Northern Soul 70's Fashion

[Guest martyn]

Only had one pair of Skinners (Winter 71/72).

Was the 1st in local youth club to get a pair, and when one of the other lads got a pair I bleached mine.

Every time I put my Skinners in for a wash my Mum used to let the hems down so they sat on the instep of my DMs rather than flapping around the top boot boy style .She won in the end -it was a pain in the arse stiching them up again .

[KevH]

Had a pair of denim patchwork bags as mentioned earlier,handmade.Also a Budgie jacket as recalled by Mr.Moody bugger.

White Skinners and a leather surfer as well.Coupled with a spider cut ........

[Padiham Pete]

Only had one pair of Skinners (Winter 71/72).

Was the 1st in local youth club to get a pair, and when one of the other lads got a pair I bleached mine.

I had a pair of skinners mine was already white though, thuoght they all was ?, wore mine with cherry red DM`s checked ben sherman red braces

[Guest]

In them days i thought we was anti-fashion,most people/kids where into fashion not us....how things change

[Pete S]

I had a pair of skinners mine was already white though, thuoght they all was ?, wore mine with cherry red DM`s checked ben sherman red braces

Yes the used to make standard denim ones and white ones. Sadly the white ones got adopted by the Bay City Rollers and their fans

[Wiggyflat]

Yes the used to make standard denim ones and white ones. Sadly the white ones got adopted by the Bay City Rollers and their fans

Are any of these trousers Skinners?

Edited October 16, 2010 by wiggyflat

[Mick Howard]

Are any of these trousers Skinners?

Wiggy

Methinks the wider ones with the big turn-ups are the Skinners.

First saw them around 72 when a couple of 3rd year (I was 2nd year) lads wore them - they'd bought them from a shop called Harry Masons (I think) in Hull - near to Scarboro Records I recall.

Thought they were cool as anything & promised myself I would save up to buy a pair.

It took me another year and I'd moved from Yorkshire to Norfolk by then.

Got myself a crisp white pair with something (dice I think) embroidered(ish) on the back pockets.

Within a very short period they had to be ditched because of the Bay City Rollers.

Mick

[Padiham Pete]

Yes the used to make standard denim ones and white ones. Sadly the white ones got adopted by the Bay City Rollers and their fans

Bay City who ya know what you mean, that`s when the Burnley skinheads and soulies stopped wearing them. Is that when you started wearing them

Edited October 16, 2010 by Padiham Pete

[Padiham Pete]

Are any of these trousers Skinners?

Ya second photo guy with his foot on the chair looks like skinners:yes:

[Guest martyn]

Ya second photo guy with his foot on the chair looks like skinners:yes:

They look to flared to be Skinners , if you remember Skinners were parallels

[Guest kane]

I see Pakash says lots about her cv fashion wise but have yet to see an original photo of anyone wearing those clothes, in those colours with those ribbons at a N.S. night could you share some with us, well me anyway, I must have been asleep at the time. I may wish to emulate the look.

[Guest gordon russell]

Just a word about Spencers Bags and Polyveldts. Spencers weren't worn til late 78 and onwards and most of the people who wore them were considered divs. Polyveldts weren't worn until 1979, until then everyone wore Solatios, Brogues or Loafers. The polyveldts started with the girls as they weren't very good for blokes to dance in due to them not having leather soles.

absolutely spot on that man.......a lot of the southern girls who went to oop north venues wore those wedged sasha shoes. As you rightly said cross banded solatios, american style brouges, loafers and my favouite gibsons all with leather soles. Folk might also notice from the many pictures posted on this thread......the folk today who wear what they think is retro 70's.......dress nothing like the folk back in the day......they have it totally wrong. what about the barathera blazer........one other thing , at the time wigan started there were very few badges to be found...mainly torch,cats and international soul ........so not many allnight bags with em on..........these bags were only used because most people never had cars...........so can never understand it nowadays.....tezza

[Guest gordon russell]

what about diamond check jumpers:thumbsup:

[Guest martyn]

I see Pakash says lots about her cv fashion wise but have yet to see an original photo of anyone wearing those clothes, in those colours with those ribbons at a N.S. night could you share some with us, well me anyway, I must have been asleep at the time. I may wish to emulate the look.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=91743 Girl in the middle photo St Ives 76 ..............

[Guest kane]

Long skirt, ribbon.... not quite the same more rock and roll than n.s

[Guest kane]

absolutely spot on that man.......a lot of the southern girls who went to oop north venues wore those wedged sasha shoes. As you rightly said cross banded solatios, american style brouges, loafers and my favouite gibsons all with leather soles. Folk might also notice from the many pictures posted on this thread......the folk today who wear what they think is retro 70's.......dress nothing like the folk back in the day......they have it totally wrong. what about the barathera blazer........one other thing , at the time wigan started there were very few badges to be found...mainly torch,cats and international soul ........so not many allnight bags with em on..........these bags were only used because most people never had cars...........so can never understand it nowadays.....tezza

Spot on that woman...

[KevH]

absolutely spot on that man.......a lot of the southern girls who went to oop north venues wore those wedged sasha shoes. As you rightly said cross banded solatios, american style brouges, loafers and my favouite gibsons all with leather soles. Folk might also notice from the many pictures posted on this thread......the folk today who wear what they think is retro 70's.......dress nothing like the folk back in the day......they have it totally wrong. what about the barathera blazer........one other thing , at the time wigan started there were very few badges to be found...mainly torch,cats and international soul ........so not many allnight bags with em on..........these bags were only used because most people never had cars...........so can never understand it nowadays.....tezza

Barathea blazer with hankie on a card in the top pocket.

[SOULCENTRAL]

absolutely spot on that man.......a lot of the southern girls who went to oop north venues wore those wedged sasha shoes. As you rightly said cross banded solatios, american style brouges, loafers and my favouite gibsons all with leather soles. Folk might also notice from the many pictures posted on this thread......the folk today who wear what they think is retro 70's.......dress nothing like the folk back in the day......they have it totally wrong. what about the barathera blazer........one other thing , at the time wigan started there were very few badges to be found...mainly torch,cats and international soul ........so not many allnight bags with em on..........these bags were only used because most people never had cars...........so can never understand it nowadays.....tezza

AH, The barathea blazer. This was a must for the more shall we say stylish guy who frequented the various soul venues from the late sixties up until about the mid seventies. Remember wearing mine in the early seventies and actually took it on a stage by braiding the edges of the whole blazer. Looked really smart with Levi 501s or Sta pressed, brouges and dispensed with the hankie in favour of the Central Soul Club badge.

This look is still around today regarded as stylish as opposed to fashionable.

Have to agree about the badges and the reason why so many people had them although they were practical for the multitude of clothing we all needed at the time when dancing the night away:yes:

ROY

[Guest Byrney]

The polyveldts started with the girls as they weren't very good for blokes to dance in due to them not having leather soles.

That's rigfht. and not just a soul fan shoe. Everyone in 79 had them on at our school, regardless of what they were into. They were good for kicking a tennis ball around on the play ground though.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Byrney

[Mick Howard]

Long skirt, ribbon.... not quite the same more rock and roll than n.s

Definitely not rock & roll. I posted the photo.

Her name is Cheryl Bush and she was in the year below me at School.

She was, however, along with others who wore similar clothes into the more 'funky' sounds, 'Mecca' stuff if you like, and they were the first ones I saw who took to wearing those red plastic sandals that we wore as kids & that became quite popular amongst Mecca and Ritz types.

Mick

[Guest kane]

Definitely not rock & roll. I posted the photo.

Her name is Cheryl Bush and she was in the year below me at School.

She was, however, along with others who wore similar clothes into the more 'funky' sounds, 'Mecca' stuff if you like, and they were the first ones I saw who took to wearing those red plastic sandals that we wore as kids & that became quite popular amongst Mecca and Ritz types.

Mick

Sorry was not talking about your photo that I do remember as ns , I was meaning the muli coloured swap shop that a certain section of the north notts crew sport, having said that if you have it wear it, haha I look like a house side so who the fek am I.

[Ian Parker]

Kane - Long skirt, ribbon.... not quite the same more rock and roll than n.s

Alot of the clothing i wear for a Soul night is NOT traditional n.s , the only thing the same, is that the skirts are long & full, my ribbon skirts came from my Latin American dance outfits, i even have a skirt design that came from my old Alice in Wonderland book i like to add alot of my own idea's to whatever i wear

But im not a rock n roll girl ....................im a rockabilly girl

I know what your like on here someone is bound to ask

Girl on left - Rock n Roll Girl on right - Rockabilly

Rockabilly clothing can be more wild, with a bit of Burlesque

Debbie x

Edited October 18, 2010 by parkash

[Wiggyflat]

Definitely not rock & roll. I posted the photo.

Her name is Cheryl Bush and she was in the year below me at School.

She was, however, along with others who wore similar clothes into the more 'funky' sounds, 'Mecca' stuff if you like, and they were the first ones I saw who took to wearing those red plastic sandals that we wore as kids & that became quite popular amongst Mecca and Ritz types.

Mick

These ones.....What was the beer towel thing, tucked in the belts, backs of parkas, scarves ive even seen a picture of a lad who had a pair of bags made out of them.

york in pub.bmp

york white hart.bmp

york in pub.bmp

york white hart.bmp

Edited October 18, 2010 by wiggyflat

[Ian Parker]

PEGGY BABCOCK - absolutely spot on that man.......a lot of the southern girls who went to oop north venues wore those wedged sasha shoes. As you rightly said cross banded solatios, american style brouges, loafers and my favouite gibsons all with leather soles. Folk might also notice from the many pictures posted on this thread......the folk today who wear what they think is retro 70's.......dress nothing like the folk back in the day......they have it totally wrong. what about the barathera blazer........one other thing , at the time wigan started there were very few badges to be found...mainly torch,cats and international soul ........so not many allnight bags with em on..........these bags were only used because most people never had cars...........so can never understand it nowadays.....tezza

I can't speak for everyone who wears retro clothing, but me personally.......................im not trying to dress like anyone from the day that your talking about, i may dress a bit loud & a bit wild but im just myself, i do own a 70's leather coat & some 70s shoes, i have them, just because i like them. I was also given a few original circle skirt's from a woman i know, who had them at the Casino, but i have a Rockabilly hairstyle, so im not really going to look like Soul folk from the early days

Im an old London girl, but i know alot of the Nott's Soulies now, they made me feel very welcome, they are a great bunch of people, i think they look good in the retro clothing & they are top dancers

Debbie x

P.s I would just like to say.............Some of your old photo's on here are great folk's

Edited October 19, 2010 by parkash

[Guest martyn]

Definitely not rock & roll. I posted the photo.

Her name is Cheryl Bush and she was in the year below me at School.

She was, however, along with others who wore similar clothes into the more 'funky' sounds, 'Mecca' stuff if you like, and they were the first ones I saw who took to wearing those red plastic sandals that we wore as kids & that became quite popular amongst Mecca and Ritz types.

Mick

Mick ,hope you didn't mind me using your photo to illustrate a point ..................I remember there were quite a few girls dressed that way at St Ives around that time (all stunners!) .Remember the girl from Cambridge (I think) who wore all red with red ribbons -can't think of her name ?

As you say they all liked dancing to the newies like Black Nasty , Alpaca Phase III , etc etc but thr one I really remember & associate them with was The Flasher & that mad skipping type dance that went with it

[Guest gordon russell]

Mick ,hope you didn't mind me using your photo to illustrate a point ..................I remember there were quite a few girls dressed that way at St Ives around that time (all stunners!) .Remember the girl from Cambridge (I think) who wore all red with red ribbons -can't think of her name ?

As you say they all liked dancing to the newies like Black Nasty , Alpaca Phase III , etc etc but thr one I really remember & associate them with was The Flasher & that mad skipping type dance that went with it

WENDY FULLER............maybe?

[Guest Ste Brazil]

Northern and scooter scene mid seventies fashion shots.....note patchwork jeans,abundance of DM's (who ever wore platforms on the street),denim jackets,beer towels (worn on the parkas) and worn by soulies in belts, why???? (heard it was a northern working class thing), feather hair,red socks,badges (patches of northern soul clubs/northern scooter clubs),sheepskins and long leather jackets.Football scarves were popular.

Fantastic pics, especially the scooter stuff!!!!!!

Ste.

[Mick Howard]

Mick ,hope you didn't mind me using your photo to illustrate a point ..................I remember there were quite a few girls dressed that way at St Ives around that time (all stunners!) .Remember the girl from Cambridge (I think) who wore all red with red ribbons -can't think of her name ?

As you say they all liked dancing to the newies like Black Nasty , Alpaca Phase III , etc etc but thr one I really remember & associate them with was The Flasher & that mad skipping type dance that went with it

Yes Martyn

That 'skippy' dance they did - it wasn't quite shuffling but it was like that.

I think I know the girl you're talking about but I don't think it's Wendy. Would I be right in thinking that she wore her hair quite long and that it was jet black?

Anyway, great times -strange clothes!

Mick

[Garswood]

Only had one pair of Skinners (Winter 71/72).

Was the 1st in local youth club to get a pair, and when one of the other lads got a pair I bleached mine.

ok guys, having only been into this soul thing since '81 and have been wearing normal clothes:rolleyes: , what are / were skinners, are they skin tight jeans or sommat....phil:hatsoff2:

[Citizen P]

ok guys, having only been into this soul thing since '81 and have been wearing normal clothes:rolleyes: , what are / were skinners, are they skin tight jeans or sommat....phil:hatsoff2:

Jeans?? yes.

Skintight??------------the absolute opposite, widest around at the time.

Tony

[Garswood]

Jeans?? yes.

Skintight??------------the absolute opposite, widest around at the time.

Tony

thanks Tony, were skinners the make or style ?

[Wiggyflat]

We will be getting on to Flemmings next.......what type of jeans were they...anyway a few more pics.Still no answer on the beer towel question.You would think it was all Abba and Spacehoppers acording to the middle class twats on tv.........no bootboys/3 day weeks/queing for bread or your mam attempting to bake it/spitting (very seventies),proper graffiitti wilth mis spelling ie rools ok,cross earings/saint man tattoos/borstal dots,dealer boots....bought from Darkie Tans gipsy shop (air wair/lace up brogue ones/tan or ox blood)....click click click....segs or blakeys,staining your white adidas t shirt blue when it pissed down when you had your new levis jacket on,old men in pubs with grey hair with nicotine streaks in it and brown fingers,woodbines and capstan full strength, alpine lorries, mysterious tyres around lamp posts...I could go on.

jacket.bmp

Edited October 19, 2010 by wiggyflat

[Guest martyn]

WENDY FULLER............maybe?

No Tez ,not the name I was looking for

[Guest martyn]

Yes Martyn

That 'skippy' dance they did - it wasn't quite shuffling but it was like that.

I think I know the girl you're talking about but I don't think it's Wendy. Would I be right in thinking that she wore her hair quite long and that it was jet black?

Anyway, great times -strange clothes!

Mick

Thats right Mick , long black hair with red ribbons

[Guest martyn]

thanks Tony, were skinners the make or style ?

The make

[Alan Walls]

The make

Like 'dis:

[Guest gordon russell]

PEGGY BABCOCK - absolutely spot on that man.......a lot of the southern girls who went to oop north venues wore those wedged sasha shoes. As you rightly said cross banded solatios, american style brouges, loafers and my favouite gibsons all with leather soles. Folk might also notice from the many pictures posted on this thread......the folk today who wear what they think is retro 70's.......dress nothing like the folk back in the day......they have it totally wrong. what about the barathera blazer........one other thing , at the time wigan started there were very few badges to be found...mainly torch,cats and international soul ........so not many allnight bags with em on..........these bags were only used because most people never had cars...........so can never understand it nowadays.....tezza

I can't speak for everyone who wears retro clothing, but me personally.......................im not trying to dress like anyone from the day that your talking about, i may dress a bit loud & a bit wild but im just myself

Debbie x

You say you are just "you" and you are not trying to dress like anyone from "back in the day" then there is no need to reply to my post as you would have felt that l was talking about some one else/others......dress however you like:thumbsup: ...to me the oldies crowd are not about the music........just about a moment in their youth that they like to relive......each to their own..........one other thought, maybe.....should a person be judged by how good/bad they dance. ie is that person dancing to say "look at me,look at how good l am" .....the person l admire is the one who dances to a tune however which way.........but from the love of the music........go to lifeline you,ll see some shit,but honest dancers doing it from the heart:thumbsup: atb peggy

[Ian Parker]

You say you are just "you" and you are not trying to dress like anyone from "back in the day" then there is no need to reply to my post as you would have felt that l was talking about some one else/others......dress however you like:thumbsup: ...to me the oldies crowd are not about the music........just about a moment in their youth that they like to relive......each to their own..........one other thought, maybe.....should a person be judged by how good/bad they dance. ie is that person dancing to say "look at me,look at how good l am" .....the person l admire is the one who dances to a tune however which way.........but from the love of the music........go to lifeline you,ll see some shit,but honest dancers doing it from the heart:thumbsup: atb peggy

Perhaps you were not talking about me, like i said before im a Rockabilly girl who likes my own look & has been into 60s rare Soul since the early 80s, , but i do like an oldies night & you were talking about my partner & alot of my good friends who are into the oldies & do like to dress in this way, some of these people have been into the music since the 70s, so how can you say that the oldies crowd are not about the music??????

I would like to go to Lifeline, because i think i would really enjoy the music, but i just don't think i would be very welcome (because of the way i dress), the oldies crowd are very friendly & except folk for who they are ..................Here is a bit of an example, we went to another night that was not just oldies & a couple of Psychobilly's came in, i got talking to them, they told me that they really liked 60's Soul music, they were a really nice couple, but folk were coming up to me & saying, "What are they doing in here" & "look at them!"..................so what's that all about!.........................The only thing i can't stand is the snobbery people should be excepted, no matter what they wear

The oldies crowd are always getting digs from certain folk on here.............i put some photo's on the gallery a few weeks back & some nasty woman had to make a rude comment , & just because folk dress the way they do, & im quite sure i am included in this, because i don't dress conventional (this is not directed at you Peggy).

As for the dancing....................i love all kinds of dancing, from all era's i like to do Ballroom/Latin/Lindy comp, so i just love to watch fantastic dancers, & the places i go to, i do see some fabulous dancers who are passionate about the music

Debbie x

Edited October 19, 2010 by parkash

[Ian Parker]

P.S

If i go to Lifeline, can i wear these?

They won't let me wear them at an oldies night!

Debbie x

[Steve L]

P.S

If i go to Lifeline, can i wear these?

They won't let me wear them at an oldies night!

Debbie x

Feel free debbie, the lifeline crowd are very open minded:)

[Steve L]

.....go to lifeline you,ll see some shit,but honest dancers doing it from the heart:thumbsup: atb peggy

I told you to stop going on about Paul & Kev's dancing Peg...

[Mick Howard]

P.S

If i go to Lifeline, can i wear these?

They won't let me wear them at an oldies night!

Debbie x

If you're going at the end of this month Debbie please do;)

Mick

[KevH]

P.S

If i go to Lifeline, can i wear these?

They won't let me wear them at an oldies night!

Debbie x

Only if you come as Betty Page.

[Gelderd Ender]

Like 'dis:

used to get my skinners from a shop in birkenhead used to advertise in the sun news paper small ads , they had every colour going.

andy.

[Guest martyn]

Like 'dis:

Don't remember the black lining , but then again the label looks pucker

[Citizen P]

used to get my skinners from a shop in birkenhead used to advertise in the sun news paper small ads , they had every colour going.

andy.

We wouldn't wear 'em cos they was a Scouse t'ing.

Tony

[Ian Parker]

Only if you come as Betty Page.

I would come like this then Kev i love the Betty Page look but my partner Ian won't let me bring my tassles

Debbie x

Edited October 20, 2010 by parkash

[Pete S]

Bay City who ya know what you mean, that`s when the Burnley skinheads and soulies stopped wearing them. Is that when you started wearing them

No, I stopped wearing them when I sold mine to the Burnley skinheads and soulies a year earlier...

[Stevie]

Skinners were a Northern thing... remember me and my mate getting chased through the streets of Southend while on holiday there in 1972 by gangs of angry locals who didn't appreciate the way we were dressed.

Fashion at Wigan in the early days was subject to constant change. Those who have adopted the baggy pants / vest look as being reminiscent of the era are making use of little more than a short lived snapshot in time. Different venues had different fashions. In the early days Wigan, the Mecca and the Ritz had completely different identities in terms of both music and clothing. We wanted to look different and cool so off the peg clothing was not an option unless it was customised in some way, and made to measure was the preferred option. Bags were carried for deoderant, spare shirts and the all important cassette recorder to tape the nights proceedings, which would be played back on the train home much to the annoyance of other passengers. The whole ethos of the time was to enjoy being a part of something different. I stopped going in 1978 because by that time I felt it it had become over commercialised and had lost the very thing that had first drawn me to it.

As far as current venues go, long live those that are still pushing the boundaries as they are the ones that remain true to the spirit of what once was.

[Chris L]

I always thought it was illegal to put "Fashion, Northern, 1970s" in the same sentence.