Teddy Boy (youth culture)

The Teddy Boy youth culture first emerged in Britain during the early 1950s, and was strongly associated with American rock and roll music of the period.

It was typified by male youths wearing a modified style of Edwardian clothes. In Britain the name Edward is commonly (though less so these days) shortened to Ted.

Clothing consisted of drape jackets with velvet collars, narrow 'drainpipe' trousers, large crepe-soled shoes (sometimes nicknamed 'brothel creepers'), and bootlace ties. Preferred hairstyles included a quiff combed back to form a 'DA' (duck's arse) at the rear of the head.

'Teddy girls' adopted American fashions: toreador pants and voluminous circle skirts, wearing their hair in ponytails.

As with some other youth culture movements, groups of 'Teds' sometimes formed gangs and enjoyed notoriety following violent clashes with rival gangs.

In the 1960s, many teddy boys became 'rockers'. During the 1970s, rockabilly music enjoyed a brief period of popularity and saw a resurgence of interest in 'Teddy boy' fashions.

See also

• Mods and Rockers

External links

• Harold Hill: A People's History - New Suits & New Songs