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The Iconic Style of Teddy Boys and Girls in the 1950s through Fabulous Vintage Photos

The 1950s might conjure images of poodle skirts and sock hops, but beneath the seemingly squeaky-clean surface lurked a simmering youth rebellion. Enter the Teddy Boys and Girls, a stylish and defiant subculture that challenged the social norms of the era.

In the aftermath of World War II, Britain was a nation rebuilding. Austerity measures left many young people feeling disillusioned. Craving excitement and a sense of identity, they turned to a surprising source of inspiration: Edwardian fashion.

Tailored for Trouble

The Teddy Boy look was a sharp departure from the loose-fitting clothing of the time. Teddy Boys (often called “Teds”) donned drainpipe trousers, drape jackets with velvet collars, and pointed winklepicker shoes. Think James Dean meets a Victorian dandy. Their carefully crafted quiffs completed the picture, a symbol of rebellion meticulously sculpted with grease.

Teddy Girls, sometimes called “Judies,” weren’t to be outdone. They adopted Edwardian influences too, sporting Capri pants, pedal pushers, and fitted jackets. Unlike their demure counterparts in full skirts, Teddy Girls embraced a more daring silhouette, often accessorizing with bolder makeup and bolder attitudes.

Music and Mayhem

Rock and Roll, a new and rebellious sound from across the Atlantic, became the soundtrack of the Teddy movement. Teds flocked to see artists like Elvis Presley and Bill Haley, their energy mirroring the raw power of the music. This love for rock and roll, coupled with their distinct fashion sense, made them stand out from the crowd – and not always in a positive light.

The Media Frenzy

The British press painted Teds and Teddy Girls as delinquents, associating them with juvenile delinquency and gang violence. While some Teds did form social groups, the media’s portrayal often exaggerated the threat. Many Teds were simply working-class youth yearning for self-expression.

#1 Teddy Boys admiring the view on Clapham Common in 1954.

#2 Teddy Boys at the Mecca Royal Dance Hall, Tottenham, Middlesex (North London) pictured in the Picture Post on 29th May 1954.

#3 Picture Post, 29th May 1954. Frank Harvey pictured outside the Co-op in Tottenham, North London. Frank in later years ran a pet shop called “Alan’s Pet Supplies” at 75 Silver Street in nearby Edmonton. Apparently, when Frank ran the shop he had this photograph of him behind the counter.

#4 A Best Dressed Teddy Boy Competition at Nottingham in 1956.

#8 Photograph by Ken Russell January 1955 of Teddy Girls, Pat Wiles and Iris Thornton, aged 17 from Plaistow, showing off their lace up espadrilles.

#9 The Stag-Line at a Dance Hall. The Teddy Boy in the centre is wearing an Edwardian outfit, which may have cost him as much as £50.00 ( very expensive at the time). Note the Long Jacket with ‘Shawl’ collar and single link button fastening (nearly coming off), Drainpipe trousers, thick Crepe soled shoes (‘Creepers’) and parallel-striped ‘Slim Jim’ tie. The boy on the right has a ‘Tony Curtis’ haircut and is wearing crepe soled suede shoes. – July 1955.

#10 A Teddy Boy with his girl ‘Moon Dance’ at a Dance Hall – July 1955 – note the Drape Jacket with half back full velvet collar with 16-17″ turned up trousers and Brogue Shoes.

#11 Two original 1954 Teddy Boys at Kingston upon Thames wearing Drape Jackets with 4″ wide lapels, silk patterned waistcoats and trousers with pleated fronts and 16″ bottoms with turn-ups.

#12 Alec Cruickshank, a clerk in a City of London shipping office poses ready to go into Mecca’s Royal Dance Hall, Tottenham, on 29th May 1954.

#13 Teddy Boys gather outside a Picture House on the Old Kent Road, 1955.

#14 A ‘Teddy Boy’ dances with his girl at the Mecca Dance Hall, Tottenham, London, May 1954.

#15 A ‘teddy boy’ shows off his suit to friends, 1955.

#16 Teddy Boys hanging around on a South London street near the Elephant and Castle ABC cinema with nowhere to go, 1955.

#17 A group of Teddy Boys congregate around a jukebox, London, England, July 1955. o.

#18 Youths modelling the latest fashion Edwardian suits, November 1955.

#19 A British ‘Teddy Boy’ wearing the ‘drape’ suit, 1956.

#20 A group of Teddy Boys smoking cigarettes at the Rodney Youth Centre in Liverpool, April 1956

#21 The boys of Stevenage in Hertfordshire beating their nightly battle with boredom in the town square, October 1959.

#22 The fish and chip shop, the youths main meeting place in the new town of Newtown Aycliffe, Durham, October 1959.

#23 Young Teddy Boys posing at the Wembley Rock and Roll Festival.

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Written by Kimberly Adams

Kimberly Adams is passionate about classic movies, actors, and actresses. She offers a fresh perspective on timeless films and the stars who made them unforgettable. Her work is an ode to the glamour and artistry of a bygone era, and a tribute to the enduring appeal of classic cinema.

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