Not Your Seven and Six

A Mod expression for the 1960s. Mod was an aspirational working class youth culture which used sharp and sartorial style as a rebellious statement against their allotted place in life so many expressions were associated with this. So English expression 'at sixes and sevens' means in a physical or metaphorical mess, all over the place, and was used by Shakespeare. But the price of t shirts in Woolworth's selling discounted which were inferior quality clothing to that which the Mods aspired, was seven shillings and sixpence written 7/6- . The two references materialized in the Mod terms 'Not your 7/6' meaning something was not cheap and/or messy clothing

"The mod lifestyle was about conspicuous spending on quality goods. Suits had to be tailored, not bought off-the-peg, and anyone who did turn up at an all-nighter wearing a low-cost version of mod fashion would be labelled a seven and six. The numbers are a reference to pre-decimalized British currency and the cost of cheap T-shirts in Woolworths." Fraser McAlpine BBC World Service

"Of course it's a nice suit what did you think? Real mohair mate not your seven and six- "

"She turned up lookin' a bit seven and six to be honest I wouldn't date her again"

by Thoroughly Modern Zo August 27, 2023

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