.

Please step forward 15-year-old Mark Feld (later Bolan) who appeared in ‘Town’ magazine in September 1962 photographed by the legendary snapper Don McCullin wearing the sharpest of threads.

‘The photos they used’ he complained later ‘were taken seven months previously, so the clobber was out of date by the time they were in the magazine. Personally my style had moved on seven times by then.’

Feld was one of only a handful of young men back then who sported this ‘one off’ apparel.

But what to call them? Dandies? Peacocks?

Well, both of those names certainly apply, for this was the world of the ‘Bespoke’. Of individual, elitist, even snobbish, good taste.

Their name however was to come from a simmering musical rivalry that was also played out on a ‘class war’ background.

In the red corner, you had your Traditional ‘Trad’ Jazz fans, university educated many of them, who were to found decked out in scruffy duffle coats and beards

(that was just the women…) who’s heroes were the likes of the bowler hatted clarinetist Acker Bilk and old Etonian trumpeter Humphrey Lyttleton. Among others, these two gentlemen played a version of New Orleans 1920s rag time/good time sound.

In the blue corner, stood the Modern ‘Mod’ Jazz fan, predominantly working class, employed in the post room of a Soho advertising agency by day, but who dressed in a sharp suit, with immaculate hair, soaking up the cool vibes of John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk by night.

Battle lines were drawn. Are You ‘Trad’ or are you ‘Mod’?

In all honesty, there could be only one winner and they would go onto to become the most enduring of youth cults this country has produced. Ladies and Gentleman, the winner is… The Mods!

The media were late catching onto the world of the mods and by the time they did around 63/64, many of those North London originals had moved on to pastures new.

But by then, the ‘look’ had gone over ground and it was everywhere. It was by now a complete lifestyle.

Retailer John Stephens brilliantly adapted and commercialised male clothing in interesting and colourful fabrics for his numerous shops on Carnaby Street and The Who cleverly used ‘pop art’ imagery on their stage clothes. Hence Moonie in a target tee.

Scooters screeched down to Brighton on Bank Holidays for fun, fights and frothy coffee.

So, what had begun as a tiny stylish trend had now developed into a mass movement that still lives and breathes to this day. And we at Delicious Junction are proud to be considered one of their number.

Til the next time

KTF

Del x