Rude boys rocked the runway at the Costume National SS12 menswear show.
There were checkered, stacked shoes, tapered, cuffed pants and buzzed and tousled hair.
Be still my Beat-ing heart.
Hit play and… “are you ready, are you ready to go?”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrXvgBgbJDk]
I knew something special was in the air, when I saw these.
It is interesting that the brand showed this ska-inspired collection 20 years to the day (!)Â that The Specials’ Ghost Town was number one on the UK charts.
Some things are classic – but not mass classics. They exist a bit below the regular radar. Worn with a suit, these shoes might get some initial reactions as being quirky or fun – but a man doesn’t wear these to illustrate those facets of his personality.
A man wearing these has a checkered past with this era. He’s got the 7-inch single with the original artwork, to prove it.
As I’ve said before when it comes to music I like, I don’t separate the music from the look of the band – they are synonymous for me. The Specials and other ska bands of their ilk, had an unstoppable style to accompany the non-stop sets of finger-snapping, head-bopping, am-I-really-jumping-up-and-down tunes.
They may have been singing about rude boys, but these were gentleman. In suits. Note the looser jackets, the skinny lapels, the layering, the proper head wear.
The details in this one photo alone, I can discuss for miles: the pocket ruffle and pant pleats on Lynval Golding; the tilt of the hat on Neville Staple; the mirrored shades on John Bradbury; the tense scowl on Terry Hall’s face contrasted by the easy jacket; Jerry Dammers’ infamous tooth-less grin and wrap-around shades; the knot on Horace Panter’s tie; the layering and pouf of hair peeking out from Roddy Byers’ fedora.
See why the boys from Coventry were and are special?
I look at this model off the Costume catwalk and I see a Terry of today.
There was always an element of taking sportswear and adding tailoring with the ska sartorialists. Look at the side cut of that jacket, just below the pocket. Look at the zippered pockets on the vest below. I also love the chunky bracelet and the “don’t mess” earrings. Very Rude Boy.
Roddy’s hair made the current cut, too.
The flap of the shirt flashes back to the ’80s, as do the red, black and white shoes.
However, it’s not about reliving the past exactly as it was.
You can keep your style, but still be up to date and relevant. The gents in the band are the best examples of that.
It’s all about borrowing elements but keeping that original personality that you brought to the clothes.
This tie, for example gives a nod to Terry’s ascot in the Message to Rudy video.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cntvEDbagAw&feature=relmfu]
It’s taking things like the slouch of an original jacket and removing the sleeves in the current version. It says casual and dressed at once.
It’s about keeping that inner style star bright and taking him (or her!) one step beyond.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-uyWAe0NhQ]
Images: Collection images courtesy of GQ and Costume National. Specials images courtesy of TheSpecials.com, except for recent tour image, which was taken by Andy Willsher.
