Hostess Hero: Teri Gender Bender

Teri Gender Bender is the front woman and founder of Mexican garage punk band Le Butcherettes. Inspired by Malcolm X's philosophy on last names--"The real names of our people were destroyed during slavery."--she changed hers to Teri Gender Bender as part of her fight against the oppression of women in Mexico. Known for her intense stage presence Teri  once peed on stage, used nail polish to paint a tampon red at her very first show and has been known to cat crawl across the crowd rather than surf. She has been compared to Alison Mosshart and Sylvia Plath and described as morphing 'into a cross between Courtney Love and Janis Joplin' when she sings. I think she is one of the most mesmerising and captivating performers at the moment.

Blau x

Hostess Hero: Pandemonia

Its been a while since we had a Hostess Hero and when I spotted this amazing creation at the Fashion Monitor AW12 Party at Altitude 360 last night, I thought it was time to celebrate something so interesting.

Pandemonia is a 7ft tall tongue in cheek Pop Artist, developed and self styled around the fickle world of celebrity and draped entirely in latex. Her best pooch, Snowy is never far from her side.

Pandemonia first started to make appearances around 2009 and since then has been seen on the Front Row at Fashion Week and at exclusive parties and openings.

 Becoming Pandemonia came from the explosion and made up world of Celebrity. She is famous for being famous- for the way she looks, where she goes and who she's with. Sound Familiar?

Hostess Hero; Vidal Sassoon

I watched Vidal Sassoon, The Movie yesterday and it reaffirmed what we already knew on a massive scale; this man created the back bone of the hairdressing interview. Every stylist I've ever met has cited him as an inspiration and if you stop in the street pretty much anywhere in the world, they'll know his name. He created some the most influential hair cuts that people still ask for today, including the bob and the five point cut. He was paid $5000 to cut Mia Farrow hair for Rosemary's Baby.

I was lucky enough to watch Annie Humphries, who was his colourist for years, speak about her experience working with him- from the moment she began her training. She spoke about being sent home if you weren't appropriately  dressed and if you were late, you were not allowed to work. These standards set the bar for the brand that was to take over the world and industry.

Hostess Hero: Alison Mosshart

Oh Miss Mosshart how do you do it? Firece, crazed and talented this rock'n'rock devilwoman is near to being the perfect woman, in my eyes anyway. From her work with Jamie Hince in The Kills to her musical antics with Jack White in The Dead Weather she always delivers.

Previous Hostess Heroes include; Patti Smith, PJ Harvey and MIA.

Blau x



Image via We Heart It

Hostess Hero: Patti Smith

Singer-songwriter, poet, visual artist and the godmother of punk how could one woman be so many things and without also being an icon and role model. I was fortunate enough to have been in attendance when Patti Smith played the Cork Opera House in 2005. I was without doubt the best muscial experience of my life. To have stood in a room transfixed as Smith crawl on her knees screaming Gandhi before me has to date been to most perfect and surreal moment of my life. I truly doubt anything could beat that!

Blau x

Image via We Heart It

Hostess Hero; Pj Harvey

What can I say about Peej? She is the epitomy of cool. From her 90's grungie look through to her tongue in cheek Spice Girls dress, even when she's performing in her bra, she always looks so damn good.

I could look at photos of her all day.

image via www.pollyharvey.co.uk

Hostess Hero: M.I.A.

If you haven't heard of M.I.A., or haven't paid particular attention to the ripples she's been causing for years now, shame on you! If you have, then I'm sure you'll agree, she's a force to be reckoned with and won't mind digressing in awe with me for a moment.

This little lady first caught my eye five years ago when she released her debut album Arular. Screaming beats and soft hooks, many a wasted afternoon I spent with M.I.A. in my ears. Bringing her loud music and louder stylez, she is a one women machine, hell bent on reminding us that music is not all about fast cars and sexy clubs. She shared a stage with Jay-Z and Kanye at the Grammys on the eve of her son's birth wearing what can only be described as the bravest effort of a mom to be in what is now a legendary performance. She has been banned from the US then declined exit. She's had her video Born Free (where a group of anarchiac ginger kids are rounded up and shot) banned from YouTube.


She's been my hero for some time now.


M.I.A. plays o2 Academy in Brixton Wednesday 10th November


image via Rankin, Dazed and Confused