Subcultural Foundations: The Mods

We all like to draw our style inspirations from numerous places—our childhood, people we see in the street, the internet, etc. I find myself strongly intrigued and inspired by youth subcultures, particularly those of British origin. Currently, my strongest style inspiration is the ever-youthful appearance of the Mods.

The origins of the mods are rather dubious and oft debated. However, we do know that the youth cult developed in London during the 1950s and were drawn to American jazz, R&B, and soul, fine Italian tailoring and motor scooters, amphetamines, and a hedonistic impulse to look damn good. What we find is a bricolage of styles and influences that culminate in something ultimately British in nature.

It’s difficult to deny the longevity of the mods’ style. From the culture’s hay-day in the early 60’s, to the revival in the mid 70s, and the current resurgence of interest in men’s style, the mods are a limitless source of inspiration. Key features of the mods’ style of dress are slim 3-button suits, M65 Army Parkas, Fred Perry polos, pegged slim jeans, Chelsea boots, desert boots, and an all around smart clothing style.

Source Note: The photos included in this entry have been borrowed from a series of blogs, forum posts, and a variety of other sources. Most notable of which are It Owes Me a Living (blog) and Get Smart (StyleForum member).

Summer Aspirations: Hot Day at the Office

It's been a while since I posted a fit, but with temperatures reaching the 90s in NYC, I had been wishing I owned some of these great hot weather items.

Brooks Brothers Oxford Linen Sportcoat $298

Kent Wang Pocket Square $20

J Crew Thomas Mason Shirt $135

J Press Madras Tie $60

J Press Surcingle Belt $45

Uniqlo Chinos $35

Mark McNairy White Suede Longwings $350

Falke Invisible Socks $8

Apolis Actovism x Filson $396

D-Day June 6, 1944

A day late, but I would still like to pay my respect to the brave men who fought their way on to the beaches of Normandy.

Weekly Pics

Words of Inspiration: Charles Bukowski

The Minute

"I'm always fighting for the next

minute," I tell my wife.

then she begins to tell me

how mistaken I am.

wives have a way of not

believing what thier husbands

tell them

the minute is a very sacred

thing.

I have fought for each one since my childhood.

I continue to fight for each one.

I have never been bored or at a loss what to do next.

even when I do nothing.

I am utilizing my time.

why people must go to

amusement parks or movies

or sit in front of tv sets

or work crossword puzzles

or go to picnics

or visit relatives

or travel

or do most of the things

they do

is beyond me.

they mutilate minutes,

hours,

days,

lifetimes.

they have no idea of how

precious is a

minute.

I fight to realize the essence

of my time.

this doesn't mean that

I can't relax

and take an hour off

but it must be my choosing.

to fight for each minute is to

fight for what is possible within

yourself,

so that your life and your death

will not be like

theirs.

be not like them

and you will

survive.

minute by

minute.

R.I.P. Dennis Hopper

Over the long weekend, a greatly influential actor passed away. While I was not a fan of all his work, I had a great respect for his talent. Dennis Hopper starred in some of the greatest films of all time. Do yourself a favor and make sure you watch one of his many films. Whether you are squinting through his cameos in Rebel Without a Cause or reeling from the horror of his character in Blue Velvet, take some time to observe a master at work.

Weekly Pics

Busy with work + Existential crisis = No real blogs this week... But here are some pics.