Teddy Boys

The subculture started in London in the 1950s and rapidly spread across the UK as a reaction to the austerity imposed by the socialist government in the years following the War. Young men inspired by American rock and roll music of the time and the styles of the Edwardian period attempted to scandalize their parents with wasteful fashions that were far too camp for working class sensibilities.Rebellion and looking cool was all a major part of the teddy boy trend. The name came from a shortened version of "Edwardian", because the teddy boy fashions first began with everyone wearing Edwardian period style suits and this look was important, along with plenty of grease in the hair, slicked back with a big quiff or 'kiss curl' in the middle of the forehead. The teds hung out in gangs and dated "teddy girls" and often rioted amongst the rockers.
The movement found such devotees as John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison and eventually evolved into rockabillies in the 70s which is still very much around.

A Teddy boy shows off his tattoo at a gathering of Teddy boys, Manchester, c1983


Largely overlooked teenage teddy girls also took their look from the Edwardians' cameo brooches and high collars, their boyish short haircuts, trousers and even jeans set the blueprint for generations of tomboys to follow.Ken Russell's 1955 Photo Essay on London's Teddy Girls.


Comme des Garçons incorporated new takes on the Teddy Boy classic in Fall 2009 show.



Christian Dior Fall 2004.The collection, John Galliano explained, was inspired by illustrated Vogue covers from the 1900s, using them as a route through to the Edwardiana/teddy boy revival of the 1950s.