Skinhead, ska and two-tone are related but distinct: skinhead is a British youth subculture that began around 1969; ska is a Jamaican music genre (born late 1950s/early 1960s) that the scene danced to; and two-tone (2 Tone) is the late-1970s UK movement that fused ska with punk energy. Skinhead is a look and culture; ska and two-tone are music that shaped that look.
What is skinhead style?
Skinhead emerged among working-class youth in London around 1969, growing out of the "hard mod" scene as mod slowed after 1966. The look is a stripped-down, tougher version of mod: Ben Sherman or Fred Perry shirts, Levi's or Sta-Prest trousers, braces worn to show working-class pride, and Dr. Martens boots. Crucially, early skinhead culture was multicultural, built on a shared love of Jamaican reggae and soul.
What is ska?
Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and early 1960s, combining Caribbean mento and calypso with American R&B and jazz. Its offbeat rhythm later evolved into rocksteady and reggae. British skinheads adopted Jamaican ska, rocksteady and "skinhead reggae" as their soundtrack, which is why ska imagery is central to skinhead clothing.
What is two-tone (2 Tone)?
Two-tone is a British musical movement named after 2 Tone Records, founded by Jerry Dammers of The Specials in 1979 in Coventry. It revived Jamaican ska and fused it with punk's speed and political bite. The first 2 Tone release was The Specials' "Gangsters" in May 1979. The label's black-and-white checkerboard logo deliberately symbolised racial unity in a divided Britain, which is why the black-and-white check is the defining visual of two-tone fashion.
How does the clothing differ?
The wardrobes overlap, but the emphasis differs:
- Trad skinhead: button-down shirts, Fred Perry polos, braces, Sta-Prest/Levi's, Dr. Martens or loafers, Harrington or bomber jackets. Clean, sharp, working-class.
- Ska / rude boy: sharper tailoring influence, pork-pie hats, sometimes suits and skinny ties (the Jamaican rude-boy look the 2 Tone bands wore).
- Two-tone: the above plus the black-and-white check everywhere, on shirts, badges, braces and tees, echoing the 2 Tone logo.
Related guides: Traditional Skinhead Clothing: The Complete Guide and What to Wear to a Ska All-Nighter
FAQ
Is skinhead a type of music or a fashion?
Neither exactly, skinhead is a youth subculture with its own fashion and values. Its soundtrack is reggae, ska and soul; its look descends from mod.
Are ska and two-tone the same?
Not quite. Ska is the original Jamaican genre; two-tone is the British late-1970s revival (led by The Specials and 2 Tone Records, 1979) that mixed ska with punk and made the black-and-white check iconic.
Why is skinhead clothing linked to Jamaican music?
Because the original 1969 skinheads were fans of Jamaican reggae, rocksteady and ska, sharing the scene with West Indian "rude boys." Skinhead culture was multicultural at its roots.
Where can I buy ska, two-tone and skinhead clothing?
Oxblood Clothing, a UK family-run brand, sells traditional skinhead, ska and two-tone t-shirts, polos, braces and accessories online, shipped worldwide.
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