2. When and Why?
• 1950’s- The decade where the morale was high and
the 'teenager' was born due to the high influx of
youngsters getting jobs and earning money, resulting
in them being the perfect consumer for advertisers.
• The 'Teddy Boy' came about in the 1950's when
Saville Row Tailors wanted to establish a new sort of
style.
3. Style.
• The 'Edwardian Teddy Boy' would wear Long, fitted trouser NOT
drainpipes, a white shirt with cut away clooars with a tie which was tied in
a specific way (the 'windsor knot'), long lapelled waisted jackets and
ordinary toe-capped boots. Their image was vital and a 'Teddy Boy' was
always well groomed, especially their hair. The hair style was slicked
upwards with gel and the hair length was longer than the short, back and
sides.
4. The Clapham Common Murder 1953
• The Plough Boys were a gang in Clapham who were smartly
dressed, they were just hanging out around the bandstand on
a Summer afternoon in July. An incident took place involving
John Beckley who was being harassed by the gang, later on
resulting in him being beaten up with knives by the five
boys, resulting in his murder. The headlines made the ‘Teddy
Boy’ known in an extremely bad light, and soon ensured
moral panic within London.
5. Judies
• In 1955, London recognized that the Teddy Boy style had brushed off on
the women. These ladies were soon to be called ‘Judies’ and they
traditionally originated from Ireland. They were working class women who
were the first of the females to discover jeans and wear them. This fashion
statement evoked fury within their families and the upper class in
society, but they didn’t care and carried on making their own unique
trademark clothing.
6. Musical Influences
• They were associated with rock ’n’ roll music, however also
enjoyed jazz too.
• They also favored dancing and a popular dance of theirs was
called ‘The Creep’ which can be associated with ‘Creepers’ the
shoes that they used to wear.
• Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and Eddie Cochran were main figures
the Teddy Boys looked up to.
7. Subcultures influenced by Teddy Boys
• In the 1970s Glam Rock was introduced who’s style
was based on the Teddy Boys. Moreover, in the
1990’s there was a revival of the ‘Teddy Boy’ and
they call themselves: The Edwardian Drape Society
(T.E.D.S) who felt that Glam Rock had ruined their
original style.
