Urban Life
Black Leather Jackets, Motorcycles and Rock & Roll
Black leather jackets have left their distinct mark in American culture becasue of what they have come to represent. They have become a form of recognition into a lifestyle that generally opposes the common rule and thread. Like specific colors in a wardrobe would reveal gang members and their loyalty in the streets of LA during the 1980’s, black leather jackets are worn to symbolize a decision into a subculture that sets it own rules.
History of the black leather jacket
The quintessential leather jacket was born out of functionality when they were created for aviators in the First World War. The first leather flight jackets were more bulky than they are today, often featuring shearling-lined collars and lapels to protect pilots from the elements. As time passed the leather jacket has become as essential in fashion as the t-shirt, abandoning its more practical uses in favor of a sartorial importance fueled by pop culture and the evolution of trends.
Above image from Schot NYC 100 Years of An American original : myfreedamn
Vintage Rock T-Shirt Picts | Sometimes a Tee Says it All
Vintage T-shirts have been a North American fashion icon since the fighter pilots returned home from WWII wearing them decorated with war slogans as normal weekend attire. Often the pilots stationed in South Pacific during the war would mark up their undershirts that they wore under their normal uniform with all types of pictures and slogans. When they returned home many of the pilots continued to wear their marked up t-shirts around the house or out with their pals. This was during the 1950’s, the era of Ozzie & Harriet and Leave it to Beaver, at the time if you wore a undershirt without a dress shirt over it you were considered a rebel, or a derelict.
As time passed the T-shirt became a symbol of freedom, everyone from bikers, rockers, surfers and more began to make the t-shirt a part of their everyday wardrobe.
The following collection of images from THE SELVEDGE YARD show different rock stars and their fans from the 70’s wearing an assortment of different t-shirts with different sayings that prove that prove that sometimes a tee says it better

ca. 1970s --- Roadie Wearing <no Backstage Passes> Tank Top --- Image by © Neal Preston/CORBIS

Deadhead Wearing Cannabis Shirt --- Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

Kieth Richards wears a t-shirt asking Who the Fu*k is Mick Jagger

ca. 1972 --- An apparently unhappy Rolling Stones fan wears a t-shirt that reads, "I Need the Stones to Keep Me Happy," at a Rolling Stones concert. --- Image by © Neal Preston/CORBIS

ca. 1979, Toronto, Ontario, Canada --- Rolling Stones Fans at Concert --- Image by © Neal Preston/CORBIS

28 Aug 1979, USA --- Country musician Hank Williams Jr. wears an "if you ain't a cowboy, you ain't shit!" T-shirt. --- Image by © Neal Preston/CORBIS

Ronnie Van Zant with the 'key to the city' given to him by the Mayor of Jacksonville seen hanging around his neck, ca. 1970s. Ronnie's t-shirt is even more notable-- Who the F*ck are the Rolling Stones anyway?

September 1982, Glen Helen Regional Park, California, USA --- Concert Promoter Bill Graham --- Image by © Neal Preston/CORBIS

ca. 1979 --- Rock musician Ted Nugent wears a t-shirt which reads "can Ted Nugent survive in a John Denver world?"--- Image by © Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis

1979, Marin, California, USA --- Members of the rock group Grateful Dead are Bill Kreutzman (striped shirt), Jerry Garcia (black shirt and jacket), Mickey Hart ("God is Sound" T-shirt), Phil Lesh (white T-shirt), Bob Weir (Duke sweatshirt), and Brent Mydland. --- Image by © Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS
SEE MORE PICTS AT THE SELVEDGE YARD
1970's Surf, Sand and Beachwear
It is almost that time a year where many of us get to shed our clothes and soak in some rays down at the local water hole. This year 1970’s fashion is on the rise and I just can’t help but browse through some of favorite photos of 70’s swimwear. From European designer beach wear to southern California surf-wear, 1970’s swimwear had a a style and appeal all of its own.
There are certain keys to follow when dating vintage swimwear:
-Lastex began to be used in swimwear starting in the late 30’s and continued through the 50’s.
-Spandex, better known as elastane in Europe, began to be used in swimsuits in the late 60’s. Dupont patented this as Lycra.
-Fabric content on labels was mandated in the 1960’s
-Garment care instructions seen on labels beginning in 1971
-Symbols on care labels began in the 1990’s in the US, earlier elsewhere
Model Cheryl Tiegs at the beach in an orange bikini with white polka dots by Villager, with a man reclining on chaise — Image by © Condé Nast Archive/CORBIS
Famous Farrah Fawcett Poster on most adolescent boy’s walls in the 1970’s
Cheryl Tiegs swimsuit pose
Classic One-piece and Two piece swimsuit designs from the 70’s
Modern bathing suit with exact 1970’s glamor cut
Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime with a wig-wearin’ female friend, circa 1970s.
Surf Rats Hanging out at the beach
Christie Brinkley Sporting a colorful one piece
1970’s European Men’s Matching Swimwear
Mark Richards matching his board shorts with his surfboard
Larry Bertlemann pure classic style
Kids 19070’s beachwear
North shore 1970’s beach fashion
1970’s Venice Beach
MR Ripping the Bottom Turn
Style on Wheels | 1970's Custom Van Craze
The 1960’s had their counterculture revolution going on, with war protests and the civil rights moment happening simultaneously with the free love/dope flower children movement. When this group got a little older they continued to express their psychedelic free loving nature through the type of clothing they wore, the type of music they enjoyed and the type of art they liked.
In the 1970’s some of these individuals found a new way of expressing their independent cosmic nature by having murals painted on the side of their vans. These love wagons were somewhat cheep, easy to maintain and great for luggin a van full of stoners to the next Iron Butterfly Concert.
Wait until you see the waterbed I installed in this baby!
Who needs a limo when you can drive a van.
“Hey man you going to Van Land?”
Nothing says, “Hey I am a straight up guy,” like a painting of a horse in a cosmic desert on the side of your van
Brown, Yellow, orange and Beige never looked so good together.
The horse was a popular theme among these comsic cowboy enthusiasts.
Hey girls, guess what I am into?
So Hot your Cool, so Cool your hot!
The marketing geniuses at the big three automobile companies in the United States producing vans at the time Ford, Chevy and Dodge, all attempted to cash in on the craze with mixed results. Because of them we get to admire or laugh at the great adds that they produced in this era.
Vintage 1970’s Ford Van Advertisement Featuring Surfers.
Good Times at the beach – Vintage Dodge van Advertisement.
In the 1980’s the Custom Van movement began to loose momentum as the new conversion van started to hit the market.
Scooter Style
Vintage Vespa Scooters have left their mark on the transportation and fashion industry as an iconic piece to many a lifestyle. The Vespa scooter brand has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy—to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by Piaggio.
