Purdylola Loves

My work here is done.

2011-09-26T03:25:00.000-07:00

It's been fun, but as my life gets increasingly busier this little old blog of mine has been rather neglected. When I do have time to go online I seem to want to spend that time reading other people's blogs rather than writing my own. So for now I am putting it to bed.

Night night for now (I may be back). x

P.S - I hope to keep Purdylola Draws going so please visit for updates regarding my illustration work.

P.P.S - In the meantime if you're a girl or a woman, please refer to ROOKIE MAG for, well, everything really. Tavi is a genius and a serious contender for the first female American president.

REVOLUTION GIRL STYLE NOW!

Vagabondiana Blog Header

2011-06-15T03:47:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked by my dear sister-in-law Ellen Burney, to create some illustrations for her blog Vagabondiana. Obviously I jumped at the chance, not only because I love her so and her blog is magnifique but also because I knew that it would be a very fun brief and an opportunity to make something very chic, very cute and hopefully very Vagabondiana.

Regular visitors will be familiar with her original blog header which features a still (below) from the slightly bonkers but beautifully styled 1968 film 'Secret Ceremony', a favourite of Ellen's and one which she felt captured the spirit of Vagabondiana and her followers. For this reason Ellen wanted to keep the Secret Ceremony theme but with a particular focus on Mia Farrow's character 'Cenci'.

Mia Farrow and Elizabeth Taylor

The very child-like Cenci

I can't say I wasn't a little nervous about trying to recreate Mia as Cenci, who with her glorious mane of chestnut hair looks utter perfection in this film (even if it was a wig!). Her look is so evocative of that elusive 60s mod, anglo/french beatnik look that we are all so obsessively trying to capture right now and I knew that it was this above anything else that needed to come through in my illustration.

Talking of that 60s beatnik look, Ellen offered up this iconic image (above) of Anna Karina as a starting point for Cenci's pose. She also specified the outfit she wanted Cenci to wear which features in Secret Ceremony and for her to be shown with the shorter bob hairstyle that Cenci adopts in the later stages of the film.
This was my first attempt (above). Ellen liked the idea of Cenci's knickers being visible and I agreed that this was a really good way of portraying the lolita-like aspect of her character. Despite the fact that the character is in her twenties, Cenci continues to behave like a child and it's this confusion of innocence and an emerging sexuality that is a very prominent theme in the film.

Later I added over-the-knee socks and some more detail to the spotty pants. I also added some textures to the different fabrics to give the illustration more depth.

Finished Cenci plus a background of Vagabondiana pink and my signature.

Finally I added the typography. I looked at a number of script fonts and then hand-drew my own response.

And voila, the final blog header. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of Cenci, as there are talks of an animation. Watch this space!

The Crimson Petal and the White

2011-06-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

Some things are so right... and then they end. Jack White and Karen Elson are divorcing and despite their very honorable decision to see out the split with a 'positive swing bang hum dinger' of a D.I.V.O.R.C.E party, I can't help but mourn the passing of this most loveliest of unions. To commemorate/celebrate I have dug out this Annie Leibovitz shoot for US Vogue (June 2010) which beautifully captures the fine couple; top-hatted, crowned in ivy, rocking their geetars and generally pursuing their talents, both together and separately. One thing I think is certain, their marriage may be over but their connection will remain, not only through their two children Scarlett and Henry-Lee but in the clear bonds they have made through a joint love for music and authenticity.

Summer in the City ♥

2011-06-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

All images my own, click to see bigger.

Iceland Part 5: Þingvellir, Gullfoss & Geysir.

2011-05-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Iceland Part 4: Jökulsárlón, Vik & Seljalandfoss

2011-05-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

Iceland Part 3; Reykjavik Music Mess

2011-05-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

Bands featured: Deerhunter, Lower Dens, Sin Fang, Borko

Iceland Part 2: Blue Lagoon

2011-05-26T05:12:00.000-07:00

Iceland Part 1: Reykjavik

2011-05-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I returned from a trip to Iceland. I had wanted to visit the country for so long and was completely beside myself with excitement in the weeks running up to the holiday. Although we were only there for a week we managed to cram in a lot, not only in the capital Reykjavik but also out in the countryside amoungst the glaciers and lava fields. Looking back at the pictures it feels like a dream, it honestly is the strangest, most wonderful place I've ever been. The photos vary in terms of light because during the late winter months Icelanders experience what is known as a '15 minute day', meaning you can experience literally every weather going in the space of a day. Oh and did we! Luckily I packed just about every kind of clothing.

The following photos are just a few I took whilst there. Armed with my Nikon DSLR which was permanently glued to my face I managed to clock up a few hundred shots. The first batch focus on Reykjavik. Enjoy.

To Bob.

2011-04-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Today I was inspired. Seeing my beautiful sister-in-law Ellen with her smart new birthday bob has made me look at my lank longish mane and sigh. I have been growing my hair now for years and it never seems to get past that rather dull in-between mid-length and long place. Too fine to be full and surfy, too full of kinks to be sleek and shiny, it really will not behave. And so my mind slips to thoughts of scissors and the promise of a brand new bouncy bob of my own.

I am no stranger to this cut, I had a number of bobs at school and throughout the 90s, however this time, rather than a graduated pest that needs straightening and teasing into place, I imagine a one length creation like those seen at Paul Costelloe (AW11), triangular and architectural and rouge of course. Like Little Red Riding Hood might have her hair, if she wished to match it to her cape.

Visit my newly pruned sister here, but be warned as hair-envy most certainly awaits you.

When I'm 64....

2011-02-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

I have been told on more than one occasion that red hair is the first to go grey. As a natural ginger this fact has never concerned me much due to a total reliance on Henna to revitalise my increasingly lacklustre mane. An application of the green goo leaves me russet once more and I can go on denying my dull auburn locks for another month or so.

Flicking through this morning's Guardian Weekend I found myself transfixed by these two beautiful silver-haired ladies and considered for once the prospect of my own potentially grey-haired future. Wow, if this is what getting older can look like, you can count me in. As for the long and tedious process involved in Henna-ing, well I'm sure I shall stick with it for some time to come yet, but who knows maybe one day I shall go with the grey, wear it long and surfy; it'll certainly be easier to maintain when I'm on my grand world-tour.

All images by John-Paul Pietrus

Five Fashion Favourites

2011-02-13T06:16:00.000-08:00

Forever Fringe

Peter Rabbit by Peter Jensen

Rosalind, waiting for better weather

A pie crust collar, good enough to eat

Teal-tinted Sailor

Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch cherry-bomb!

2011-01-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

Despite living in what is widely regarded as the second major city in the UK, for some reason on release The Runaways was only shown in Manchester at one cinema, on two nights, at the rather inconvenient time of 4.45pm. The film had received good reviews so the feminist in me couldn't help but suspect that this may have been partly due to the fact that The Runaways is a film about women in rock, a subject that doesn't exactly drag in the dollars. I mean why else would a film starring one of the most prominent actresses in Hollywood have such a limited output in the UK? Anyway whatever the reasoning, rather than wait until February when it was due to be released on DVD I paid out for a German copy via ebay.
For those of you unfamiliar with the back-story, The Runaways were a 70s American all-girl rock band co-led by the legendary Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. OK so there was an element of manufacture about them, their super-domineering manager Kim Fowley pulled the strings from day one, but the concept was new and led the way for a succession of riot-grrrls.
Whatever you think of them or their music, one thing is for sure the film looks amazing and Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning are totally believable in their roles, Kristen's likeness to Joan being particularly impressive.
Below are some stills from the film which documents their wild and rather short-lived ride together.

All images found here and here

Ariel Pink at the Rock and Roll Circus

2011-01-05T12:23:00.001-08:00

All images by Erez Avissar found here

Rainbow Brites

2010-12-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

Meadham Kirchhoff - Runway LFW Spring/Summer 2011

All images found here

Velveteen Dream

2010-11-27T13:42:00.001-08:00

Topshop Exclusive

Chelsea Girl at River Island

Asos

Toast

Dr Martens Avery

I have no idea where this will lead us. But I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.

2010-11-15T04:37:00.000-08:00

I am a bad blogger, there is no denying this but in my defence I have been very busy, both professionally and creatively and sometimes so much is going on that blogging inevitably becomes an afterthought. Thankfully the coming winter brings with it a slightly less crammed diary allowing me time to indulge in some frivolities. At the moment this mostly involves wearing a very fluffy, very unflattering dressing gown, whilst drinking toffee apple cider and watching Twin Peaks on the Horror Channel.

I have been a fan of the series since it first aired in the early 90s when I would watch it secretly in my brother's bedroom after bedtime as a pre-teen. It made very little sense to me then and yet I couldn't help but be captivated by the utter strangeness of it all. Amazingly this is the first time that the entire series has been shown on British TV since its original run.

Happily the theme music is once again stuck in my head and my nightly fix is ensuring that daily life at the moment is tinged with a Lynch-like surrealism. It has also added to my already ridiculous obsession with visiting the Pacific North-West and I regularly fantasise about Mr Lola and I feasting on cherry pie and damn fine cups of coffee in roadside diners as the rain pours in sheets overhead.

Would-be lovers Audrey and Agent Cooper

If Only....

2010-08-29T04:36:00.001-07:00

Opening Ceremony Velvet Lace Up Clog Ankle Boots £325.00

Burlesque of North America

2010-08-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'm going through an Arcade Fire-specific obsession at the moment. This tends to happen to me when a band I like releases a great new album. I get really into them all over again and start You Tubing them, reading interviews, seeking out random and obscure facts. Today I delved deep into the merchandise section of their website and came across these AMAZING posters by artist Wes Winship of Burlesque of North America. I can not stress how insanely I love these and I think it's because they kind of sum up a lot of what I like in art and design. The colour palette is divine, the dynamic Constructivist compositions, the collage, references to sci-fi and the city and the beautiful typography.

I would love to own every one of these and put them up in a white walled room with a bench and sit and stare at them all day. A bit like when I visited the Tate Modern in March and found the Russian Constructivism poster room (below), I actually thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Stuff in Magazines

2010-08-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

An obvious benefit of teaching for a living is the lovely six week summer holiday you are granted every year. Lovely, unless like me you decide to foolishly undertake a Masters and end up spending those weeks sat at a desk writing essays. Add to this: two poster commissions, one for a club night, the other for an art exhibition, an installation piece for that same exhibition, a camping holiday and a festival and it equates to an exciting but far from relaxing summer break. My own fault I realise. For now however my priority is that dreaded essay and so it is at times like these that I really need a big stack of magazines to break the monotony of text book boredom. An editorial treat every few hours keeps me sane. These are some of the things that caught my eye this week.

Topshop winter coats past and present: That leopard number looks suspiciously like the one hanging in my wardrobe from last Autumn. Oh well, it shall be dusted off and paraded once again. This year however it shall be alternated with the brass buttoned navy cape number taking centre stage below.

Elle Sept 2010

Hair inspiration: Karen's curly wurly ponytail, black wiggy hair and rainbow red heads at Givenchy.

Grazia 9th Aug 2010

Vogue Sept 2010

Cath Kidston: The Lola homestead has a smattering of Kidston; crockery, towels, drawer liners, rose and lavender lotions however I had yet to purchase any of her garments, the fit too frumpy, the hemlines too low. However her offerings for the coming season have turned my head. The velvety bodice number in teal wings its way to me as I write. I shall team it with clompy boots for a Grungy Guinevere look.

Cath Kidston catalogue August 2010

Reviews of Best Coast - 'Crazy for You' everywhere!: This album is basically one long song about boys and weed but what a sweet sweet song it is. I especially like to sing along with Beth in the car despite having the singing voice of a strangled kitty cat.

NME 7th August 2010

Always catching my eye Karen.

Elle Sept 2010

Styling The Runaways: I rarely buy 'In Style' but this article sold it to me this month. I am very excited about this movie for so many reasons: my favourite grumpy girl crush Kristen Stewart sporting the world's only covetable mullet, 70s girl group exploits and all Joan Jett approved, what's not to like?

In Style Sept 2010

Sherlock Quiz: As if they had to ask! Just when I thought Matt Smith was the 'one', along came Benedict Cumberbatch. Can I have both please?

Grazia 9th August 2010

Make Over Betty: This was always going to happen of course. Like all those lame American high school movies where the 'geek' is clearly a stunner underneath her NHS specs, Betty has been groomed within an inch of her life for the final season. So predictable, such a shame. Minus the clown costumes there will be hardly a reason left to watch Ugly Betty.

Grazia 9th August 2010

The Last Defender of the Sprawl

2010-08-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

Arcade Fire 'The Suburbs': Amazing album, beautiful cover art.

Why I love Camping....

2010-08-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small,

That we can never get away from the sprawl,
Living in the sprawl,
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains,
And there's no end in sight,
I need the darkness someone please cut the lights.
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains): Arcade Fire

Blushing

2010-07-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

So Vagabondiana has graced me with the Beautiful Blogger award. Although I think she may be slightly biased as she is my sister-in-law I was extremely flattered. Thanks Ellie. So as is the custom I shall divulge seven secrets and nominate seven of my own favourite recitals.

Secrets

1. I have quite a sizeable collection of art and graphics books that I use almost every day, however I have also been known to purchase pretty cookery books with no intention whatsoever of ever trying the recipes inside. My favourites by Tessa Kiros are so beautiful and full of inspiring images although as yet they remain nothing but cookery porn to me. This is because, despite having a German Grandma, I am a bad cook.

2. I am addicted to Bebaroque tights. This is partly because I never, ever get my bare legs out in public, ever. If it is stupendously hot, which it very rarely is, then I just stay inside instead. My favourites are the Barbarella in peach as they match my skin tone almost exactly making it look as though I have a massive tattoo up one leg.

3. I am currently writing a novel. It is for young adults and is all about that weird period of insanity that all teenagers seem to go through. It is singularly the most satisfying thing I have ever attempted.

4. I have been told that I'm a merry drunk.

5. Heaven is a campsite called Treen overlooking Porthcurno in Cornwall. When I am there I am truly happy and calm.

6. I spend all my hard earned cash on music, gig tickets, art books, tights and Topshop. Don't tell Mr. Lola.

7. In my dreams I have an all black cat called Lucille. She wears a red bow and gives me advice whenever I need it.

Image found here

Recitals

In no particular order I nominate:

See Emily Play
My Love For You is a Stampede of Horses
Do It, Joke
A Chameleon Called Che
Feminist Music Geek
Vintage Vivant
Friggen Awesome

Freja

2010-07-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

This week I spent a rather unexpected night in hospital (suspected appendicitis that turned out to be kidney stones, ouch). Pumped up with morphine and hooked up to a drip I wasn't going anywhere which was very, very frustrating. For a visual junkie such as myself I found the general lack of anything to look at incredibly strange. One minute I had been waking up in my familiarly kaleidoscopic surroundings, the next I was in a world devoid of colour, texture and glamour. Thankfully I had a copy of the August Vogue in my bag which I read cover to cover in 70 minutes flat. It's amazing how an article about tanning, something that a vampire like me would usually find utterly boring, suddenly becomes so interesting when forced to choose between that and 'Take A Break' (the only reading material provided in the day room). I must have been bored because I even read the adverts at the back (personal fave: 'Saress: The Ultimate Beach Dress'!!!).

Anyway moving on to the actual point of this post; the deliciously androgynous coverstar of August's Vogue, Danish supermodel Freja Beha Erichsen. Like most folks interested in fashion, I have my favourite models; Karen, Lily, Lara and now Freja. It's weird because my best buddy Emma sent me the picture below about a year ago because she knew I'd appreciate the questionable gender of this beautiful girlboy, turns out it was Freja all along.

When she isn't in front of a lens Freja favours black leather, cigarettes, tattoos, guitars and looking grumpy. I know where you're coming from Freja, thanks for cheering up a gloomy day in A&E.

Gothic tendencies

2010-06-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Despite it being 10 trillion degrees outside I can't help but get excited about what sartorial loveliness Autumn/Winter will bring. As much as there is nothing quite like a proper British heatwave, especially when experienced by the sea and not stuck in the city, it can however prove rather difficult in the fashion stakes for someone as vampirey pale as I. Milk bottle white legs, suncream, fake tan (which I gave up on a looooong time ago) sun hat, hat hair, sunglasses, bite cream, make-up slippage, hayfever face, god it's all so complicated. It is only in recent years after committing many, many summer style crimes (boho, eek!) that I have concluded that as long as I go Fifties, I'm fine. On a really hot day a mantra of 'Dita Von Teese Does Coachella' and I can usually manage some concoction that is vaguely me. The dark months although gloomy at times are frankly simpler to dress for and most importantly provide more opportunities to layer, and as we know it's ALL about the layering.

I was particularly giddy then to catch a glimpse of Topshop's cosy AW10 offerings (sheepskin, spikes and capes, oh my!). After weeks of faffing around every morning trying to concoct a costume that is both practical and edgy (yes, yes, a contradiction I know) the promise that comes with such pictures is like a heavenly breath of fresh air across my perspiring skin.

All images sourced from Style Bubble

For the archive

2010-06-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

'A Day at the Circus' - Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia April 07

For the archive

2010-06-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

'Alice in Wonderland' - Annie Leibovitz for Vogue Dec 03

For the archive

2010-06-22T14:46:00.001-07:00

'Lily Takes a Trip' - Tim Walker for Vogue July 2005

Excusez-moi....

2010-06-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

....but I must. I apologise, this is hardly an original post, these images have appeared on thousands of blogs across the world, however I have wanted to create an archive for some time of my favourite fantasy/fairytale fashion shoots and as I don't do Flickr or Tumblr, I am afraid it must be here. It is of course very hard indeed to know who looks at your blog apart from my 7 diehard followers and those who leave lovely comments now and again (high-five ladies!). However whether you are one of the Mighty 7 or just passing through, hello to you all, sorry if you've seen it all before, come back soon and I promise to provide more unique content in future.

Old-hat, but oh so pretty. Remember and enjoy....

'Soldier, Soldier...' - Tim Walker for Vogue April 08

'Tricks & Treats' - Tim Burton & Tim Walker for Harper's Bazaar Oct 09

'Tales of the Unexpected' - Tim Burton and Tim Walker for Vogue Dec 08

'Little Boy & Girl Lost' - Grace Coddington and Annie Leibovitz for US Vogue Dec 09

Kirsten Dunst for Miu Miu SS08

Dreaming in colour

2010-05-23T04:12:00.000-07:00

Cute and ever so slightly creepy, taxidermy dyed bunnies found here

My sister-in-law Ellen recently penned what can only be described as her style manifesto (here) on her delicious blog Vagabondiana. I completely adore Ellie's preference for what she calls 'Catholic-wear' (lots of navy, smock dresses, bibs and bows) however I would personally find it difficult to sum up my own look as succinctly. If only. When it comes to style I am a chameleon. I am as attracted to a vintage tea dress as I am to a pair of Ashish spiked track pants. You could say I'm fickle (I'd prefer open minded). There is in fact only one style choice that I seem to have remained committed to over the years, this being the colour combination pink and turquoise, or variations of them (coral and jade, blush and aqua, shell and mint, peach and duck-egg). For some reason I have always been drawn to this combo and have found much evidence of this love in my house and wardrobe (see further below). Unsurprisingly Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette' is a firm favourite due to the lashings of sherbety pinks and blues from start to finish.

Pinks and blues of all shades feature heavily in my own boudoir (below)

I love everything about this mint Topshop Unique dress, from the colour obviously, to the zips, each one finished with a tiny horseshoe.

This fluoro-peach lacy number (below) is a recent purchase bought purely for the colour. I shall loll about in it for Mr Lola's benefit now and again then pop it back on the wall to admire like art.

A pink and turquoise dream.......

Matisse's 'L'Atelier Rose' (above)

Karen in a frou frou fantasy (above)

L'Hotel Soubise, Paris (above)

Much swooning occurred when Mr Lola and I passed Laduree in Paris last summer (me, not him!)

If Looks Could Kill

2010-05-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Last week LA's Dum Dum Girls were in town. I was really looking forward to this gig as I absolutely love their debut 'I Will Be' and after missing Best Coast the week before (same night as Hole, what you gonna do?) I was very much ready for a super slice of West Coast girl punk. Weirdly though it was an all round quite odd experience. Around 9.45 the girls took to the stage in their matching black playsuits, vertical stripe circus tights and wicked scowls and immediately all I could think of was that Robert Plant video for 'Addicted to Love' with the identikit supermodels swaying in unison, and frankly I hadn't expected that. Bizarrely they opened with a cover of the Rolling Stones 'Play With Fire', which isn't really bizarre at all except that Hole had opened with the same cover the week before. Like I said, odd. Between songs Dee Dee offered nothing but a few shy thank yous, and lots and lots of cutting glares. Too cool for school they may be, but they do have the songs and they do look a-mazing, so hey why shouldn't they be smug? For an equally bemused review check out my buddy The Real Macaw.

P.S - Circus tights have been purchased and will be paraded with a playsuit and an expression that can paralyze at 10 paces.

All pictures my own except last two sourced from Sub Pop.

....Or maybe not?

2010-05-20T06:18:00.001-07:00

News just in that Karen has pulled out of all her European tour dates for now. No reason given as yet. :(

You can take the girl out of Manchester....

2010-05-11T15:00:00.001-07:00

Karen comes home: May 27th, Night and Day Cafe. Too delicious for words.

Mrs Jack White; a fellow lover of all things peach n' coral.

The Girl with the Most Cake

2010-05-10T12:44:00.000-07:00

Courtney Love, so misunderstood. In this world of celebrity fakery, Courtney consistently remains a breath of fresh air to me since there is nothing fake about Ms Love (OK so not in a physical sense exactly but which LA lady in the spotlight doesn't feel pressure to tighten and plump). Through the early days of Hole, her marriage to the coolest man that ever lived (if Kurt loved her, she is worth loving), her various breakdowns, overdoses and legal battles (Nirvana rights, Frances Bean) one thing remains true; her spirit. Courtney is a trooper and for that she deserves respect. She was also responsible for 'Live Through This' one of my top five albums of all time; double respect and the kinder-whore look; triple respect.

One of my favourite early pictures of Courtney looking like a ragdoll.

Michael Lavine's famous portrait of Kurt and Courtney in happier times.

Courtney on the cover of Face (April 2002)

Over the years Courtney has graced the pages of many a mag and with each one her face is slightly less recognisable and her style evolved, but what remains forever intact is her attitude. She wears her bruises and scars, physical and emotional with not pride exactly, but honesty. She is undoubtedly messed up, but no one knows it or admits it more than her.

A more recent Courtney (above and below)
After years of Courtney fascination I finally saw her perform this weekend in my home town. She came minus Eric and Melissa (it was basically Courtney and some session musicians) but under the name Hole all the same. It was exactly as I expected, shambolic, disjointed, incredible. The new songs are admittedly weak and you get the feeling she knows it but when singing from her back catalogue ('Violet', 'Doll Parts' 'Miss World' 'Asking For It' and even 'Jennifer's Body', the words of which she forgot, the crowd helpfully prompting her through it) she delivered them with conviction, her voice equal parts sugar and venom. For Mr Lola and I it brought back sweet memories of our courtship over 11 years ago, played out to a soundtrack of grunge and stoner rock.

My kinder-whore get-up for the Friday night gig at Manchester Academy (above)

A seemingly healthy, happy Courtney on stage with the latest incarnation of Hole - (below). Throughout the gig she chatted and joked, twice inviting fans from the front row on stage to sing with her.

Reckon I could rock some raspberry red jeans?

2010-05-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Red is best

2010-04-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

"Stoned love letters to imaginary boyfriends"

2010-04-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

"I don't want to exist solely in the context of being a woman writing music, but it's so unbelievable the treatment you get for being a female musician. You're not supposed to be too attractive, or unattractive, or dress a certain way. But this is exactly what I want to be doing right now." Dee Dee, Dum Dum Girls

Article in full here: LA Times

Not just another man

2010-04-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

Another Man magazine; the newsagent had to check three times to make sure it really did say £5.95. 'Worth every penny' I said when Mr Jack White in all his stripy splendor is offering up wisdom and wonderment on pages 134-143.
Photos by Mark Segal.

The city so nice they named it twice

2010-04-08T01:30:00.001-07:00

A sweet treat

2010-04-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

Me, Mr Lola and a coupla buddies have recently returned from New York City. Easily the most memorable aspect of the trip were the fun times we had in Brooklyn, or more specifically Williamsburg. Shopping for thrift, slurping locally brewed ales and watching rock 'n' roll in a bowling alley were some of the delights we sampled. On the night of our arrival we raced over to The Brooklyn Bowl to see personal faves Vivian Girls who were simply ace. Cassie seemed possessed by a passion and lack of self-consciousness that conjured up the ghost of Kurt. Kickball Katy was sweeter than pie and Frankie, well she played the drums like only a woman can.

Surfer Grrrls

2010-03-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Runaways

Don't you just love a kick-ass girl group? From The Slits and The Raincoats to Bikini kill and Luscious Jackson, there has always been female-centric punk rock to be found on my playlist. A few of my more recent band discoveries share some things in common other than just being super talented rock 'n' roll gals.

Wicked names:
Vivian Girls (Cassie Ramone, Kickball Katy, Frankie Rose)
Dum Dum Girls (Dee Dee, Jules, Bambi)
Best Coast (Bethany Consentino)

Awesome sound:
60s girl-group surf harmonies layered over lo-fi punk guitar fuzz.
'Blissed out buzz-saw', 'Easy Breezy'

Fierce style:
Shorts, tights, mini-dresses, tattoos, hair dye, top knots.

Brooklyn's Vivian Girls

LA's Dum Dum Girls

Dee Dee Dum Dum

This song is seriously stuck in my head. Listen or lose out!

Ink Me Up

2010-03-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

Art work by Madame Talbot

For a long time now I have procrastinated about getting a tattoo, finally however I have made the decision to go for it. There are a number of reasons why I have decided to commit, one of which is my total fascination with the tattooing process. I am a bit of a Miami/LA Ink obsessive despite not once seeing a single tattoo featured on the show that I would actually want for myself. The amount of inspirational tattoo imagery available also seems to have increased in quantity and quality such as the work of the amazing Dutch artist and tattooist Angelique Houtkamp. Her most recent publication seen below is crammed with beautifully seductive pictures of tattoos and tattoo designs; irresistable to an image-junky such as myself.

I also love the work of Valerie Vargas a London based tattooist whose work is in a similar style to Angelique's. It is this Victoriana/Fifties/Sailor Jerry/Rockabilly/Mexicana inspired style that I would very much like for my own tattoo. This super cute heart-shaped padlock is along the lines of what I plan to get although I'll probably opt for black and grey rather than colour. Matching jewellery to outfits is enough of a chore never mind tattoos!

Seeing beautifully inked ladies such as Fiona Deffenbaugh (designer and founder of Black Pearl Boutique has also been a massive inspiration. Here she is looking super cool and tatted up on Show Me Your Wardrobe.

The equally lovely lady below has been sat in 'My Pictures' for some time now, although I forget now where I originally found her.

As for inked up boy-folk, well need I say more than Ash Stymest. Heavens.

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Girl envy

2010-03-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok, I know it isn't seemly to be jealous of other girls who are younger, prettier, more talented and it most certainly does not sit easily with my the Riot Grrrl in me, however....following Sandra Beijer of niotillfem has unfortunately unleashed my pesky green-eyed monster.

Sandra's blog which documents her fabulous lifestyle in Stockholm and her frequent trips to Paris and New York is at times breathtaking. This picture of her and her man-friend pretty much sums up the cheeky 50s french film splendour of it all:

Sandra's delightful blog header was created by another talented lady, Caitlin Shearer. Her exquisite illustrations can be found at her blog Caitlin Quiet.
While i'm on the subject of girl envy, it seems appropriate to feature some of her creations of gorgeous godesses.

I'm not certain but I think it's ok to envy a girl if she's a drawing. Isn't it?

Cheap chic minus the black eye

2010-02-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

Hands off mon pull.

Image found here

As a fan of the occasional frivoulous fancy I am more than willing to splash out on a designer piece that I really, really love. The thing is, I am yet to love anything which may be subject to fading, staining, shrinking or tearing THAT MUCH - I aint stoopid. Generally my thrifty northern good sense kicks in and I put down the Miu Miu bag and walk away. Good girl.
Thankfully the well-established trend for designer/high street collaborations means I can get a bit of the bling for a lot less bucks. Who'd have thought my vintage frocks and Topshop tattle would hang alongside Vivienne Westwood, Christopher Kane and Luella, oh Luella (I love you TK Maxx). Today flame haired Sonya Rykiel joins my fashion throng courtesy of H&M. To think of the times I swooned over her stripey sweaters retailing at approximately £250 each. Now I have three and for less than 70 quid, Martin Lewis and that lovely Alvin chap would be proud.
Even better, these finds have almost always been by chance. You won't find me queuing at 5 in the morning, handbag like a weapon, ready to take out anyone who nabs all the size 12s. No, I leave that to the 'Look' readers and ebayers and wait for the storm to pass. A Monday evening stroll to the shops and who knows what you may find on the Returns rail.

Te amo, Barcelona

2010-02-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

I have recently returned from a visit to the Catalonian capital and as always I now have a camera full of graffiti pics as I find it almost impossible to pass a well-tagged door without taking a photo. As the city is covered in spray paint I found myself having to stop and shoot every few minutes which admittedly was not so great for my weary travel buddies. The stuff that really grabs my eye tends to be the doors and shutters randomly plastered in layers of paint and stickers, however I also really like the amount of politically motivated grafitti that can be found around the city. During my last trip at the height of the Iraq war you couldn't move for 'No a La Guerra' slogans, there was even one rather majestically scrawled across the front of a bank in blood red paint. Hooray!

These are some of my favourites from this my most recent visit:

My Spanish is pretty limited never mind my Catalan, however i'm pretty sure that the first pic translates as 'Freedom for Amadeu Casellas'. Casellas is an anarchist prisoner that has staged a number of hunger strikes in protest of the conditions in Catalonian prisons. The fifth image I think loosely translates as 'Our life is Dada', a sentiment very close to my own heart.

Despite being occupied by photographing, cooing at all the Gaudi loveliness and looking after thirty 16-19 year olds, I did manage to squeeze in a little retail therapy at this rather lovely boutique Glint.

They had a really great selection of clothes and accessories by local designers and I went away with two really cool tees. The first was from a collaborative collection between the Barcelona based french grafitti artist Miss Van and the designer Anaoana. I was well aware of Miss Van's illustrations of fiendish ladies and it was great to see how well her designs translated onto cloth.

Miss Van urban.

This is the lovely Circus Horse tee I picked from the collection in a beautiful blush pink.

Miss Van couture.

I also purchased this ace tee by Cellophane Attitude featuring my beloved heroine Alabama Worley. I was very tempted to get the Billy Brown version too as I absolutely love Vincent Gallo's character in Buffalo 66. Unfortunately as those Euros don't go far nowadays Billy couldn't come home with me.

Ode to Dallas

2010-01-31T02:35:00.000-08:00

My most treasured possessions are those that were either super cheap, scoured at car boot sales and charity shops or found deep in my Grandma's cupboards and parent's attic. Admittedly it is usually Mother Lola that sources these beauties for me, forever feeding my crazy collection habits. Some of her most excellent finds include a Kennett & Lindsell dressmaker's dummy for 50p in an church hall auction, a doe-eyed yellow glass horse, various Lloyd Loom chairs and these delightful prints from the 60s by Dallas Simpson which adorn my bedroom walls.

I find these pictures inspirational in a number of ways. Apart from their ability to transport me back to my own idyllic childhood these kids are also rather stylish in their breton stripes, ribbons and lace, plus they all have great hair. In fact the gal in the nightdress reminds me lots of my sister-in-law Ellie with her raven locks piled high atop her head (Ellen's excellent musings can be found here at Vagabondiana).

Unfortunately I know very little about their origins. Poor Dallas, there is hardly a mention to be found on the internet about this mistress of mass-market kitsch. Not even a Wikipedia entry! Thankfully Wayne Hemingway righted this wrong with his book: Just Above the Mantlepiece: Mass Market Masterpieces published in 2002. It has however proven to be a rather elusive text, Amazon is flogging used copies from £55-£155 so it probably won't be joining my bookshelf any time soon. However I did come across this quote from him:

“I have seen (mass-market art) celebrated in a post-modernist ironic way and I have been saddened by its inclusion in kitsch iconography. Let’s not celebrate it for these reasons. Value deserves to be restored to a genre derided by certain members of the art elite and respect should be given to artists whose work broadened the horizons of collecting to reach the working class, making this art form available to a wider public than ever before.”

I also found this Guardian article from 2000 'Wayne's World' which describes the origins of Wayne's obsession with everyday art.

'he remembers growing up in as a lad in his grandmother's house in Morecambe. Ida Hemingway was, he says, 'an appreciator and collector of mass-market masterpieces'. She picked them up from Freemans catalogues and Argos, and over the years the collection spread from her chimney breast to the rest of the house'.

Well, what's good enough for Ida, is good enough for me, she sounds like she had taste, just like my very own Grandma Lola. Hopefully one day Dallas will be remembered for the true artist she was/is??

Sundae Best

2010-01-31T02:03:00.000-08:00

Probably my favourite Tatty collection yet. This helping of acrylic loveliness deserves a visit to their London shop, luckily an excursion to the capital is on the horizon. In the meantime I have satisfied myself with a selection of zines from the Tatty Devine library, no doubt the subject of a future post.

Beth ♥'s Portland. Ditto!

2010-01-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

A Lolita-esque Beth photographed for the last ever Observer Music Monthly by photographer Jay Brooks.

The Gossip's Beth Ditto and I share a mutual love. Yeah Ok so Beth actually lives in the city I long for, whereas I cannot claim to have ever set foot on America's west coast, never mind Portland in the state of Oregon. However, the Pacific Northwest remains a sanctuary for Ms.Ditto and a constant obsession for me.
I can trace my fascination right back to being a child watching The Goonies. How amazing did Astoria look? The mystical, rain-soaked coastal town where the action was set with its rugged beaches and huge black rocks rising from the furious sea.

As a teen it was the incredible bands of the Grunge scene that all seemed to hail from the towns and cities of this same faraway place. I recently purchased this book which documents the iconic scene. 'Grunge' published by Abrams Books begins with Thurston Moore's words and continues with Michael Lavine's photographs.

Kurt of course and the ferocious L7.

Now that I am all growed up, it is the articles I read written by cool folks like Beth that describe Portland as a bohemian dream which continue to lure me there. She reported in this article in the Guardian (back in 2007) that it's friendly, cheap, green, creative and practically illegal to NOT be in a band. I like what I hear.

Beth at Portland's famous Waffle cart. Mmmmmmmmm.

The city also claims to be the thrift-shop capital of the world with more vintage shops per square mile than, well, anywhere. Here is another article from the Guardian (more recently, from April 2009) all about vintage shopping Portland style.

Get me a Green Card i'm moving tomorrow!

Bear Faced Beauty

2010-01-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

When it comes to musical discoveries, for me 2009 was all about Brooklyn based band Grizzly Bear. They are quite, quite beautiful in every way. If you have not yet heard Vekatimest I urge you to purchase it immediately. I was super lucky enough to see them live twice in 2009; once at the Green Man Festival and secondly in November at Manchester Cathedral of all places. Easily the gig of the year for me and I went to quite a few (approximately 30?). It was the first gig I have ever attended on my own and all the better for it I think (Mr. Lola was jetlagged, Pah!). It meant I could push my way to the front row and marvel the spectacle from up close. Wow, these guys are so talented. Celestial sounds indeed. Here is the amazing video for Ready, Able.

I also really love the art work that features on Vekatimest which is by Chicago based artist William O'Brien . His paintings are very abstract and colourful and are made up of fractured angular shapes.
I took lots and lots of photos during the gig (bad habit). However, as my camera is fairly crap they vary in quality but have allowed for some interesting eerie effects. I also hung around for a bit afterwards (another benefit of solo gig-going) and met Chris Taylor the player of bass, flute, clarinet etc, producer and all round Bear genius. He was very nice indeed.

I also picked up this delightful boy sized tee from the gig.

Oh and Ed's set list.

He-She, She-He.

2010-01-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

Me and my buddee Emma Baker are a tad obsessed with pretty boys and girls of the androdgynous variety. Back in the day Mr. Lola set my heart a flutter with his long hair and eyeliner while Em had a particular penchant for pocket-sized-pixie boys. Here are some of my favourite examples both homme et femme.
Patti Smith; Rock n Roll's first lady-boy.

Teenage crush Brian Molko of Placebo.

The L Word's 'Shane'.

Model Ash Stymest.

Audrey Tautou as Tuxedo clad Chanel.

And finally the super gorgeous Katie Sketch of Canadian indie band The Organ.

It's Bliss

2010-01-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Recently I have being living in boy-size tees. Coupled with a flannel shirt and skinnies there aint no happier combo. I always knew it was easy being a boy. Anyhoo this is my current favourite purchased at a Yeah Yeah Yeahs gig. It is fabulous as it represents my three great loves: art, music and fashion. It also features a super wicked amazon-lady with lilac hair showing that dude who's boss. Don't worry he's lovin' it!

Okey Dokey Doggie Daddy

2010-01-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Trash fash Alabama. An awesome array of fluorescent bra tops, animal prints and cowboy boots. Tarantino's flick True Romance is undoubtedly my fave film ever. It has everything: romance (the un-schmaltzy kind), violence (the cartoon kind) and Hawaiian shirts (the kind with Christian Slater inside, swoon!). One day I wish for Mr. Lola and I to attend a fancy dress party as Clarence and Alabama Worley; the cutest couple from Motor City Detroit.

Hosiery Heaven

2010-01-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

When I was little I would often run around the house in nothing but a vest and a pair of wooly tights. Very liberating. My brother would then lift me up by the waistband and I would dangle there, squealing with delight. Tights are fun! Wooly, patterned, sheer, I love them all. I particularly enjoy the delights to behold at Bebaroque. Those are my legs up there, dressed in a pair of their nautical lovelies. I also have this crimson pair bedecked with bows. Today I caught sight of the new SS10 range and was very excited to see a palette of ice cream pastels, their trademark tattoo designs and more ankle decoration.