Mariesa
Teddy Boys were the original teen rebels of the 50’s. Rock ‘n Roll was hitting the airwaves and teenagers suddenly dominated the fashion scene. The Teddy Boy look had a completely different style than the greasers and preppies that you commonly see in movies associated with the 50’s.
Originating in Europe, Ted’s or Teddy Boys dressed in a blend of romantic Edwardian style clothes. They wore long single breasted wool jackets (or drape coats) with velvet collars and cuffs and plenty of pockets. They wore stiff shirts, with narrow ties or Western style gamblers boot strings, narrow drainpipe style pants, and crepe-soled shoes. I also included a cycle chain that hangs from the hip. For fun, I used a 45 record as the belt buckle to symbolize the beginning of the rock ‘n roll era. To finish the look, they slicked their hair back w/ brilliantine resembling the Tony Curtis (or also called Duck Tail) hairstyle. The style appeared to be a modified version of the 1940’s Zoot suit.
These Teds were often seen stylin’ and jiving on the dance floor or hanging out on the streets looking for trouble. They would be considered flashy or extreme for the 50’s, as most mainstream men’s clothes geared towards the conservative. The reason I decided to design the Teddy Boy is because it is unique, and it’s a nice variety to the more often seen greasers and preppies.
