countylads.com | a celebration of casual culture

No, we're not struggling for material, I think the Haircuts are the final piece in the Casual Jigsaw!
There have been many changes over the years, as things like your hair become an important factor in this vein world we now live in. In the 70's your average Bovver boy would have been none to bothered about his hair,and scruffy flowing locks often went in hand in glove with the old Scarf on the wrist look! The Early 80's nothing much changed, still scruffy and pretty much un-important? Then When the whole Casual phenomenon kicked in, everyone got fashion conscious, The Wedge for example, as seen on
David Bowie's LOW LP, an Oxford aesthete hairstyle, which took of mainstream as a casual style cut - thanks to the scousers. Check out any late 80's / 90's pics and your average lad looks like Gary Oldmans' 'BEX' in the Firm, BUT one style above all has been there and withstood the test of time, the Skinhead, number one, two or zero? it doesn't matter the most low maintenance haircut out there, most people can doit themselves too. Plus when the years start advancing upon you, and it gets thin on top reach for the clippers!

1970's

80's Style Wedge

80's Mullett

70's Style

Skinhead

Suedehead

80's Style

70's Style

1980's

centre parting

home clippers

Acid House cut

1990's

curtains

Modern Day

number 3

older lad

timeless skin

stupid funboy cut

Left to Right: Bowie's Wedge, Paul Weller's mod revival cut, Gary Oldman slicked back in the Firm, Brian Ferry
Mike Score (Flcck of Seagulls) Sean Ryder, the Small Faces and ABC's Martin Fry.

It's not just the old Billy Ray Cyrus chop, Chris Waddle scarecut, and sported all over the Deep South, in America,that you'll find this highly offensive haircut, often the butt of many jokes...
So WHY then has it re-emerged as a new must have haircut amongst the fashionista fraternity?
but it's rearing it's ugly head into football too, I recently saw a picture of Sheffield Wednesday's escort at rivals Sheffield United, some of them looked like they'd come straight from Tony and Guy!
The stupid fucking chopped on top, and at the sides but left at the back has been seen on footballers such as Beattie, and Beckham, and in the last couple of years has popped up everywhere, more often than not couple with the Blazer and Jeans, Parrot head fuckers who's sole destiny in life is to ruin our favourite things by not wearing them well, jarg Forest Hills and Lyle and Scott come to mind, Stick to yer Henleys fuckwits!

"can I have one of those uber-cool hip and trendy new beattie, beckham �30 mullet cuts please?"

THE MULLETT
/ PARROT HEAD

Every so often a little gem comes along, that you don't have to pay through the nose to own. The Strellson Protection parka is no finer an example, A while back there was talk of this being available in TK Maxx for as little as fifty quid, possibly even less, that was a tale that got clued up casuals up and down the land making regular trips to their local TK's, Strellson is a decent little clothing label, a terrace label it is not, I'm sure some of the other stuff may have some appeal, but the Swiss Protection parka is a stand alone piece in many people's opinion.
This jacket is difficult to source, there are ways, but as it only seems available in the far reaches of Europe it's difficult to understand where to purchase or whether to take a gamble, unless you are fluent in Swiss or German of course.
I was after one of these for a while, the TK Maxx myth like tale actually put me off, me thinking it can't be that good if they stock it...
But after seeing a few pop up on classified sections of message boards I had to have one. I managed to get one for less than a ton, and pound for pound it's arguably the best jacket in my wardrobe, a bargain. I've not taken it off! There are loads of little details amongst what is simply a great shape and style of jacket anyway - always been a fan of long hooded jackets. It includes an FM radio, a lock ...yeah, a fucking lock!, a pencil cased style pocket that I think is for sunglasses, ear flaps on the hood - perfect for taking calls on the old mobile without having to undo the hood, and even a watchviewer, not in the same style of CP's watchviewer, but it's a good gimmick nonetheless.
I personally cannot praise this jacket enough, despite it not having a hefty rrp on it, I've yet to bump into anyone else in one!

also available in beige and burgundy

The much talked about but seldom seen Urban Protection Range from CP Company, Often mistaken for another stroke of genius by Massimo Osti the range from the late 1990's was actually designed by fellow Italian Moreno Ferrari - who also created the crazy
CP Company transformables range, The Urban Protection stuff now are sought after pieces despite being under ten years old they can fetch top dollar if and when they appear for sale, the Metropolis with it's built in smog mask is probably the most identifiable piece but there are other gems too, and here they are from the vaults of CP Company's archive!

1998 The Munch - a jacket with a personal safety device in special pocket, high density double fleece lining and Dynafil TS-70 fabric
1998 The Life jacket - parka with noiseproof removable headset, anti rip, anti abrassion oiland waterproof Dynafil TS-70 fabric
1998 The Metropolis jacket - jacket with anti smog removable mask, anti wind double opening pockets, Dynafil TS-70 fabric.

1999 The Move jacket - a jacket with multi pocket waistcoat containg foldable aluminium scooter, cuffs containing fleece half mittens.
1999 The View jacket - parka carrying detachable shoulder straps for posture control, high density double fleeced lined Dynafil fabric

1999 The Atlas jacket - a jacket with an inflatable and removable collar. tough wearing Dynafil TS-70 nylon based fabric.
1999 The REM jacket - parka style jacket complete with ICD30 Sony digital note taker with 16 minutes playback in special nylon pocket.
1999 The Solo - a technical outerwear waistcoat, carrying an adjustable flashlight.

Skins prepare to board the football special train in 60's London

owning the terraces - 60's style skin in harrington and polo shirt.

SKINHEADS Oi!
Without a doubt one of the best, and most familair youth styles was the Skinhead, borrowed off the sharply dressed Mod and Teddy Boy this was a huge part of youth culture in the 60's inspired by the Ska / Reggae styles of West Indian dressers in London, later on you could say the look was adopted by a more fierce and right wing core group. Hairstyles consisted of Short cropped hair and long sideburns, sometimes quite long with a visable parting.