Women’s Mod Fashion: Pieces That Still Work Today
Over sixty years later, Mod fashion is as sharp as it’s ever been. Wearable, everyday rebellion: Mod was a statement long before it became a look. And women were more than just a footnote in that statement.
The Mods rebelled against their parents' austere, conservative values, and, arguably, the girls rebelled the hardest.
Here’s how the Mod girl shaped the way we dress today, and which pieces from her era are still iconic.
The History of the Mod Girl
Mod fashion grew out of post-war Britain, hot on the heels of food and fabric rationing, and severe financial squeezes. There was austerity; then, all of a sudden, the kids had money. With their own jobs, incomes and tastes, Mods set out in search of something different from their parents.
For young women, that certainly meant more than just style. For them, the Mod movement was about rebelling against the domestic ideals they had seen play out their entire lives. That meant a firm no to their mother’s clothes and to her ideas of what a proper young lady should be.
Influenced by jazz, Eurocentric flair, and sharp tailoring, early Mod girls dressed more androgynously, borrowing heavily from the menswear of the time rather than traditional feminine styles. Clean lines and close-cut hair were what set Mod girls apart, a challenge against how women should dress.
Women Mods: 60s Icons
Mary Quant
You simply can’t talk about Mod style without mentioning the legend that is Mary Quant. Famous for popularising the A-line skirt, so named for its triangular silhouette, narrow at the waist and wide at the hem, Mary Quant was also known for her daring use of bold new colours and fabrics, and for helping make the mini-skirt a symbol of the era.
As Mary herself has said, “I liked my skirts short because I wanted to run and catch the bus to get to work.” But Quant didn’t just make style functional; she also made it accessible. Her prices were more affordable than those of other fashion houses, putting style in reach of working-class women.
Twiggy
Then there’s Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson (née Hornby), so nicknamed for her iconic slender frame. With her boyish, wide-eyed look, Twiggy came to be seen as a face of the Mod movement, moving the look from the street to high fashion.
With her cropped hair, striking makeup and slight frame, Twiggy continued the work of early Mod girls, subverting what a fashionable woman was supposed to look like. Like Quant, Twiggy rose from a working-class background to become an influential figure in high fashion.
Mod Fashion vs Modern Trends
“People call things vulgar when they are new to them,” explains Quant. “When they become old, they become good taste.” She was right about that. Those Mod styles she pioneered, that the establishment so hated, are now revered.
But beyond fashion, Mod style also changed society. Rather than the upper class deciding what’s good, Mods put youth in the driving seat. Personal style also became less tied to class, meaning anyone could now look sharp and practical every day.
And that appetite for wearable, unpretentious style still exists now. We just don’t call it Mod anymore.
Retro Fashion for Ladies: Mod Essentials Worth Investing in
Here are three pieces from the Mod era that have earned a permanent place in every wardrobe.
Shirts
Sharp, with clean lines and endlessly versatile, the Mod shirt is as wearable now as it was in the 60s. Relco London’s shirts are made from high-quality fabrics and are designed to hold their shape and quality throughout heavy use. Tuck them into a pair of Sta-Prest trousers or a tonic skirt. Or, if you’re going for something casual, wear them unbuttoned over a T-shirt. There are few pieces that work as hard as our shirts.
Skirts
Structured, practical, and with an iconic silhouette, Tonic skirts are a Mod classic. Our skirts come in classic colourways, checks, and tartans, depending on exactly how Mod you’re feeling. From subtle nods to full-on 60s statements, our skirts are made to the high standard of the rest of Relco’s range.
Jackets
Tailored and timeless, Mod jackets still cut the sharp silhouette that the movement was built on. Our women’s Harrington Jackets are made to the same standard of British craftsmanship that defined the originals.
Wearing Mod Fashion Today
Dressing Mod today doesn’t mean digging out an old A-line dress; it can be as subtle as you want it to be. At Relco, we put wearability first. Sharp, comfortable pieces that don’t compromise on style or functionality. We make proper clobber that’s as good now as it was in the 60s.
As Quant says, “The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don't wear her.“ At Relco, we make clothes you want to wear. See the full Relco range here.