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The Teddy boy Youth Culture first emerged in Britain (starting in London , but rapidly spreading across the country) during the early 1950s , and soon after became strongly associated with American Rock And Roll music of the period. It was typified by young men wearing clothes inspired by those of the '' headline in 1953 first coined the term 'Teddy boy', which stuck. Clothing consisted of long drape jackets, usually in dark shades sometimes with velvet trim, high waisted 'drainpipe' trousers, chunky brogues and later large crepe-soled shoes, often suede (sometimes nicknamed 'brothel creepers'). A high-necked loose 'Mr B' collar on a white shirt (as worn by jazz musician Billy Eckstine ) was set off with a narrow 'Slim Jim' tie and floral brocade waistcoat. In the main these clothes were tailor made at great expense through many weekly instalments. Preferred hairstyles included long, strongly moulded greased-up hair with a quiff combed back to form a 'DA' ( Duck's Arse ) at the rear of the head. 'Teddy girls' adopted a style similar to the lads', with drapes complete with Pencil Skirt s, they added their own touches, such as straw boaters, cameo brooches, espadrilles and coolie hats, but later adopted the American fashions of toreador pants and voluminous circle skirts, wearing their hair in Ponytail s. Film director Ken Russell took a series of photos of such girls in late 1954 and early 1955 around the East End Of London , and in Notting Hill {Link without Title} . As with some other youth culture movements, groups of 'Teds' sometimes formed gangs and enjoyed notoriety following violent clashes with rival gangs, seized upon and often exaggerated by the popular press. The most notable was the infamous Notting Hill riot of 1958 , in which Teddy boys were conspicuous within the racist white mobs who roamed the area attacking black people and their property {Link without Title} . As with most other youth cults, however, most were attracted by the clothes and music rather than violence. Cadillac Eldorado , Teddy Boys' favorite]] In the 1960s , many Teddy boys became ' Rockers '. Conversely, many Rockers passed themselves off as Teddy boys by throwing on a drape coat to gain entry into a dance hall where leather jackets were banned. During the 1970s , Rockabilly music enjoyed a renewed period of popularity and saw a resurgence of interest in 'Teddy boy' fashions spearheaded by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren , but often in much louder pastel colours. Paradoxically, in the late 1970s the new generation of Teds became the arch-enemies of the Westwood and McLaren-inspired Punk Rock ers. The Teddy Boys made it acceptable to care about what one looked like all the time and dress purely for show, instead of just having one's work or school clothes or Sunday best. This trend came after the huge wage increase for school leavers aged 15-21. SEE ALSO
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