London’s square mile is the most affluent square mile in the world. Out of a total city
Workforce of 336,000 there are 80,000 millionaires. Every year, city bonuses amount to around £20billion. The city of London is one of the most competitive, successful and vibrant places on earth. ‘London swings like a pendulum do, Bobbies on bicycles two by two’ It’s the third most popular destination for young travellers, the first being San Francisco USA and the third Sydney Australia. Style has billowed out of this city like smoke did from its factories during the industrial revolution, now it’s the style revolution.
All roads lead to London, forcing cultures foreign and native to mingle. From this melting pot styles emerge representing all classes. The cockney cabbie occupy the same square mile as the millionaire, the cockney shares little in it’s takings but much in its fame and glory. His stereotype has been characterised in many famous West End and Broadway plays, and Hollywood screen adaptations, on Television and on the streets. The accent, slang, clothing mannerisms and song create a style embryonic of London.
Any old iron, any old iron, any, any, any old iron
you look sweet
talk about a treat,
you look dapper from you head to your feet
well you’re dressed in style,
with a brand new smile,
your father’s old green tie on
well wouldn’t give you tupence for old watch chain, old iron, old iron
My old man’s a dustman; he wears a dustman’s hat
He wears cor- blimey trousers and he lives in a council flat
He looks a proper nana in his great big hobnail boots,
He's got such a job to pull them up, that he calls em daisy roots.
These songs are cockney anthems and captured the essence of the working class hero. Two of them popularised by Davy Jones, once a member of the Monkees, renowned teeny bopper band of the 60’s (manufactured) to challenge the Beatles. Davy Jones starred in the musical rendition of Oliver Twist, a Broadway Smash hit of the same Era; he played the Artful Dodger in youthful glamour and appeared on the same Ed Sullivan show as did the Beatles in 1964.
The cockney and Scouser (the latter a person from Liverpool) became instantly recognisable by style of clothes, hair, accent and song. In front of a record television audience they performed their style of music which was in such stark contrast to the Vaudevillian style of entertainment being aired at that time. Even the ‘die-hards’ like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, originally critical of this radical move in music style eventually recorded Beatle songs.
The Beatles made ideal ambassadors; they were young, fresh faced and very talented; unknowingly playing a major role in style migration through their music, hair style and clothing. Fifty years on, there is still faint evidence of those styles and they keep emerging, the tight fit suiting, skinny silk ties and, hair styles, are back in vogue. The Beatles lead the way other bands followed.
It was an explosive decade for London styles in all things material and artistic. The convergence of different cultures from other cities like Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle helped create new styles without intent. Other cultures attached their variations, but never true to original form, this was London’s own shouting to the world.
The London square mile continues to grow in wealth and remains the fashion capitol. Its influence on style both radical and conservative continues.
No comments:
Post a Comment