Teddy boy facts for kids

A Teddy boy was a young man in Britain during the 1950s. They had a very special way of dressing. The name 'Teddy' came from the clothes they wore. These clothes were a new version of styles from the Edwardian period, around 1910. This period was named after King Edward VII, who ruled from 1901 to 1910.

Teddy boys were closely linked to early rock and roll music. People often saw them as rebels because their style was so different. They were also important because they were one of the first groups to show a clear British youth culture. For the first time, teenagers from working class families had money to buy their own clothes, bikes, or even motorcycles. They also spent money on entertainment. Teddy boys wore clothes that sometimes surprised or even shocked older people.

What Teddy Boys Wore

The Teddy boy style was very distinctive. They wore long jackets with only one row of buttons. Their pants were narrow, and their shoes had thick, bouncy soles, often called "creepers." They also wore thin ties, sometimes called "pencil-thin" ties. Their hair was styled in a "duck-tail" shape at the back.

A Unique Look

This fashion was popular among young men from working-class backgrounds. They liked to look very stylish and neat, almost like a "dandy." The Teddy boy fashion trend did not last for a very long time. It later changed and led to other youth styles like the mods and rockers in the early 1960s.

Images for kids

• 

  Typical black suede creepers fashionable during the 1950s.

• 

  Bolo tie featuring Native American design.

• 

  Bill Haley and the Comets wearing tartan shawl collar jackets, 1956.

• 

  Ford Zephyr, a popular car for Teds.