501
Jeans
ca. 1982 (made)
ca. 1982 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This outfit was worn by Shaun Cole in the late 1980s. It was displayed in the V&A's Streetstyle exhibition of 1994-5 to represent a style of clothing worn by skinheads in the late 1980s.
Skinhead style fused with Punk clothing in 1978 to create a scruffier, more aggressive "bonehead" look with closely cropped or completely shaven heads. Slogan T-shirts and coloured bootlaces could be used to express politicial or football team affilations. Levis brand jeans were popular because of their narrow cut and skin-tight fit, which meant that the red braces associated with the look could be worn hanging down decoratively. This particular look was taken up by gay men who admired the look.
Skinhead style fused with Punk clothing in 1978 to create a scruffier, more aggressive "bonehead" look with closely cropped or completely shaven heads. Slogan T-shirts and coloured bootlaces could be used to express politicial or football team affilations. Levis brand jeans were popular because of their narrow cut and skin-tight fit, which meant that the red braces associated with the look could be worn hanging down decoratively. This particular look was taken up by gay men who admired the look.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | 501 (trade title) |
| Materials and techniques | Denim |
| Brief description | Jeans, blue denim, Levi's 501, United States, ca. 1982 |
| Physical description | Bleached and faded blue denim jeans. |
| Production type | Ready to wear |
| Object history | Registered File number 1994/1061, Streetstyle exhibition 1994-1995, in the exhibition it was part of an outfit called 'Skinhead UK Late 1980s' (includes the braces T.624-1994, the T-shirt T.620-1994 and the jacket T.623-1994). Part of a man's skinhead outfit that was worn by Shaun Cole in the late 1980s. He also compiled a Gay Style outfit for the Streetstyle exhibition. (see T.936 to 939-1994; T.653:1, 2-1994) |
| Historical context | From 1978 Punk style fused with Skinhead style to create a scruffier, "bonehead" look. Well-worn and bleached orange-tab Levis were worn because of their narrow cut and skin-tight fit, negating the need for braces, which were worn hanging down as pure decoration. Boot-laces were colour-coded, and slogan T-shirts were worn to flaunt politics, or football team affilations. This particular skinhead look was appropriated by some gay men. |
| Summary | This outfit was worn by Shaun Cole in the late 1980s. It was displayed in the V&A's Streetstyle exhibition of 1994-5 to represent a style of clothing worn by skinheads in the late 1980s. Skinhead style fused with Punk clothing in 1978 to create a scruffier, more aggressive "bonehead" look with closely cropped or completely shaven heads. Slogan T-shirts and coloured bootlaces could be used to express politicial or football team affilations. Levis brand jeans were popular because of their narrow cut and skin-tight fit, which meant that the red braces associated with the look could be worn hanging down decoratively. This particular look was taken up by gay men who admired the look. |
| Bibliographic reference | Surfers, Soulies, Skinheads & Skaters : Subcultural Style from the Forties to the Nineties
Described in the exhibition publication, part of an outfit called 'Skinhead UK Late 1980s'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.622-1994 |
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| Record created | December 23, 2010 |
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