Back in 1981, in a dressing room at the BBC Television Centre in London after an appearance on Top of the Pops, the Specials imploded and went their separate ways. Last week most band members were back in the same building, re-formed, differences reconciled, for an appearance on Later ... with Jools Holland.

I remember seeing the Specials perform their first single, Gangsters, on Top of the Pops, and I can recall the sense of excitement that I felt as I witnessed the birth of something new. Punk had run out of phlegm and anarchy was morphing into anachronism; as a teenager who loved music, I craved something fresh to replace it. And here it was.

Musically, the 2 Tone bands, such as the Specials and the Selecter, were unlike anything that had gone before, with their raw energy and insistent, jogging ska rhythms. But in fashion terms they seemed to be part of the mod revival, a phenomenon allied to the release of Franc Roddam's 1979 cult film, Quadrophenia. This meant a preference for slim-fit Sixties-style suits, often two-tone in finish (the suits, along with the racial diversity of the musicians, gave rise to the name of the record label from which the musical movement derived its own moniker).

I confess that I wanted one of these. In fact, I wanted the one that Sting wore in Quadrophenia, a silver-grey Tonic (two-tone). As the Ace Face, he was the coolest of the mods in the film. I even took a page from a magazine featuring an ad for Quadrophenia - a line-up of the characters with Sting dominating - to a tailor and asked him if he could make me look like the Ace Face. I can't remember the conversation but, suffice to say, he didn't.

I now know that the suit that Sting wore was by Johnsons the Modern Outfitters of Kings Road, Chelsea, which sadly no longer exists. But you can get one that's pretty close from Burton today, as the high street chain has launched a limited edition Tonic suit to celebrate the Specials' 30th anniversary tour. Made of 100 per cent wool, it has a one-button slim-fit jacket with a narrow peak lapel and slim trousers, and comes in dark blue and charcoal grey. It's only £99 and is being worn by the Specials' front man, Neville Staple, on tour.

Now before the cynics among you start carping about middle-aged pop stars succumbing to the style of the less-than-cutting-edge high street, I'd like to give you a brief history lesson. Even The Mutton is not old enough to remember the first generation of Sixties mods, but I have it on good authority that they did indeed shop at Burton. In fact, the suit that Neville Staple is sporting, according to Burton, incorporates design elements from its archive. So there. If you're after a “mod suit”, by wearing Burton you'll achieve more authenticity than by opting for a swankier (and considerably pricier) designer label. Now that's a message to you, Rudy.

The Specials' reunion tour starts in Newcastle on April 22 .

The Burton Tonic suit is available at selected branches and at www.burton.co.uk. Stockist information: 0845 1214514.

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