Carlton Cordell Looks at Bay Area Youth Fashion Trends

KTVU News report from October 4th 1968 by Carlton Cordell which considers the impact of youth culture on fashion trends in the Bay Area and looks at how stores on Polk Street in San Francisco and 14th and Broadway in Oakland have overtaken the Haight Ashbury as youth fashion centers for "far out clothing." Cordell interviews the owners of The Town Squire and The Casual Man clothing stores on Polk Street and also Mr Yanci III at Mr Yanci's Clothes Hangar in Oakland. When Cordell asks if African American youth dresses any differently from white youth Yanci III replies: "I would say yes as far as styles go they are the style-setters and they create these ideas more or less. They create fads amongst themselves." Cordell also asks these storeowners to what extent the youth fashion market influences older generations. In wrapping up his report Cordell - who is dressed in fashionable youth garb instead of his usual suit - reflects that 1960s youth "made the first break away from conformity" and closes by theatrically removing a false moustache pointing out there are many ways to change your appearance. It should be noted that Yanci's was the first African American owned clothing store in the East Bay.