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What exactly defines a "MOD?"?

What exactly defines a Mod - or modernist? What is the attitude or philosophy? And what separates this from the 60's/80's fashion revivalists? See to me, as I understand it - Mod refers to an attitude of logicality and clean living, using technology, clothing and architecture to empower the"modernist". It sweeps away with old standards and what has gone before and makes way for the new, to new ways of living. If using sixties icons such as the miniskirt, the bob etc etc is a signifier of this - then so be it.This is reflected in the timeless geometric and clean styles and haircuts of the sixties, and the iconic modes of transports in the sixties like the motor scooter. elistist mods would say that the 'real' mods were london high flyers who never rode on scooters- but if we go back to the idea of moden solutions in difficult circumstances - the scooter was an excellent solution to post war britain and would make at least the attitude of "mod" Or are Mods just bandwagoners and scene kids- that were very much like the chavs of nowadays- seeking attention like peacocks - swap the scooter for a corsa with its pipes and skirts - replacing the vessy or Lambretta with its stickers, chrome and many,many, many lights. I always throught that the revivalist scooters absoloutely stank - doing away with the clean modern lines to be weighed down with too many stupid mirrrors. Whatever, I love the original sixtoies fashion, the blunt fringes, the straight lines, the tight fitted cuts and the attention to detail. Id love to hear from people.....

Public Comments

1. I think you have come to a good conclusion yourself. Mod's are ultimately a subculture with similar interests, and values. However their subculture emerged at a time when people had a disposable income for perhaps the first time. This allowed them to interact in a very different ways to their parents and grandparents. Furthermore Britain was in a relatively stable economic and political place. For example, the domination of war and rationing was over, young people have a new social world to explore and the ability to do it without the constraints of previous generations.