1978 to early 1980s; ongoing Mod scene revival

Mod Revival

Late-70s second wave of British Mod — slim suits, parkas, target T-shirts, two-tone shoes, and Lambretta scooter culture rebooted.

Palette: RAF red and blue black white olive parka green burgundy navy
Signature garments: fishtail parka with stencil slim two-button suit Fred Perry polo Ben Sherman button-down two-tone Jam shoes RAF target T-shirt
Canonical brands: Fred Perry Ben Sherman Lambretta Merc London Adidas Doc Martens

About

Mod Revival is the second-wave British Mod movement that surged from 1978 through the early 1980s, sparked by the Quadrophenia film (1979, based on the Who's 1973 album) and led musically by bands like the Jam, Secret Affair, the Chords, Purple Hearts, and the Lambrettas. The revival reached back to the original early-1960s Mod codes — sharp slim Italian suits, button-down shirts, Fred Perry and Ben Sherman, target T-shirts, Harrington jackets, parkas with RAF roundels stencilled on the back, two-tone shoes, and Lambretta or Vespa scooters customised with mirrors and lamps — and added late-70s power-pop attitude. The revival overlapped with the parallel 2-Tone ska scene (the Specials, Madness, the Selecter), with Suedehead, and with early Casuals. While the Revival itself faded by 1983, its visual codes have stayed in continuous circulation through ongoing Mod scenes worldwide, through Britpop's 90s lift of Mod styling (Paul Weller's solo career being the through-line), and through every menswear designer who has ever drawn on slim Italian suiting.

Not original Mod — Mod Revival is the late-70s/early-80s second wave sparked by Quadrophenia and the Jam, distinct from the early-60s original even though it consciously rebuilds the same codes.

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