Moccasins
Type Moccasin into Google image search and you will see lots of comfy slippers. In the early 80’s they were little tan slip on shoes, worn by casuals. But start researching back further and you will see some smart but very casual shoes.
Gucci made very nice moccasins. Loake make some very nice moccasins. Their style is different again, the soft leather makes this a very comfortable shoe for casual occasions. The good ones don’t come cheap, but they exude class.
Below are some examples of 80’s style moccasins along with what I think are actually classic shoes.
Cycling shoes
I see Cycling Shoes as an extension of the sports look. Fred Perry is the obvious sports look for the aspiring MOD, casual but smart. I always thought the cycling shirts had a splash of MOD about them. Loads of variations, small runs on the clothing made them very desirable for a smart but casual look.
The Cycling Shoe has the cool look of different lines, little breathing holes and unique styling, much like the Bowling Shoe.
Bowling Shoes
In Richard Barnes MODS book he mentions that he had a friend that walked out with his Bowling Shoes still on after going bowling. The story implies that a chance accident started a MOD fashion, whether it is true or not I can see why the style is liked.
The multi-colour style of the Bowling Shoe works in the MOD environment, slightly flash. The only pair I have had were lovely and soft, but were instantly useless in the rain. Countless people have brought out variations on the theme since the 60s.
Again, they were massive in the MOD revival which I suspect because Melandi and Shellys made it very easy to buy via mail order. Adverts in music mags such as Melody Maker, NME and Sounds mean that outside of London you could access a pair. Again Weller and The Jam can be clearly seen wearing Bowling Shoes on The Snap cover, which is a clear endorsement.
“I just used to go with them to Carnaby Street on Saturdays and it was there where we used to buy our clothes, especially for school. I bought a pair of Jam Bowling Shoes (chisel toe of course) from Shellys and the worst trousers money could buy, just because we thought Paul Weller wore them.”
SUPER CORSA’S WORLD
I seem to recollect that you could get just about any colour combinations. The shoes did deem to be a lot more flat looking and a chisel toe.
The pairs that are available now are pretty good. Mate of mine here in boro wears an ikon pair and they look pretty good.
The Jam Stage Shoes
When “Going Undeground” got to number 1 in 1980 the UK was in full MOD Revival swing. And there on Bruce Foxtons feet in the video was a pair of Jam Stage Shoes.
I believe Shellys were the suppliers of said shoe. I wonder if they sponsored The Jam at the time. Like Bowling Shoes and the Jam Stage Shoes you could buy them mail order and in a variety of colours. Red White and Blue was a fav colour for any young MOD. Now I think they look look a little dated but I do like the fact they stand out a mile.
See on a few websites these being referred to as badgers ! There are few people that make and sell these now.
I would say these are a classic and one style that will also be thought of as MOD revival. I am not sure where Weller got his first pair! or whether he had them made. I assume he must have had seen the picture or The Who’s Roger Daltrey wearing era ’64. In the picture you can clearly see the two tone black and white shoe.
Certainly The Jam seem to wear them through most of ’77 and Foxton can be seen in a pair on the ‘All Mod Cons’ LP cover. As the band came through, the shoes would have been an easy money spin.
At the time you could buy them from either going to Carnaby Street or by mail order. I remember Melandi being one of the shops that used to push them.
I am not sure if Melandi made them and welcome an answer on that one. You still see them about on scooter rallies in th UK. Personally, as a shoe, I think they look pretty good and as style I think the pointy look goes in and out of fashion.
Ikon are the only people making these shoes these days. if you fancy a pair here you go !
Here are some pictures of people wearing them.
The Hinkley Carnival 2012, Riders are members of The Warwickshire Scooter Alliance – Photo By Kingy
I would say these are a classic and one style that will also be thought of as MOD revival. I am not sure where Weller got his first pair! or whether he had them made. I assume he must have had seen the picture or The Who’s Roger Daltrey wearing era ’64. In the picture you can clearly see the two tone black and white shoe.
