BBC4's Week of New York Punk Rock

BBC4 is a very exciting UK TV channel. It’s curiously old fashioned, screening documentaries that move slowly and are magnificently in depth. Or digging into the dusty corners of the BBC vaults for long forgotten music sessions. It’s like BBC2 used to be before it was infested with doing up your house or cooking a nice tea programmes. This week, it’s showing a series of documentaries about New York punk rock.

Tomorrow (Friday March 2) they have scheduled New York Doll, the documentary that follows the tragic story of the descent into alcoholism New York Doll member Arthur Kane, much of which was shot around the time of the band’s triumphant reformation.
New York Doll - BBC 4. 9.00pm - 10.15pm


On Saturday March 3, is a programme about the legendary punk hangout, and death place of Nancy Spungen The Chelsea Hotel.
Arena: Chelsea Hotel BBC 4. 10.25pm - 11.20pm

Followed by the story of Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side. Although I think we all know that by now. Herbie Flowers will go ooooon about his bass line, AND there were backing vocals that had to be changed, AND there will be explanations of references to drag queens, AND Lou Reed will be grumpy and look like a supply teacher.
Arena: Tales of Rock 'n' Roll - a Walk on the Wild Side - BBC 4. 11.20pm - 12.05am



This looks good. But it’s only an hour. You know they’ll interview Debbie Harry.
Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk - BBC 4. 9.00pm - 10.00pm

As they will here, too. This is a great documentary, actually, with genuinely interesting and insightful interviews with members of a band who don’t just wash their dirty laundry in public, they run around with it until it’s dry. I LOVE the filthy looks Debbie Harry gives Clem Burke at the live shows. And the whole hoo ha over the Hall Of Fame debacle is hilarious. God bless Blondie.
Blondie: One Way or Another - BBC 4. 11.00pm - 12.15am

Dogs In Hats

There is nothing in this life that tickles me more than a dog in a hat. I think a fez or a tiny sombrero adds gravitas and authority to any hound.

Here is a video of some more bonzos wearing bonnets. I particularly like the party hatted pooches.


More dogs in costumes here

Heart Shaped Sunglasses On The Cheap

Run run run to your nearest H&M store And buy these cheap-o, cute-o heart sunglasses for £3.99 (although the picture doesn't ACTUALLY show the ones I've got as the H&M website isn't so hot).

I got them in optimistic spring mint green. H&M is on a ROLL at the moment, what with its practical yet rave-friendly star-spangled hooded tops, and cute tunic dresses scattered with hearts.

Now you too can look like Vladimir Nabakov's dream girl.

Live in a Cartoon Courtesy of Fred Flare

I am considering emigrating to the USA purely so I can stalk the owners of marvellous internet emporium, Fred Flare

You could furnish your whole home and wardrobe from the NYC-based site, and basically live the Technicolor nu rave dream without having to neck those health-endangering pills.

From smiley-faced hoodies with grins that glow in the dark, to plates shaped like slices of pizza to balance your Hawaiian on, to brooches shaped like octopi wearing eyepatches, to cute tins, and Mario mushroom-shaped kitchen timers, oh hell, it’s like owners Chris and Keith have transplanted an Argos store to the Harjuku district in Tokyo .

First established in 1998, the store now sells lines from iHotto and Jack and Lulu to the bigger Paul Frank and Hello Kitty.

And it’s not too expensive. The oh-so-kind exchange rate wind is fully blowing behind us and the prices are less than high street anyway. So the set of pizza plates clocks in at $15 for four, the hoodie is $40, and the cute mushroom timer $12. Put on your sunglasses, and get out your credit card.

Souvenir Tat Charms

Like any good teenybopper, I love bag charms. At the moment, I'm rocking the 60s European Vacation look. Swinging souvenirs from the continent, and the UK in a big bunch hanging from my oversized bag. Yum.

Pick up cheapo keyrings from tourist tat shops, or supercheap on eBay . Or go higher budget with this stylised, 7" Gay Paris luggage tag from ModCloth for $11.99 (they deliver to the UK). Keep it tacky. And remember to wear a pair of HUGE sunglasses to top off the look.

Go on an Afro Safari

Women’s hairstyles have names. The ‘bob’. The ‘pob’ (ugh). The ‘Jennifer’ (ugh ugh ugh). But apart from the ‘combover’, or the quiff, men’s hairdos are less rigourously categorised. Except, it seems, in the 1970s, when Ebony Magazine took it upon itself to name popular afro-carribbean coiffs of the day. From The Blow-Up, The Secret Agent, The Perfecto, this hair has FLAIR. The 'do that dares speak its name...

Meathaus.com has scanned in a wonderful page from the publication. Do go and have a look. Maybe print out the page and use it to play hair bingo next time you’re out and about.

The weird thing is, facial hair for men has always been strictly demarcated. The World Beard Championships has many categories, from the ‘imperial’ to the ‘Fu Manchu’. If I were a man, or even a hirsute woman, I would try all sorts of facial hair. Like this man, Sir Percy Wyndham. Perhaps an unclassifiable facial hair arrangement, but still, raise your invisible hats to him.

The Sweetiest Handbags Ever

Helen Rochfort makes cutesy, shiny handbags that make you feel good just looking at them. Inspired by sweets, chocolates, and cupcakes, her purses fizzle with sherbety goodness, emblazoned with hypercoloured goodies, from Wonka’s golden tickets, to pink sweeties, and Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Helen describes the bags as "vintage kitsch and delicious!"

At $75 (about £38), they are pricier than your average New Look bag, but so, so worth it. You’ll look a perfect candified princess swinging along the street with one of these over your arm. I asked Helen who she'd most like to see carrying one of her bags, and she said, "I would love every lady in the land to carry one of my handbags!
Jennifer Nicholson (Fashion designer and Jack's daughter!) has just bought three.
See my MySpace for whole collection...I must put more on my Etsy shop..I've been so busy though!