The 50’s Teddy Boy Style I’m obsessed with them. And by the way, this is school project. Enjoy

What is it? The ‘Teddy Boy’ or ‘Teds’ is a British subculture typified by young men wearing clothes that were partly inspired by the styles worn by dandies in the Edwardian Period, styles which Saville Row tailors had attempted to re- introduce in Britain after World War II. The subculture started in London in the 50’s and rapidly spread across the UK, soon becoming strongly associated with rock n roll.

style Teds wear drape jackets. They had a 'natural waistline' by being brought in at the waist as was the case with most other conventional jackets. Drape jackets also had skilfully built-up shoulders to give an unusually masculine appearance. The backs of the jackets initially had vents or no vents at all. (Sometimes, they also wear leather jackets) Trousers. Trousers were generally worn high-waisted and with braces or sometimes a belt and were known as 'stovepipes'. The front of the trousers were double pleated and had slanting side pockets with rear flap or jetted pockets. Trouser bottom widths in the early 1950's were 17" or 18" bottoms and as time went on 16" bottoms became standard and these trousers would generally have turn-ups at the bottoms. The idea that Teddy Boys wore 14" bottoms in the early 1950's is a misleading notion as 14" bottoms actually came in during the mid 1950's onwards.

style Shirts and Neckwear. The favoured shirt worn was a white shirt with a cut-away collar and also a high-necked loose collar on a white shirt (known as a Mr B. collar because it was often worn by jazz musician Billy Eckstine). Both types of shirt were complimented by a narrow Slim Jim tie or Maverick tie. Waistcoats. Waistcoats varied in style from single breasted with either no collars or notched lapels to shawl collar. Double breasted waistcoats were popular with lapels of both shawl collar or notched design. Many of these waistcoats were made from brocade silk patterned material which was a type of waistcoat worn by American Wild West gamblers and gunfighters. This was always complimented by a 'Hunter' pocket watch and chain. The chain could either be of a Double Albert type or a single chain design with fob. In the early 1950's these brocade waistcoats added brightness and colour to the otherwise sober colours of the Jackets and Suits worn by the early Neo-Edwardians.

style Footwear. The original Teddy Boy shoe was a plain black Oxford shoe which was worn throughout the early fifties and still remains popular to this day as a conventional smart shoe. This gradually gave way to the wearing of heavy soled brogue shoes. Alongside these shoes, crepe soled shoes commonly known as 'Brothel Creepers' of 1" wedge were often worn in suede have always been associated with and worn by Teddy Boys. Shoe manufacturing companies such as Denson, Ladd's, Eaton and later George Cox had been making 'Brothel Creepers' from the early 1950's onwards.