![]() Everything worn with an impeccable sense of style, subtle twists subject to the exact same scrutiny, eliciting the slight nod of approval or a sneer of derision that fuelled the early Mod code of ethics. Style wise they referred back to the smart, suited attire of their predecessor alongside the age old idea of dressing up to escape the grind and grime of the work day week – button down shirts, sharply cut suits, crisp clean fly fronted macs or a crombie overcoat, boots replaced with exquisitely polished leather brogues or royals. Whilst the distinct ‘off duty’ uniform of skinhead sought to echo the simplicity and toughness of working class life the smartness of its mod associations reappeared in the evenings and weekends. For working class youth at the time Saturdays meant football and for many outside of the capital their first glimpse of skinhead was telegraphed visually via the terraces as large gangs travelled from London to away games up and down the country. When it first appeared it did so without a specific name, variously described as ‘peanut’, ‘lemons’, ‘boiled eggs and ‘cropheads’ on the streets the term ‘skinhead’ was a title bestowed up on the scene by the media who early on highlighted and exaggerated the scenes penchant for aggressive, trouble making specifically the violence that began to emerge at football grounds. Where previous eras youth cults – Teddy Boy and Mod – had sought to emulate the flash of the upper classes or the finesse of continental Europe, the skinhead look remained a homage to its staunchly proudly working class beginnings. ![]() It was this silhouette that launched the street tough, working class image that epitomised the early look of skinhead.įor the first time an internal influence held sway over working class street fashion, a re-appropriation of work wear and traditional clothing styles appeared for the first time as a street style statement. Elsewhere were incorporated an array of work-wear influences: traditional donkey jackets, jungle greens (tough, cotton canvas army surplus trousers) and denim jackets. At its core was a tough-yet-smart combination of standard shirts (button down or collarless), jeans, braces and heavy work boots all crowned with a smartly shorn hairstyle creating the perfect ideal of a smart day-to-day street uniform. By late 67 edging in to 68 this new look began to appear – a look built on an ethos of traditional values, a return to working class pride. In stark contrast to the esoteric flamboyance celebrated elsewhere in the latter half of the sixties groups of working class kids looked to their backgrounds and surroundings and pieced together a look that celebrated and spoke of something they could call their own. Against this backdrop the Skinhead look began to take hold. As that scene grew in numbers its elitist, underground club beginnings were overtaken, shifted onwards by frequent mass seaside gatherings catching the attention of the national press as they erupted into violent skirmishes. References to ‘hard mod’ are pointers to its development from the early sixties mod scene. The British subculture known as skinhead emerged from the streets and insular areas of London in the late sixties. ![]()
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