As WWII wrapped up, the world once again safe from the forces of evil, fathers slowly returned to their abandoned factory jobs that had been filled by teenagers during the war. The teens, finding themselves with a few spare funds in the wallet, decided to take advantage of this newfound prosperity and spend a little of that hard earned cash on some fashionable duds. In England, one such group was the Teddy Boy, or Ted for short – the original teen fashion rebel of the postwar era.
The Teds were the working class youth, roaming the streets of London. They found a new affinity for the romantic Edwardian styles of another era, charmed by the dapper, refined look of the upper-class, with its high standards of tailoring noticeable in their slim coats, complete with velvet trim. And by borrowing some ideas from the American Western look and adding a pinch of rock and roll rebellion to the mix, a style emerged, known as the neo-Edwardian look - one that would redefine teen fashion for years to come.
And just like the Beatles would later do, the Teddy Boy look invaded the United States with parental reactions being about the same. Long draped jackets were paired with the thin, bootlace ties of the American Western styles. Stovepipe pants, with their slim legs were shortened to reveal wildly patterned socks paired with black oxfords or suede covered crepe-soled creepers. The look was completed with rebellious hairstyles, such as the Brylecreem-assisted pompadours, known affectionately as the D.A. Metal combs were always close at hand, ready to assist when so much as a lock of hair got out of place.
All of this started out innocent enough, but there was anti-social behavior brewing and an emerging reputation for delinquency that began to be linked to the Teddy Boys. No longer was this a mere fashion statement; rougher elements were creeping in. Gangs were starting to form and the youths were taking the opportunity to arm themselves, not only with fancy clothing, but with an array of weaponry that included chains, razors and even switchblades, and wreaking havoc on the civilized societies that dared get in their way. In the U.S., the Teddy Boy style would eventually give way to a new sort of Americanized rebel, one who preferred a black leather jacket over a t-shirt to the Edwardian stylings of their British counterparts.
While the Teddy Boy style is generally associated with males, the guys certainly had their share of female companions who adapted their styles to blend well with their rebellious boyfriends. Velvet-collared jackets were paired with tweed skirts and black stockings. Black eyeliner was liberally applied. And some girls even chose to wear similar black oxfords, known as winkle-pickers, and even adopt the pompadour hairstyles.
The Teddy Boys were one of the first examples of a stylish teenage clique, a close-knit underground group that rejected anyone who didn’t look like them. It is a style that can still be seen on the street of London to this day and its influence has been cemented on both sides of the Atlantic. And, in a broader sense, the biggest impact was that once eager-to-conform teenagers realized that they had the power to express themselves, and their feelings of angst, in their clothing choices, the ramifications would be felt for decades to come.
The Teds were the working class youth, roaming the streets of London. They found a new affinity for the romantic Edwardian styles of another era, charmed by the dapper, refined look of the upper-class, with its high standards of tailoring noticeable in their slim coats, complete with velvet trim. And by borrowing some ideas from the American Western look and adding a pinch of rock and roll rebellion to the mix, a style emerged, known as the neo-Edwardian look - one that would redefine teen fashion for years to come.
And just like the Beatles would later do, the Teddy Boy look invaded the United States with parental reactions being about the same. Long draped jackets were paired with the thin, bootlace ties of the American Western styles. Stovepipe pants, with their slim legs were shortened to reveal wildly patterned socks paired with black oxfords or suede covered crepe-soled creepers. The look was completed with rebellious hairstyles, such as the Brylecreem-assisted pompadours, known affectionately as the D.A. Metal combs were always close at hand, ready to assist when so much as a lock of hair got out of place.
All of this started out innocent enough, but there was anti-social behavior brewing and an emerging reputation for delinquency that began to be linked to the Teddy Boys. No longer was this a mere fashion statement; rougher elements were creeping in. Gangs were starting to form and the youths were taking the opportunity to arm themselves, not only with fancy clothing, but with an array of weaponry that included chains, razors and even switchblades, and wreaking havoc on the civilized societies that dared get in their way. In the U.S., the Teddy Boy style would eventually give way to a new sort of Americanized rebel, one who preferred a black leather jacket over a t-shirt to the Edwardian stylings of their British counterparts.
While the Teddy Boy style is generally associated with males, the guys certainly had their share of female companions who adapted their styles to blend well with their rebellious boyfriends. Velvet-collared jackets were paired with tweed skirts and black stockings. Black eyeliner was liberally applied. And some girls even chose to wear similar black oxfords, known as winkle-pickers, and even adopt the pompadour hairstyles.
The Teddy Boys were one of the first examples of a stylish teenage clique, a close-knit underground group that rejected anyone who didn’t look like them. It is a style that can still be seen on the street of London to this day and its influence has been cemented on both sides of the Atlantic. And, in a broader sense, the biggest impact was that once eager-to-conform teenagers realized that they had the power to express themselves, and their feelings of angst, in their clothing choices, the ramifications would be felt for decades to come.
