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• January 6, 2009
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Too Cool For School: The Mod Style of To Sir, With Love

By Sarah Maher

James Clavell's 1967 film To Sir, with Love stars Sidney Poitier as a charming teacher with a classroom full of East End louts at London Docks Nth Quay Secondary School. Though the student body undermines their education with, "foul language, crude behavior and sluttish manner," we see a stylish future for these angst-ridden wastrels with their heavy eyeliner, matte lips, and denim-clad rebelliousness. "Miss Wong" in her pinstripe button-down shirt, Mod skirt, patent mary-janes, doe-eyes, floppy bangs and loose ponytail, gets an "A" for attitude. "Seales," in her corduroy cap, plaid shirt and tie, stovepipe denim, cockney slang, and leather lace ups is an Alex Wang muse 40 years ahead of her time. Finally, the lovely "Miss Pamela Dare" with her amusing name, tousled mane, mini-skirts, love of rock lads and partying puts any modern Peaches Geldof-types to shame.

Wearing vintage Raybans , v-neck sweaters, white Jack Purcells , black desert boots, super-pegged pants, and oversized knits paired with miniskirts and flats, these foulmouthed hooligans spend their days smoking in outhouses, being snarky, and dancing mid-day… and you can too in the charcoal envelope-neck pullover by Opening Ceremony, the grey-plaid campfire shirt and the indigo quilted-denim jacket both by BBlessing. Pair the raw indigo stretch slim jean by Surface to Air or Helmut Lang's skinny coated cord jeans with the skeleton key boots by Chronicles of Never .
Girls should grab their favorite boyfriend sweater and match with the high-waisted mini skirt from Oak, the Silence and Noise wool pleated skirt from Urban Outfitters, or the zipper skirt from Alexander Wang Of course, for maximum effect you have to polish off the look in a pair of unisex aluminum knuckle dusters by Surface to Air. Just remember to do your homework.