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Taking original style into the 21st century

Suck on this

20/5/2018

7 Comments

 
Picture
There are certain things you see in pictures and photos that take a while to register.

Years ago I saw either The Who or The Creation (I know it was one of them as it fits with their colourful, pop-arty vibe) and one of them had these striped trousers – navy and white.

Didn’t know what they were called, didn’t know where to get them – frankly wasn’t bothered too much at the time. I think I was more interested in getting a shirt like Keith Moon’s – i.e a button-down with epaulets on the shoulders.

But it’s funny how as soon as the sun comes along you immediately start thinking of more summery outfits.

For ages it was white trousers - a la The Style Council.

But then you get tired of that and move on to something else.

It’s like you go through your very own fashion trends, moving through different looks – influenced by life around you (i.e not Mod) and yet still relating it back to the sixties version of a look (i.e Mod).

As an aside - for whatever reason, since I got into the sixties Mod look, I’ve had nearly no desire to leave it. I stretch it - it just covers all bases – formal, informal, subtle, loud, arty and farty. But it doesn’t just do that – it just does it better somehow. The style is just much more keen on the eye than nowadays-style. So for me I get inspired by some really good thing I’ve seen someone wearing on TV or something – but then I adapt it into a Mod look.

I’m not sure why - I feel like there is something masculine and upstanding about the Mod style. You have to be proud to wear it. Some kids these days (men mostly) actually look like they’ve literally been wearing the same stuff for weeks. Which seriously sends a signal about everything else, right? And there is an overwhelming sense that making an effort is somehow not cool when it comes to your look.

That’s a bit of whinging / clothing pop psychology there for you – take it or leave it.

So anyway I saw some kid wearing a blazer in the same style as that Who/Creation photo, so I’ve come almost full circle back to that picture in my mind. What he was wearing with the blazer I can’t remember, it was probably some inane band t-shirt, work boots and a red trilby hat or something but that is all irrelevant. The point is, there was an ingredient there that I am going to steal back for my own look.

It's generally called seersucker but I believe that might just refer to the fabric - but that pattern with the white and navy stripes is culturally synonymous with seersucker. I was going to finally get those trousers.

Then I saw the price tag.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Clark-Fit-Seersucker-Pants/MR00378,en_GB,pd.html

Never mind.
7 Comments
Rod link
20/5/2018 07:53:58 pm

Good post T -
You’re actually (re-)making several points which I’ve made myself, either in actual conversations or via various rosmodblog posts:

1. The sixties Mod look is the ne plus ultra of menswear. The absolute zenith.
2. The sixties Mod look is adaptable and can take you from the beach to the boardroom to the ballroom.
3. We can ‘pull in’ various non canonical items to make our own personal style but if they’re adaptable to a sixties Mod framework then there’s a cohesion connecting the sum of all parts.
4. I was naive to exactly what seersucker was in my yoof. It’s still very rarely seen aside from with obsessive trad adherents, even in the deep south States. If those B.B. strides are too rich for your blood be patient as they may well go on sale at the end of the summer. I notice free international shipping. I’ve seen similar strides in the Ralph Lauren outlet mall shop for about $80 IIRC - that’s about 55 quid? - so don’t give up.
5. We send a message with our clothing every time we leave the house. Even if we go to the paper shop in pyjamas we’re sending the message that we don’t give a shit.

The notable thing about proper seersucker beyond just contrasting narrow stripes, is that the warp thread of one colour stripe is yanked to achieve that puckered texture. This makes the cloth stand away from the skin or shirt and allows air to circulate. Also like wrinkles with linen you don’t have to worry too much about pristine pressing as the puckering is part of the charm of the cloth.

I don’t own any seersucker strides but I have a suit. I also have three paper-thin seersucker jackets from Uniqlo that cost about $20 each (gray, navy, petrol blue) and a more robust Hilfiger seersucker blazer in black and navy stripes. eBay is your friend!

Reply
Rod
20/5/2018 08:03:29 pm

ps - just took a look at the BB site and they have seersucker strides in navy and white gingham or solid navy for $98. BB are always having sales so I bet that price would go down. Also like I said RL have them in the outlet near me which I visit occasionally.

If you like, let me know your waist and leg size and the most you’re willing to pay plus $10 shipping and I’ll get some for you if they drop below that price. Cheers, Rod.

Reply
TC
22/5/2018 07:30:19 pm

Why, thanks Rod! Very good of you to offer this - and it's definitely a tricky question - how much would I pay?!

I'm definitely keen on the classic stripes and I seized on the Milano fit (which is about £129!) because it looked more fitted. For the right pair I was sort of thinking about £75 so maybe I'm just too poor for it at the mo!

I'm a 32/32 in case such a pair does turn up!

Question also - do those £20 seersucker jackets from uniqlo look ok?

Reply
Rod
23/5/2018 03:46:58 am

See if this link works. Slim or standard fit. $69 is just over GBP50.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-brooksbrothers-Site/default/Search-Show?q=Seersucker%20pants%20man

I put pics of the gray striped Uniqlo jacket on my blog last year. The blue and navy were recently purchased just back from the tailor getting third buttonhole added. Fine for the money but paper thin, almost like a light cardigan or shirt-jacket. No lining or construction.


Reply
TC
22/5/2018 07:32:07 pm

Additional point about the slightly more philosophical elements of this - completely agree with all of it.

What I want to know is... what happened?!

Reply
Rod
23/5/2018 03:39:33 am

I bet I could get you some at less than GBP75 inc shipping. That’s right around $100. Stay tuned.

As to what happened?
I was interested to know this too. What happened to the original Mods? I think there were a few factors:

The look got diluted in two ways. First the stylists indulged in oneupmanship so it was in constant transition. Second the kids heard about it and the look became much more egalitarian - Harrington/jeans/polo/dessies replaced suits and hand made shoes. After that the high street got involved and it’s in their interest to keep dilutng and changing to keep people buying more stuff.

At this time the original Mods were getting into their twenties. Married/children - money for clothes now had to be spent on mortgage and nappies. Younger kids moved into hard Mod look, older ones went into the swirly look, grew their hair, got beads, smoked pot and went psychedelic.

Then the seventies happened. The decade that style forgot!

Reply
TC
1/6/2018 08:15:29 am

Hey Rod - I went ahead and bought myself some. We’ll have to see how this turns out!

Reply



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