Find it absolutely fascinating how Japanese kids got into the look. I say “got into” but their look is so precise that they seem to be just as obsessed as some Americans once were. And I would say some British Mods too – both then and nowadays.

I especially like the attention to detail in terms of trouser length / loafers. It takes a special kind of OCD (as I would say all Mods are slightly susceptible to) to so comprehensively achieve the look they’ve managed here in a country nearly 6,000 miles from the original source and with a culture so completely different.

The fact they never saw an original American wearing the style - save in pictures - is even more impressive. Probably a testament to the look’s enduring style and class. More on this in The Ivy Look, which you can find in my All-Mod Library here: https://www.areyoumod.co.uk/all-mod-library.html
 
Good on ya.

Ok so it's not really Mod, but it'll stir the hearts of you old'uns and it epitomised the feeling when we put this together on a damp afternoon... let's try to forget that its Friday 13th!

Only criticism here is the crumpled shirt. How much effort does it take to iron?
 
Otherwise, great seersucker jacket and knitted tie combo. Plus, cheeky tie bar peeking out between the lapels further down. Swag.

My other impression might be that these lapels are a touch long and wide for the Ivy Look but still. You get what you can nowadays.

There is a whole more detailed bit on this in Gaul and Marsh’s book The Ivy Look (which is in my All-Mod Library https://www.areyoumod.co.uk/all-mod-library.html if you wanted to find out more) but essentially there was a strong traction in Japan for the Ivy League style back in 1964.

The “Miyuki-Zoku” were inspired by a magazine called Heibon Punch – which exposed the Ivy Look to Japan’s teens and twenty-tings, among whom it was seen as cutting-edge and sophisticated. Something I think today’s British yoof could learn a thing or two about, frankly.
 
Sadly the authorities in Japan at the time disagreed, but that’s another ludicrous story which I’ll save for another post. My main point here is the great little detailed drawings in this obviously-not-English magazine page.

Not keen on the togs in this one - very much on the Casual end of the spectrum which I'm not big on. It looks a bit too much like teenagers of today's garb and I'd rather look like some sophisticated American kid from the 60s. That sentence was mostly true.

Anyway, unusual track as Oasis recorded it with strings. Obviously, none of them can play strings but they do in the video anyway for a laugh.

Regardless, great track with that traditional Oasis - and I would say Mod - attitude throughout the lyrics.

It's the man again of course, but with a particularly good look this time - if you excuse the Jeremy Corbyn-style hat.

The striped sweater is a particularly strong look, which, frankly I wish more people would sell. For those who are blind: it's broadly a one-colour sweater, but whose right sleeve is in broad vertical stripes of contrasting red and white.

Usually you get things like the standard one-colour crewneck. I have had one with a twin, thin, vertical stripe pattern down one side (which is particularly pop-arty) but again, not seen much of those either recently despite us now emerging from winter.

Even that great crucible of accumulated Moddy goodness - Atom Retro - has failed to bring to my attention any legitimate rival to this sweater we see here.

So yeah - that's today's complaint. More stripey jumpers please.

Also - I've just realised who Weller is trying to look like here with his haircut. Which is embarrassing.

Quick explainer for all you rubes out there - the classic Harrington jacket. It also gives me the opportunity to bore (some of) you all with a few fun facts about the classic spring jacket which no doubt almost all of you are looking to refresh for the new season.

This below of course is a Baracuta one, who for some reason are the only ones who (as far as I know, exclusively) produce them with this particular tartan lining. Rod or someone, please correct me on this, but I believe this is the "Fraser" clan's tartan and also the original.

The standard tartan (as seen in Merc, Warrior or others) is very subtly different. Likewise Ben Sherman have another variation which is more like a window check shirt pattern.

Modern Classic Clothing leaves the whole thing behind and goes for a Madras check lining, which is a nice bit of change for anyone who is bored of the Scots or is allergic to red and green. I once also saw (and owned) a paisley one ... but I can't find that on sale anywhere now... lucky those who got one of those.

Had a brief chat about Merc last week and their nice little Corby number read the post here: https://www.areyoumod.co.uk/blog-latest/v-for-victory

But turns out this week I’ve found something even better that will melt the hearts even of the most puritan mods among you.

John Smedley - British born and bred - have slashed the prices of their merino wool v-necks to ribbons. Now you can get one of these beauties (which come in a range of nice shades of sky blue to purple, to indigo) for under a hundred smackers. Usually they’re all about £160 each which is ludicrous.

I already have one of their Breton-style crew-necks and it’s, frankly, lush. Silky soft merino again and perfect as a light spring sweat / shirt combo.

Have a look below:
https://www.johnsmedley.com/uk/aw17-hindlow-in-003

I love this old ad - especially the description of the colour - "sooty shades of navy, moss or burgundy are accented by antiqued brass  buttons cast especially for us." They really knew how to describe things back then. Plus the guy in the pic just looks ultra-smooth with his, cigarette and shades, his JFK haircut and the car in the background. I do think they could have come up with a better description for the material than "Hopsack" though - that doesn't exactly sound glamorous.

Also - imagine that - a $75 jacket!

That's about £53 in British and accounting for inflation, £1,055 in today's money!

No wonder this cat looks so smug.

Quite an early one - 1962 - but these guys are looking pretty sharp. Nice tie pins (in the pic below)

Enjoy - perhaps don't go up on your own roof today if you've had the snow...

Jumpers (or in the American, sweaters, which is somehow cooler) need to be kept fresh and actually only have a lifespan of a few years if we’re being honest. After a while even the neatest V-neck sweat can start to droop a bit and not look quite as sharp around the neck as it once did.
 
For the best effect I always go with as shallow a V-neck as possible. This one here from Merc - called the Corby - is a case in point. Nice shallow, sharp V-neck, great colour and a slim fit. Perfect birthday present!

Get it below:
https://www.merc.com/corby-v-neck-jumper

I've probably posted this before but it is so iconic that I can't do without it. Got back from Greece last week - which has that Mediterranean vibe - even if my heart is in Italia.

Something a bit unusual from the boys at Baracuta. Going beyond the standard one-colour Harrington, they’ve come out with these new designs for the Spring – consisting of what they call “reversible” embroidered, as well as some striped versions - which are I believe 20% off in the sale.
 
I especially like the "reversibles" because they have a contrast colour on their collars and which also replaces their usual tartan lining. The effect is quite striking and - I would say–- very pop arty. Pete Townshend would probably approve, but I know I do.

I’m not sure if I’d wear it reversed though – the other side has a huge Baracuta logo on the back of it which changes the look completely into something akin to a Hell’s Angel. Not ideal.

Full page below:
http://www.baracuta.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-WPBAWO-UK-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=BRCPS0399BLCN1526&start=15&cgid=br_G9

It's the question that no-one is asking, it's the question we could all do without knowing the answer to:

Which version of Seven Days Too Long is best?

Answer: it's the Chuck Woods one, but I like the homage paid to the song by DMR.

So in my previous desert boot post I no doubt enraged puritans by saying go to M&M to get your desert boots.

I stand by this, although I personally would probably go more middle of the road (Loakes) just because I like to be certain of these things.

Anyway, for anyone who doesn’t know what I’m trying allude to here, the “only” desert boot according to some people is somewhere between the Clarks original and the H1 by Hutton. The legend is conflicted as to which is superior.

Both of these are set out below, for you extra-boojie people, hell-bent on recreating the 1960s (which is fair enough). I’m unfussed personally and I like a bit of colour in my life (which Clarks does lean toward), as long as that classic design is paid homage to.

For those of you who are literally blind, I am going to draw attention to a new thing popping up on my site now - an invitation to preview my new website, which will do this kind of thing for you - i.e. find you your classic sixties stuff online. There's a free trial so don't kick off about it, just do me a favour and have a little look - you'll find these on there... and more.

https://www.completelymod.com/trial