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| The stylist Cynthia Lawrence John |
As a teenager growing-up in the late seventies, I can remember Two-Tone/Rude Boy style and the ska bands of the time. And so I loved the Return of the Rude Boy exhibition at Somerset House. First seen in Kingston during the late fifties and early sixties, this phenomenon was described by Black Style author Carol Tulloch as 'Jamaica's first authentic subcultural street style', a sharp way of dressing influenced by the New York jazz scene and 1950s mods. Arriving in London with the West Indian community of the early sixties, the super-cool look: smart suits, trousers cropped to show off white socks and loafers, and always a hat - rapidly spread. As the name suggests, this beautifully curated exhibition - I like the old suitcases - documents the style of modern day rude boys and girls.
Photographs are by Dean Chalkley and creative direction by Harris Elliott. Some of the Rude Girls and older boys are my favourites:
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| Ayishat Akanbi |
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| The ever-stylish Jason Jules |
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| Don Letts and sound system |
Good to see Pauline Black, ex-lead singer of ska band The Selector, still rocking that tomboy, Two Tone style. I enjoyed Staring at the Rude Boys and Girls so much, I've seen it twice.
Return of the Rude Boy is on at Somerset House until 25 August 2014.
