Being a casual

[Buzzer]

Being a kid it was all lois cords (of various colours), ellesse, farah, fred perry, lyle and scott, sergio tacchini etc. Potters, Vokins and there was one in churchill square by the back near Tesco that sold the lois cords. I read a magazine article "shopping at stuarts" the casuals port of call in London.

Stuarts at Shepherd's Bush is still going. Got a lovely Tootal scarf from there as it happens. Interesting that mod and casual culture have kind of merged with a lot of blokes in their 30s and 40s. Both have big Italian influences too. Their fashion is wasted on all their grim fashion-disaster ultras groups.

 

[The Large One]

I have a theory, completely unscientific, that there is something innately aggressive about the British. We're a chaotic bunch of people and on one side we're capable of brilliant original thinking giving the world great art, music, science and literature but the flip side is we're world class at being chippy, violent b*stards. Add to that the island race mentality and that's the reason why we were so effective at building the biggest empire the world has ever seen - it gave an outlet for all the aggression. The baby boomers were the first generation of Brits not to be called up to war and so they looked for the bloodlust within - hence the mods and rockers in the 60s and footie ever since.

It's why I think there are still footie firms nowadays despite the risks attached to it. Governments and the police will never stamp out footie violence completely because the violence is part of who we are. Go to any high street on a Friday night and you'll see it come to the surface.

I'll get off my soap box now....

I think you need to add in that we're a bit of a mongrel race, happy to welcome in many, if not all forms of culture.

To that end, it's the culture wars that are the most pronounced - as opposed to internal political confrontation. No-one does mad political rioting like the Parisians, or in-fighting like the Italians. The partisan identity we seek is cultural, not political - and we do that internally. That's one reason why we get shit government after shit government - our focus is elsewhere.

Having said that, my theory is also completely unscientific.

 

[carlzeiss]

For those that were around in the 80s and can remember , was it anything like as depicted in this film ? :-

[yt]A2AGq-LDULI[/YT]

 

[The Truth]

This was a mildly distracting discussion until you stuck your nose in.

I can't add anything to the thread; it's an interesting historical culture thread that I'm viewing from the sidelines, but I'm getting cheesed off with your meaningless interventions.

Please stop. By all means start your own thread about fashion, but sod off from this one.

How on earth did that comment wind you up that much?
I have my angle on Casuals, I've freely expressed that in this 'discussion'. Why not add something to the table yourself instead of telling me what to do?

In relation to your point, I don't like it when i read you defending Pete Townsend and his internet antics on this forum. It doesn't give me the right to tell you to stop, instead I just think you're an idiot of the highest order.
But Please carry on....

ps this thread isn't jus about fashion. The Casuals prided themselves on their so called football hooliganism. I hope you knew that?

 

[Garage_Doors]

What now or in the 80's heyday??

Now.

 

[The Kid Frankie]

I suppose a zimmer-frame can be used as a dangerous weapon.

There are blokes still doing in for Brighton in their 50's who are just as graceful as their younger counterparts.

 

[The Truth]

There are blokes still doing in for Brighton in their 50's who are just as graceful as their younger counterparts.

"Trapped in time can't finish a line, looking for something just like me"

 

[wellquickwoody]

Casuals UTD, what the hell are they?

Never heard of them, sounds cringey

I have known casuals who have serious jobs, left wing, right wing, black, white, dig holes for a living, solicitors, it takes allsorts

The media love a stereo type, which tints what its about

They exist, but not very credible.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

I have a theory, completely unscientific, that there is something innately aggressive about the British. We're a chaotic bunch of people and on one side we're capable of brilliant original thinking giving the world great art, music, science and literature but the flip side is we're world class at being chippy, violent b*stards. Add to that the island race mentality and that's the reason why we were so effective at building the biggest empire the world has ever seen - it gave an outlet for all the aggression. The baby boomers were the first generation of Brits not to be called up to war and so they looked for the bloodlust within - hence the mods and rockers in the 60s and footie ever since.

It's why I think there are still footie firms nowadays despite the risks attached to it. Governments and the police will never stamp out footie violence completely because the violence is part of who we are. Go to any high street on a Friday night and you'll see it come to the surface.

I'll get off my soap box now....

No dont get off your soap box, you are a 110% right on this.

It has always been the way throughout British history we have had street youth gangs. One of the reasons I became a Rockabilly was because not only did I like the music there were shit loads of them back in the day and we took on all comers including the NF. It was about belonging to a family, when you walked down the street people crossed over and if you passed another rockabilly you did not know it boiled down to what part of London you were from North or South even areas. As you grow up you understand it is all bollox and although I still hate casuals as they only attacked you when they were mob handed or armed with Stanley blades....

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

No dont get off your soap box, you are a 110% right on this.

It has always been the way throughout British history we have had street youth gangs. One of the reasons I became a Rockabilly was because not only did I like the music there were shit loads of them back in the day and we took on all comers including the NF. It was about belonging to a family, when you walked down the street people crossed over and if you passed another rockabilly you did not know it boiled down to what part of London you were from North or South even areas. As you grow up you understand it is all bollox and although I still hate casuals as they only attacked you when they were mob handed or armed with Stanley blades....

Same as in Victorian times. I remember half watching some historical doc and they were talking about front page news stories about feral youths and alcohol.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Same as in Victorian times. I remember half watching some historical doc and they were talking about front page news stories about feral youths and alcohol.

The flippin Romans moaned about the youth of Today !!

 

[Buzzer]

Here's the video I was talking about. The casuals stuff starts just after the 6 minute mark and some excellent fashions and tragic haircuts going on. The video is just the business though - proper Northern Soul dancing - there's flares, vests and chalk aplenty way before black New York kids were spinning on their heads and then with the rave bit some scenes that take me right back to being up at Sterns/Mansion House.

 

[The Truth]

They exist, but not very credible.

To say the least, they're a bunch of neo-nazis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PooHIkOGoQo

 

[Guinness Boy]

back on track though, I was never into the violence but I loved the clothes. race and house music was more my era to be honest but I think youth culture flows from one to another as buzzer suggested. one thing I liked about Brighton in the 90s was that you could be into all sorts simultaneously. a kind of eclectic mix of youth culture United instead of fighting.

There was a bit of a downturn in violence reported in the early 90s compared to the 80s as I recall often attributed to the rise of Acid House and bands like Primal Scream and The Happy Mondays, or more specifically what people took when they went to see them. Your post has reminded me of what a great time I had in the early 90s at these gigs and club nights. I had a little group that were regulars at the Escape and (more often) The Zap. You'd bump in to all sorts, hippies, skaters, fruits, crusties. Three of my mates were casuals often rocking up in white trainers but looking smart enough with the rest of their clothes (and peaceful enough) to get in. As I said I was quite interested in the clothes back then but not so now. Travelling to hot places killed it. With the exception of a Japanese winter I spent four years solid in t-shirts and shorts or shirt and tie for work (edit - it also doesn't help that I'm now a fat c***).

 

[Seasidesage]

Ok then sir. Let's talk about casuals and not about me. Deal?

Like I said before, The Casuals were just a bunch of pansies who were more afraid of ruining their hair than getting a broken nose.
A bit of nostalgia for people who didn't have much fun.

Buzzer, you are probably right more for effect than a specific assertion. Anyway, Truth, you have no more idea of the 'truth' than your average MP. Clothes and culture are not about violence at all. That said, if you think town is rougher now than it was then you are seriously deluded or more likely about 14...

I suggest that you concentrate on something you know about because you are clearly clueless on this subject.

 

[Napper]

Massive part of football still.

Not cheap being into it though

 

[paul & shark]

Here's the video I was talking about. The casuals stuff starts just after the 6 minute mark and some excellent fashions and tragic haircuts going on. The video is just the business though - proper Northern Soul dancing - there's flares, vests and chalk aplenty way before black New York kids were spinning on their heads and then with the rave bit some scenes that take me right back to being up at Sterns/Mansion House.

£20 for one E, all you required is one.

 

[The Truth]

Buzzer, you are probably right more for effect than a specific assertion. Anyway, Truth, you have no more idea of the 'truth' than your average MP. Clothes and culture are not about violence at all. That said, if you think town is rougher now than it was then you are seriously deluded or more likely about 14...

I suggest that you concentrate on something you know about because you are clearly clueless on this subject.

So Casuals have nothing to with football violence?

 

[wellquickwoody]

No, unless you include mid to late forties as pensioners.

 

[The Truth]

Massive part of football still.

Not cheap being into it though

or original.