Mad for Mod: A Guide to Achieving the ’60s Mod Look
(Photo Source: FashionToast, Fashion Copious)
In the fashion documentary The September Issue, Anna Wintour cited sixties London as one of the most inspiring fashion movements in the world- and I could not agree more. With an ever-growing youth culture, the city was hot and ripe with inspiration everywhere you looked. Mod was the movement, and the movement was swingin’.
Want to learn more about Mod culture and how you can get the Mod look today? Read on!
Video Inspiration
To start, I want to get you in the mood for mod by showing you this eye-candy-filled video of sixties London. While the narration is kind of random and hilarious (and half the time the narrator is just rambling about nothing), I love, love, love the clothes as well as the vibe of the video – everyone looks flush with originality. Check out the video below:
Get the Look
Now that you’ve been primed with those lovely visions, it’s time to show you how to get the mod look from head to toe. First up is hair, so get your locks in gear.
Mod Hair
There are several types of mod hairstyles but the two most popular are the pixie cut and the fringe bang look.
“It girls” like Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick popularized the pixie cut during the 60s – it was perfect for the time because it was youthful and fun but still sexy and breezy – especially when in the company of well-groomed brows and sky-high eyelashes.
Meanwhile, fringey friends Anna Karina and Jane Birkin rocked the eyebrow-skimming bangs look with doe eyes and soft lips. Like the pixie cut, fringey bangs are youthful while still being sultry and alluring.
Makeup
As I mentioned earlier, a Mod girl is only as good as her over-the-top makeup. The mod makeup look is simple, but it does take a bit of practice.
For everyday mod, you can’t go wrong with a basic cat eye. To help you create the look, I found an easy to understand video tutorial that will show you how to do it:
While everyday makeup is nice, sometimes you want to be over-the-top, so in addition to the basic cat eye makeup video, I also found a great mod makeup tutorial to show you how to achieve the “authentic” mod look. This look takes a bit of time – but once it’s finished, it’s totally worth it. Check out the video below:
Shop the Mod Look
Mod fashion is crazy and all over the place, and it’s hard to pin down one all encompassing “mod” look. So, instead, I’ve pulled some basic items that you’ll need to start off your transition to ’60s chic.
(False Eyelashes, Earrings, Booties, Eyelash Curler, Eyeliner, Skirt)
No mod girl is complete without a pair of over-the-top false eyelashes, and an eyelash curler – so I included both in your lookbook. I also included my HG eyeliner that I use when I do my cat eye makeup – it’s smudge-free and never runs or anything, plus it’s easy to apply since it’s a pencil liner. I’ve tried all the major liners and Urban Decay’s eyeliner in “Zero” will forever be my favorite.
For clothes and accessories, I started with a style that originated in ’60s London – the mini skirt. I love the mini skirt because the trend started on the streets. Designers saw young girls showing off their stems, and were so inspired that they copied the look for the runway – and the rest is history. Flirty, fun, and awesome, this skirt is perfect for a sixties-inspired look. I also picked out some fun booties in a style that was popular during the Mod era. Lastly, I threw in some big pearl earrings for a Twiggy-esque feel.
Thoughts?
Do you guys love mod fashion as much as I do? Who’s your favorite icon from the sixties? Are you going to try rockin’ the cat eye? Whatever your thoughts, let me know in the comments!
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Posted on on November 15, 2010 / Filed Under: Inspiration / Tags: 1960s, Clothing, Makeup, mod, Tips, Twiggy
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Maddie
I love love love this look! It’s why I got bangs :) I love all things retro.
L
The mod look is perfect for pale boyish figured girls, but really anyone can incorporate it into their look. Fringe or pixies are great for big doe eyes!
Mayra
What a great makeup tutorial, and I love the clothes!
Alison
I love the Mod look (Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy are two of my style icons), so this post is perfect!
Kathleen
SO agree on this. i loove the mod look! esp the make up :). my everyday make-up is inspired by this – esp the heavy mascara on the bottom lashes :).
Sammy
love this post!! i can’t wait to have an excuse to try out the edie sedgwick makeup!
lauren @ lapetitefashionista
love the mod look! i think one night im just going to get really daring and do the make-up tutorial for a night out with my friends & see what people say! now if only i can figure out liquid eyeliner ;)!
xoxo lauren
Ali
I love that video! I put it on my own blog a couple of months ago. I wrote a dissertation this year about fashion retail in 1960′s london and just finished a collection inspired by 60′s london! the word mod actually collected a few different meanings throughout the decade, and though the american interpretation (miniskirts, bright colours, pop art, lots of eyeliner) is the one that has hung around the longest, the ‘original’ mod style was mainly rooted in menswear. the rare female mods often wore pants and sweaters! I love the whole era though. I really liked Cathy McGowan’s style and Mary Quant is pretty much my idol.
arisel
So freaking awesome! The Mod look is one of my favorites ;)
Anne
I absolutely love mod, and think the makeup from that era is awesome looking. Unfortunately, my combination of super pale skin and downturned eyes makes recreating flattering cateye eyemakeup on myself all but impossible. Ah well. I’ll just continue to admire the look from afar.
Milana
Great post! Even though Mod is not my absolute favorite fashion style, I really like the look and feel of it and especially the hair!!
edith
i just tried the edie inspired make up!! i LOVED it… it makes eyes look super big!!
and for Anne… if you have downturned eyes, this look is wonderful for you, because you can make the line a bit thicker on the outer corners of your eyes to bring the corners up, and if you make the line longer than your eyelash line, your eyes are elongated!! this is a girl with big downturned round eyes!! and everyone is tricked!
Camille
Amazing article! I love everything about the 60′s, especially mod.
jaymarie
I just love this post. Graphics are amazing. The mod look is always a unique and cool look. I love it! :)
nighthouse66
nice article, but having been a mod for years and years, i can tell you- the boots are NOT AT ALL mod. not in the slightest. that is an eighties look. courregges white boots, brown suede knee length boots, kitten heels- this is mod. also the miniskirt- a slinky purple- not mod either. would be much better to have something tweed, or a minidress ala mary quant. hope i don’t sound stuffy, but mods take their clothes VERY seriously and are something of a load of nazis about it! thanks fr the article!!!
linda
I absolutely love your video. The end result was fabulous, and your commentary was so classy. Thank you for an amazing tutorial!
thenameisnathan
oh. my favourite icons from the sixties are twiggy and briggette bardot. bardot more so, since i did a paper on her. she seems like a very kind person from what i learnt. then twiggy because of her look. her babydoll doe eyes catch me every time.
as for the cat eye, i have been rocking it since the seventh grade, and i don’t plan on stopping. aha.