Teddy Boy

"Teddy Boy" (or Ted) is a term with a few different meanings, depending on the context. Here are the most common ones:

1. The British Subculture (1950s)

This is the most famous meaning. Teddy Boys were a distinctive youth subculture that emerged in post-war Britain in the early 1950s.

• Origin of the Name:Their style was based on an idealized, exaggerated version of Edwardianmen's fashion (from the reign of King Edward VII, 1901-1910), hence "Teddy."
• Style (The "Look"):

  • Suits:Long, drape jackets with velvet collars, high-waisted "drainpipe" trousers, and brocade waistcoats.
  • Hair:Heavily greased, with a quiff at the front and long hair at the back, sometimes swept into a "duck's arse" (DA).
  • Accessories:Thick crepe-soled shoes (brothel creepers), bootlace ties or string ties, and often pocket watches.

• Music & Attitude:They were among the first British teenagers to adopt American rock and roll(Bill Haley, Elvis Presley). They had a reputation for being rebellious, working-class, and sometimes involved in gang clashes and street fights, most infamously at cinemas showing Rock Around the Clock and in the 1958 Notting Hill race riots.

2. Music: "Teddy Boy" (Song by Paul McCartney)

• A song written by Paul McCartneyin the late Beatles era. It was rehearsed during the Get Back/Let It Besessions in 1969 but was not released by The Beatles. McCartney later included it on his solo album McCartney II(1980). The song tells a story about a mother worrying about her son, a "Teddy Boy."

3. Anime/Manga: "Teddy Boy" (Kewpie)

• In Japan, "Teddy Boy" (テディボーイ) is sometimes used to refer to the vintage Kewpiedoll style or characters with that look—big eyes, a topknot of hair, and a cherubic face. It's more about a specific cute aesthetic than the British subculture.

4. Historical Nickname: "Teddy Boy" Roosevelt

• A very informal and rarely used nickname for Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. President, playing on the "Teddy" part. This is not a standard historical reference.

Which one are you likely asking about?

• If it's about fashion and 1950s youth culture, it's the British subculture.
• If it's about a Paul McCartney song, it's the musical reference.
• If it's in an anime or art context, it might be the Kewpie-style aesthetic.

Given its cultural impact, the 1950s British Teddy Boyremains the primary association.