Small Faces to Faces: Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane's Style Legacy

Small Faces to Faces: Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane's Style Legacy

When discussing the definitive style icons of British Mod culture, Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces merit particular attention. Their sartorial influence extended far beyond their chart positions, helping define the distinctive Mod aesthetic before evolving into the more relaxed yet equally influential look of the Faces


The Small Faces: Mod Perfection in Miniature

When the Small Faces formed in East London in 1965, they didn't merely adopt Mod style—they epitomised it, their diminutive stature (hence the "Small" in their name) belying their massive fashion influence.

Steve Marriott: The Complete Mod

As the band's charismatic frontman, Steve Marriott presented perhaps the most complete embodiment of Mod style principles:

  • Perfect Proportions: Despite standing just 5'5", Marriott's attention to proportion made him appear the quintessential Mod. His tailored suits were meticulously fitted, creating a silhouette that complemented rather than fought against his frame.

  • Immaculate Details: From precisely cut button-down shirts to perfectly knotted slim ties, no element of Marriott's appearance was unconsidered.

  • The Hair: His perfectly styled feather cut became so influential that young Mods would request "a Marriott" at barber shops across Britain.

  • Footwear Focus: Knowing that true Mods judged style from the ground up, Marriott's Chelsea boots and loafers were always immaculately chosen and maintained.

What made Marriott's style particularly influential was how natural it appeared—his East London working-class background gave his Mod aesthetic authenticity rather than affectation. This wasn't costume but a genuine expression of cultural identity.

Ronnie Lane: The Thoughtful Stylist

If Marriott brought explosive energy to Mod style, bassist Ronnie Lane represented its more thoughtful, subtle side:

  • Understated Elegance: Lane often chose more muted tones and patterns, creating a quieter but no less considered appearance.

  • Textural Interest: He frequently incorporated interesting textures—cord jackets, knitted polos, and suede shoes—adding depth to his looks without flashiness.

  • Casual Sophistication: Even when the band wasn't in matching stage suits, Lane's casual wear maintained Mod principles through clean lines and quality materials.

  • Accessory Intelligence: Lane understood the power of subtle accessories—the right sunglasses, watch, or even a simple scarf—to elevate an otherwise simple outfit.

Lane's style sensibility suggested that Mod wasn't merely about specific garments but rather an approach to dressing that valued quality, proportion, and thoughtful coordination.

The Collective Image

Together with bandmates Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan, Marriott and Lane created a unified group aesthetic that became a template for Mod band style:

  • Coordinated Without Matching: The Small Faces demonstrated how a band could present a cohesive image without resorting to identical uniforms.

  • Colour Harmony: Their stage outfits often featured complementary colour schemes, creating visual harmony while allowing individual expression.

  • Tailored Consistency: Whether in suits or more casual attire, the consistent application of tailoring principles created a polished collective appearance.

  • The Attitude: Perhaps most importantly, they carried their clothes with the perfect balance of care and nonchalance—clothes were important but never precious.

The Psychedelic Transition

As the 1960s progressed and Mod evolved into psychedelia, the Small Faces' style evolved accordingly, particularly following the success of their landmark 1967 album "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake."

Expanding the Palette

This transitional period saw several significant style developments:

  • Bolder Patterns: Paisley shirts, floral prints, and more experimental patterns began appearing in both Marriott's and Lane's wardrobes.

  • Wider Lapels: The razor-thin lapels of early Mod suits gradually widened, reflecting broader fashion trends.

  • Longer Hair: Both Marriott and Lane grew their hair longer, though still maintaining styled cuts rather than adopting the unkempt look popular in other psychedelic bands.

  • Relaxed Formality: While never abandoning their smart appearance, the rigid formality of their earlier look softened somewhat.

This evolution demonstrated how Mod style could absorb new influences while maintaining its fundamental principles of quality and attention to detail.

The Split and Divergence: Humble Pie vs. Faces

When Steve Marriott left the Small Faces in 1969 to form Humble Pie, and the remaining members recruited Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to become the Faces, a fascinating style divergence occurred that would influence two distinct branches of rock fashion.

Marriott's Evolution with Humble Pie

Marriott's post-Small Faces style represented a significant departure:

  • Embracing Rock Flamboyance: His new look incorporated more overtly rock 'n' roll elements—open shirts, vests, and a generally more uninhibited appearance.

  • The Bohemian Touch: Fringing, embroidery, and other decorative elements entered his wardrobe, reflecting both changing times and American influences.

  • Hair as Statement: His hair became bigger and more dramatic, though still styled rather than simply grown out.

  • Working-Class Touches: Despite the rock star trappings, Marriott maintained elements that reflected his roots—workwear influences and practical boots kept his look grounded.

Despite these changes, certain Mod principles remained evident in Marriott's attention to detail and the intentionality of his presentation. This wasn't careless rock star dressing but a deliberate evolution of his style language.

Ronnie Lane and the Faces Style

Meanwhile, the Faces developed their own distinctive aesthetic that would prove hugely influential:

  • Casual Luxury: Lane and his bandmates pioneered a look that mixed high and low elements—silk scarves with worn denim, expensive boots with simple t-shirts.

  • Textural Richness: Velvet, satin, leather, and other tactile materials created visual interest through texture rather than pattern.

  • Relaxed Tailoring: Suits didn't disappear but became softer and less structured, worn with a deliberate casualness.

  • The Accessorised Look: Hats, scarves, and jewellery gained prominence, adding personality to otherwise simple outfits.

This evolution created what might be called "post-Mod" style—retaining Mod's attention to detail and quality while rejecting its more rigid formality in favour of a looser, more playful approach.

The Enduring Influence

The style legacy of Marriott and Lane continues to resonate in contemporary fashion, with elements from both their Small Faces and later periods regularly resurging in menswear.

Small Faces Influence in Contemporary Fashion

Several elements from their Mod heyday remain persistently relevant:

  • The Slim Silhouette: The precisely tailored look championed by the Small Faces regularly returns to menswear, offering an alternative to looser, more casual styles.

  • Pattern Play: Their sophisticated approach to pattern—particularly in shirts and accessories—continues to influence how men incorporate visual interest into their wardrobes.

  • The Complete Look: The band's head-to-toe attention to detail offers a valuable counterpoint to the more piecemeal approach often seen in contemporary dressing.

  • Class Transcendence: Perhaps most importantly, they demonstrated how style could transcend class boundaries—creating sophisticated looks regardless of background or budget.

Faces-Era Influences

Elements from Lane's Faces period similarly continue to resurface:

  • High-Low Mixing: The blend of formal and casual elements pioneered by the Faces has become a cornerstone of contemporary menswear.

  • Individualistic Dressing: Their more personalised approach to band style demonstrated how groups could maintain visual cohesion without sacrificing individual expression.

  • Vintage Integration: Lane's skill at incorporating older pieces alongside contemporary ones created a template for the vintage-mixing that characterises much of today's most interesting menswear.

  • Relaxed Confidence: The relaxed yet considered approach to style that defined the Faces offers a particularly relevant model for today's men seeking to dress well without appearing overly studied.

Creating Your Own Marriott-Lane Inspired Look

We offer numerous pieces that allow you to incorporate elements of these iconic styles into your contemporary wardrobe.

Small Faces-Inspired Pieces

For those drawn to the band's Mod heyday:

Faces-Era Inspirations

For those preferring the later, more relaxed aesthetic:

Style Lessons from the Small Faces to Faces Journey

Beyond specific garments, Marriott and Lane's style evolution offers several valuable principles for developing personal style:

1. Evolution Over Revolution

Both musicians demonstrated how personal style can evolve naturally rather than changing abruptly—incorporating new influences while maintaining core aesthetic values.

2. Authenticity Above All

Whether in sharply tailored Mod suits or more relaxed rock attire, both Marriott and Lane dressed in ways that felt authentic to their personalities and backgrounds rather than merely following trends.

3. Attention to Detail

Throughout their various style phases, careful attention to details—from the perfect collar roll to complementary accessories—elevated their looks beyond the ordinary.

4. Proportion Mastery

Particularly for Marriott, understanding proportion was crucial—demonstrating how physique need never limit style when clothes are chosen with appropriate scale in mind.

The Complete Style Legacy

The journey from Small Faces to Faces represents one of the most influential style evolutions in British music history. From the perfectly tailored Mod precision of their early years to the more relaxed yet equally considered look of their later work, Marriott and Lane demonstrated how fashion could reflect both cultural movements and personal growth.

 

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