Teddy Boy

Teddy Boys made it acceptable for young people 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 arose as young people's disposable income increased during the post-war years. Teddy Boy clothing consisted of: long drape jackets, usually in dark shades, sometimes with velvet trim collar and pocket flaps; high-waisted drainpipe trousers, often showing brightly coloured socks.

Favoured footwear were chunky brogues, large crepe-soled shoes, often suede (known as brothel creepers) or winklepickers, shoes or ankle boots with exaggeratedly pointed toes. Plus a high-necked loose collar on a white shirt (known as a Mr. B. collar because it was often worn by jazz musician Billy Eckstine); a narrow 'Slim Jim' tie, and a brocade waistcoat. These clothes were mostly tailor-made at great expense and paid for through many weekly installments. Preferred hairstyles included long, strongly-moulded greased-up hair with a quiff at the front and the side hair combed back to form a Duck's Ass at the rear of the head. Another hairstyle was the Boston, in which the hair was greased straight back and cut square across at the nape.