Once a Mod, Always a Mod
Very Modern Menswear
The impact of modernism on menswear can hardly be understated. By embracing all things neat and new, the mods of old forged a distinct sartorial aesthetic that lingers on today.
Listen to the audio story below to find out how mod fashion aesthetics are being adopted by a new era of discerning young enthusiasts...
Clothing display at Quadrohpenia Alley. Photographed in Quadrophenia Alley, Brighton on 31/3/26.
Modfather Owner & Co-founder Daniel James Warner. Photographed in Brighton on 18/3/26.
Modfather boutique interior ft. a teal vintage scooter. Photographed in Brighton on 18/3/26.
Graphic mural of Paul Weller AKA 'The Mofather'. Photographed in Quadrophenia Alley, Brighton on 31/3/26.
Listen to this story:
Read Along (Transcript):
Very Modern Menswear...
The explosion of expressive menswear during the mid-twentieth century was brought about through the huge variety of London's youth subcultures. Notable among them were the modernists, but you know them as the 'Mods'.
Originating from a working-class, urban youth, the mods were characterised by what music publicist Peter Meaden called: 'clean living under difficult circumstances'. They forged a distinct sartorial aesthetic. By adopting slim-fitting, sleek tailoring styles from continental Europe, mods exalted a neat and tidy look...
The city of Brighton has a strong historical connection to the mod subculture as it was a prominent filming location for the mod movie 'Quadrophenia'. Today, Brighton's boutiques are providing garments for a new generation of mod enthusiasts.
Daniel Warner: 'It was myself and my dad that started the business. We started in Camden fifteen years ago, and we then opened the shop in Brighton five-and-a-half years ago'.
Daniel Warner is owner and co-founder of The Modfather Clothing Company...
Daniel Warner: 'I see lots of young people come through the door more often than you'd expect in a shop like ours. Our customer base is forty to sixty but there are youngsters and there's a real thriving mod scene. When youngsters come through the door and they've dressed and they've made an effort, they stand apart. You know, a bit of peacock and a bit of making an effort and dressing up I think is really important'...
Today's demand for the mod look is not only limited to Britain. Online platforms have provided an avenue for vintage enthusiasts to connect across the world.
Ransom Young: 'I was finding all sorts of the craziest nineteen-sixties and seventies coats and jackets. And I was sewing colourful inserts into velvet pants to make them like crazy bell-bottoms'.
American college student Ransom Young goes by the name 'An Unwelcome Dapper' on social media. He's used his online platform to display his adoration for the mod aesthetic...
Ransom Young: 'I started gaining a significant following. A lot of people had never seen someone who was dedicated to dressing the way that I did. And it was very endearing seeing the inspiration that I was giving to other people'.
Ultimately, the mod look continues to leave a mark on the legacy of expressive menswear.