SLIM Jim ties and fluorescent socks and top pocket hankies that came stitched to a piece of card.
By heck, but young chaps knew what style was back in the 1950s and 1960s.
Reader Winston Fell asked if anyone remembered the name of the shop on the corner of Victoria Lane in Huddersfield where he went when in need of a fashion fix.
Tom Starkey, of Bradley says, “Tell Winston the name of the shop he is referring to was Tyas. He’s right, they had a great selection of fluorescent socks, slim Jim ties and trendy shirts. I spent a fortune there.”
Peter from Honley also says the name was Tyas, but memory is a fickle friend. Bryan Heathcote of Oakes says, “I used this shop from 1952 for about 10 years to buy my shirts and ties and believe it was called Hicks. Barry’s on Cross Church Street was the place where young men bought the latest fashionable suits.”
John Langford says, “I can’t remember the name of the shop but I bought lime green socks there. I also had a pair of blue suede shoes with golden guitars on them bought from a shop on Byram Street opposite the Parish Church. Last time I saw a pair of these socks, they were on a member of a Showaddywaddy tribute band in Benidorm.
“Our English language master at King James used to refer to us as ‘Teddy Lads’. We accepted this label as you didn’t argue with masters of the calibre and ferocity of Jock Anderson. One of our group at school had a fantastic head of hair and full Teddy boy style. When he left school, he joined the Police Force and rose to great heights in rank, but at the cost of all his hair.”
Alan Whitehead, of Honley, remembers a similar shop in Dewsbury when he was at school and a fluorescent sock fan. When he went for a card with a purple hankie glued to it, they were out of stock but the bloke said, “I can get you one from our Huddersfield branch.”
In his first job at L B Hollidays, he no longer needed to go there to buy bright socks. He took white socks to work on a Saturday morning and dyed them whatever colour he wanted. His friends were madly envious of his fluorescent tones. “I ended up doing socks for them, as well, at about a bob a time.”
