The first recorded Mod reference featured in the novel Absolute Beginners written by Colin MacInnes. The book was written and set in London, 1958 and provides a fantastic insight in to the world of the early Mods.
The Mods were the baby boomers of an affluent post-war Britain; they had the money to spend and chose to spend it in the best Jazz clubs and on the finest Italian slim-fit suits. The term Modernist derives from Modern Jazz – the music of choice for the early mod. The new brands of music and clothing available was representative of a changing Britain, influenced by post war immigration, particularly from the Caribbean.
The way that Mods dressed was about more than just looking smart. They wanted to distance themselves from the way that their parents lived, this was symbolised by the way they chose to dress. They were (and still are) certain connotations attached to being a mod; a mod’s clothing is often a uniform for their societal beliefs. By becoming a mod that’s exactly what you are, regardless of race or social class.