When The Who released their first single, “I Can't Explain”, in 1965, it went straight in at No8 in the UK's charts. The man behind the track was Pete Townshend, cofounder of the band, whose unique sound was rooted in Britain's swinging mod culture.
Townshend went on to be one of the 1960s' most influential figures. Through his music, of course – unsurprisingly, The Who were quick to find success in America (as one of the leading groups of the British Invasion) before going on to sell more than 100 million records worldwide – but equally Townshend inspired through his personal style.
Mastering the formula of mod fashion through his slim-cut suits, leather boots, knitted jumpers and patriotic prints (who can forget the Union Jack blazer?), Townshend used his wardrobe to communicate a forward-thinking Britishness all his own.
Today marks Townshend's 75th birthday, so in celebration, here's six of his go-to garments from the decade that kicked off his success.
Year: 1966
Tip to take: The key to nailing mod style? First and foremost, through tailoring. Townshend is a prime example to follow, especially during this US television performance in 1966, for which he wore some ultra-slim-cut trousers paired with a single-breasted pinstripe blazer. Points for the construction of his top half especially: cut to fasten a little higher (a key nod to boating styles) and fixed with nifty notch lapels, the result looked sharp and extremely stylish.
Year: 1965
Tip to take: Looking to dress things down a bit? Townshend has got a tip for you: trade in your shirt and tie for a turtleneck. As a basic (but most definitely sophisticated) alternative to his upper formal pieces, the simple, high-neck design of this jumper was the ultimate companion to sit between the lapels of his boxy open blazer. Easily paired with some neutral straight-cut trousers, the result was effortless styling (and a great port of call for days when the sun shies away).
Year: 1967
Tip to take: Who says loungewear is to remain behind closed doors? Certainly not Townshend, who, for this performance at Pembroke College in 1967, stepped out in his standard tailored uniform complete with a printed-silk robe. Hats off to him for this bold style move; not only did he anticipate the flamboyant flower revolution of the 1970s, but he also looked (and felt) pretty comfortable on stage. That excellence certainly went hand in hand with his Fender Jazzmaster.
Year: 1967
Tip to take: Clearly, Townshend made head-to-toe print work, but a lot of the time he stuck to a reliable uniform of slim-cut mod tailoring and let his accessories do the talking. Case in point: London's Saville Theatre, 1967, at which he completed his classic striped blazer with a subtle flower-printed scarf. Top points for that fold; it's called an Ascot knot and it's the most elegant way to centralise your outfit.
Year: 1968
Tip to take: Though a lot of our favourite menswear icons are characterised by a classic, well-crafted approach to style, they all occasionally dip into the same statement, and it's Western attire. Shown here in 1968 on the set for a student art film in which he featured, Townshend made a solid case for all cowboy ingredients: Cuban-heeled boots, slim-cut indigo jeans, a baggy (and unbuttoned) shirt and, of course, a fedora. Looking to give the look a go? Start with the hat.
Year: 1969
Tip to take: If you're wondering how to make a style statement that doesn't scream regret, Townshend has a cue for you: velvet trousers. This outfit from 1969 was a masterclass in how to elevate your formalwear, namely through texture (velvet is a brilliant choice as it's soft, comfortable and a nice way of nodding to luxury) as well as braces: the perfect complement to those bold kecks and the ideal accessory to elongate your silhouette.
John Lennon was the most stylish musician of all time. Period
