The In Crowd: Mod Fashion & Style 1958-66 exhibition opens at Brighton Museum on May 10, 2025, offering visitors the chance to explore the 1960s youth subculture that championed being anti-establishment and unapologetically modern.
We Love Brighton was lucky enough to be offered a sneak-peak earlier this week of the
fashion that defined a generation.
After mingling in the foyer, accompanied by sparkling wine, duck croquettes and prawns,
speeches were given by those involved in bringing the exhibition to life. The stand out for me
was Roger K. Burton who reflected on his own time as a Brighton Mod. As he talked, he
showed such a clear passion and affinity for the exhibition which he had a huge hand in
curating, telling the audience that “Mod captured the heart and soul of many in my
generation”.
Spanning over three rooms, the exhibition features 35 mannequins dressed in original Mod
fashion, some of which were designed by the likes of Mary Quant, John Stephen and, of
course, Ben Sherman. The outfits showcase the sharp lines, tailored suits and geometric
patterns that defined the movement and solidified it as a key part of British fashion history.
My personal favourite mannequin was dressed in a black dress with bold white lines running
across it, complete with beautifully tailored red leather trench coat.
Slightly betraying my age here, but long before I decided to move to Brighton, I first
remember hearing about the Mod movement whilst studying for my GCSEs – specifically the
1964 clash between Mods and Rockers that occurred by Brighton beach. So to be able to
learn more about the movement was a lovely thing to do and so easy as well, with panels
dotted around the rooms displaying information covering the legacy and history.
The Mod impact on music and pop culture is also explored in the exhibit with displays on the
R&B, blues and soul sounds that are synonymous with it, along with a section on the hugely
successful, but short-lived TV programme, ‘Ready Steady Go!’, that hosted the biggest
artists of the 1960s.
The exhibition, which is sponsored by Ben Sherman, is running from May 10 2025 till
January 4 2026 and is free to visit with Brighton Museum admission.
Address: Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Pavilion Gardens, East Sussex, BN1 1FN
Website: Brighton Museum & Art Gallery – Brighton & Hove Museums
