I grew up in the Sixties and early Seventies. Many styles of kids' clothing came and went in that decade, just like any other. Looking back my favourite clobber was:
1. Ben Sherman shirt
2. Tank Top
3. Pink Parallels
4. Silver sprayed Monkey Boots
5. Denim or Jeans Jacket
What would your favourite get-up have been readers?
My mate Robin and me with badged-up jeans jacket circa 1973, our garden, Preston, Lancs.
Mum and me with badged-up penny round shirt circa 1971, Douglas, Isle of Man
In a word,BLUE JEANS!Blues,Denims, Dungarees,whatever you want to call them,that was my choice.Custom T Shirts were all the rage in 1970's.American Malls(shopping centers)always had at least one custom T Shirt shop.You went in,stated your size,chose a color(displayed on the wall),thenyou flipped through gigantic catologs of iron on designs.The catalogs were arranged in categories like:Animals,Rock Bands,Monsters,Movie and TV stars,Abstract Designs,Custom Lettering,ETC.You choose a design and the clerk presses the design onto the shirt with a giant hot iron press.Ironically, neither jeans nor T Shirts were allowed in the school I attended til I was twelve,the the rules changed(around 1980).But by that time,I wanted to wear more stylish stuff to attract girls.Stuff like Jordache jeans ,Sergio Valente shirts and Members Only jackets.Embarrasing, but true.
ReplyDeleteSounds cool that Brian. A way of life no less. Yes, T Shirts were king in Seventies Britain too, but I don'r recall iron-on shops. There were iron-on patches and somewhere I have a piccy of me covered in patches and badges. As for wearing what you wanted at School, that only happened to me when I was 15 in late 1975. We could wear our favourite clobber in the 5th Year of High School, the final year. Uniform before that! My wife who is from continental Europe never had to wear school uniform! And hjust what is a Members Only Jacket?
Deleteyou can probably Google itand find images.They are (or were) a lightweight windbreaker type jacket made of a shiny fabric called Gabardine.The most popular colors were black or a burgundy color although I remember seeing them in gray or light blue.I still wear lightweight rainproof jackets made by London Fog.They're similar.
ReplyDeleteHi Woodsy, Awkward memories of my own teen attire, circa secondary modern school 1975-79, include flared trousers with patch pockets on each leg. Kinda like todays cargo pockets. A good pair of 'patch pockets' always had a high waist band which featured three or four vertical buttons at the front. A cool look no doubt inspired by the Bay City Rollers. To complete this energetic fashion statement, patch pockets were accompanied by a pair of rebellious oxblood Docs, complete with yellow stitching. I also remember my school blazer having leather patches sewn on the elbows, which also seemed a popular trend of the day... Ooooh yesss... I also had a trendy navy blue Snorkel parka from my mums Kays catalogue. :D
ReplyDeleteI so recall those patch pickets and elbow patches. I had some on a velvet green jacket, my pride and joy! I know what you mean about the high waist banded jeans of the Rollers. I never had any Doc Martins. I just wasn't tough enough for that look. Mine were Monkey boots and later on desert boots. Those flared jeand and docs must have made you look 'ard! A sort of skinhead look - think they wore Skinners though. Never had a Parka, too mod for me. It was velvet or cord when it came to jackets. My only regret was never owning a duffle coat! Bet you can't get 'em now.
DeleteHi Woodsy, I put my hands up, fashion was never a passion. I can see that my above mentioned confession of an odd-hybrid-fashion, may suggest an aggressive appearance. But I think this was simply a reflection of changing times and trends during the mid-late 70s. Flares were a symbol of a time we were leaving behind, whilst DM's were beginning to gain a place in youth fashion footwear with the growth of the fledgling punk movement. I don't think the snorkel parka was particularly trendy. It was ubiquitous, mass produced and affordable, being sold through catalogue chains as well as high street stores. It was also warm and cosy. I was also lucky enough to own a duffel coat as a youngster, which also has my vote for warm and cosy. I haven't seen any around for a long time. Although I'd imagine there's a retro market for it's classic design :)
ReplyDeleteSorry... my typo, I meant duffle, not duffel :)
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating how youth fashion styles merged around the edges as one came in and one went out. Like flares and DM's like you say Tony. I suppose no matter how revolutionary we thought we were we were still products of our time?
ReplyDeleteI agree Woodsy, we were and still are, products of our changing cultures. Interestingly enough, the duffle coat, parka and DM boots all began life as humble work wear, never originally designed for fashion. Funny how they infiltrated youth culture and still leave us with a strong impression of our bygone days as kids.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Jeans ruled the world. No idea about the pecking oprder but their were Farmers, Lee, Levi, Wranglers. There were also Skinners but not sire of that was slang or a brand - they were the chosen troosers of Oi fans aka skinheads! The trousers I miss the most are Oxford Bags!
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