Mod to Suedehead

[Man-of-Mystery]



Yes I know what you mean.My Father was the same,they took Pride in how they looked(my Father was an exNaval Man).Your Suits look pretty good now Roy-but as you say,you have to watch them.I remember my Father ,buying me my first Suit,having a go at the Tailors because they got something wrong.I was 12 at the time.

My dad used to wear a dark grey suit for work (Civil Service), a 'best suit' for going out, and 'sports jacket and flannels' for leisure. That was how it was for his generation.

 

[soundsnpressure]

I have some Hawkins 'DM' Astronauts. Not a very exciting colour, and basic shape, fairly common.
Bought them 2 years ago NEW without box. But I love em.

The quality of the leather is far superior to modern day equivalants. And very comfortable.

Am I correct in thinking the Hawkins factory was in Northampton and closed in the early 1990's ?

 

[London Rudeboy]

I bet they'd be really toasty on your feet though.

 

[London Rudeboy]

Am I correct in thinking the Hawkins factory was in Northampton and closed in the early 1990's ?

Was? No, it still is in Northampton, it hasn't moved. It's vacant though. It did close in the 90s. I saw Hawkins shoes on sale in the Doc Marten's shop in Stockholm as recently as 5 years ago That said, those I saw could be NOS, or it is possible they were made somewhere else & used the Hawkins name under licence.

 

[Ed Vaughan]



Same here-both Mum and Dad.Not a Club I wanted to belong to,Mate.

Add another... but it's the correct way.

Parents should always be first - natural order.

FTR: I was 18 before getting my first bespoke 'whistle'... it was gash!

 

[London Rudeboy]

Talking about suits at an early age.
How many kids nowadays own a suit by the time they're 10? Not many. I had my first suit for my Confirmation when I was about 10, navy it was.
My first adult suit was a double breasted POW with turnups.
Even teenagers and young men, most men nowadays don't seem to own suits at all, and don't seem to buy a suit until they suddenly need one for an event of some sort.

 

[Ed Vaughan]



I agree buttons off the peg suits like Adams are really hopeless.. wrong cut for a skinhead suit same with Ace Face, Even getting a bespoke suit made you need to know what a original 60s skinhead suit looked like... and i am afraid most people don't.

Thank God... I thought it was me who had lost it.

They just look 'wrong'. Like someone trying too hard - and overdoing it.

My 'tonik' - read 'all' - suits were off-the-peg... I was an apprentice, earning £5-18s-2d + OT. But I was a standard size so my clobber (o-t-p), used to look okay.

Add to that that my mother was pretty nifty with the old Singer sewing machine, meant I was sorted.

I've used this place a couple of times in recent years: http://www.schultzlife.com/men/

but I reckon my next big buy will be wooden. (ROFL) (Not planning on it being too soon, though.)

 

[Man-of-Mystery]

(STILL not sending me reminders! )

 

[Man-of-Mystery]



I bet they'd be really toasty on your feet though.

GROAN!

 

[ek77]



Alan, is that you at the top?

he is.. just scroll some pages back..

 

[ek77]



Around my way (S E London) I hardly saw any at all. I wouldn't have got one myself, either.

tattoos? here we go..

 

[ek77]



Was? No, it still is in Northampton, it hasn't moved.  It's vacant though. It did close in the 90s. I saw Hawkins shoes on sale in the Doc Marten's shop in Stockholm as recently as 5 years ago  That said, those I saw could be NOS, or it is possible they were made somewhere else & used the Hawkins name under licence. 

 

yeah got two pairs of hawkins astronauts shoes too...



hawkins sold their name to japan and they only doin ****** boots nowadays...
http://hawkins.shopping-search.jp/search?key=ワークブーツ

 

[Ed Vaughan]

Some (okay, one or two bits of) imagery I've not seen on here: http://spykidsunited.tumblr.com/archive

 

[buttons]

While we're on the subject of Marten shoes (Dr Marten and Hawkins, and I suppose Tredair, Solovair etc), what's everyone's earliest memories of seeing these for sale?

 

[Get Smart]



The original 60s Skinhead suit was fairly plain, No loads of pockets or velvet collars, and the material was mostly plain colours.

so in your opinion, what is the difference between a "skinhead suit" in 60s, versus a regular "well dressed man" suit from the same era? or is there a difference at all?

the multiple ticket pocket thing has always interested me, because I first heard of it in the 80s but I would assume that SOMEONE in the 60s must have worn such a suit for it to have been something for the new 70/80s generation of skinheads to pick up on. I dont think anyone was that clued up on tailoring to have invented it in the revival years and passed it off as "original". most of the multiple ticket pocket suits I have seen are terrible, with the ticket pocket flaps being too tall and too much space between pockets, so that the topmost pocket is at the level of your nipples. Looks very awkward and reminds me of fish gills. gives "sharkskin suit" a different meaning altogether

in that regard I find clued-up mods to have a far better eye at seeing a good suit fit vs bad suit fit than many skinheads who wear suits