Surfer Grrrls

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

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

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?