Teddy Boys

Teddy Boys were the first young generation to create their own teenage style. They made it acceptable to dress up and make an effort with their clothes at all times, rather than being limited to a work / school uniform and Sunday best. Teddy Boys were certainly distinctive, and their outfits often comprised:

• Dark long drape jackets, sometimes with a velvet trim and pocket flaps - which came in handy when concealing weapons and alcohol.
• Classic high-waisted ‘drainpipe’ trousers often revealed brightly coloured socks
• Chunky brogues or large crepe soled shoes (known as brothel creepers), often made in suede.
• To complete the look a high-necked loose-collared white shirt was favoured, with a narrow ‘slim Jim’ tie and a brocade waistcoat.

These clothes came with a hefty price tag as they were often tailor made and were mostly paid for in weekly instalments by the new fashion conscious crowd.

Experimental hairstyles were just as important as clothes for Teddy Boys. The preferred hairstyles included long, strongly-moulded greased-up hair with a quiff at the front and the side hair combed back to form a ‘Duck’s Arse’ - commonly known as a DA - shape at the back of the head. Another hairstyle was the Boston, in which the hair was greased straight back and cut square across at the nape. The Teddy Girls adopted American fashions such as toreador pants and circle skirts, although they tended to wear low-cut tops to make themselves look less prissy.