GYPSY CHILD

We all have one thing in common. We value family, we love children. We treasure and cherish and look after our own, enchanted by lovely kids of others' we see every day - from blue eyed and blonde haired to brown eyed caramel skinned little rascals. We adore them because of their innocence, as yet undamaged by the society we live in.

However in Spain, Italy and Romania - it is a different story. One morning you go out to use the ATM to withdraw some cash and get approached swiftly by a cute child or a teenager, sometimes as young as 8 years old and all of a sudden you notice once your cash pulls out it gets professionally stolen by him or her. Not so cute.

These are gypsy children. Thieves. Often having to be exploited by their own families to go out and 'make a living' by stealing and hustling. The reality is bleak for these families as they live a few hours away from the main city in rat-infested mobile home parks.

I randomly came across a heart wrenching documentary entitled 'Gypsy Child (Thieves)' by Liviu Tipurita made in 2009.

Somehow this film got a lot of criticism from Anti-Gypsyism organisations, stating it was a 'strong piece of journalism about a very difficult subject', yet denied by BBC who went ahead with broadcasting globally. In particular, the blame was put on the consistent use of the word 'gypsy' throughout the film shot in Spain about young children stealing and subsequently released as minors and families of those in question not touched by authorities in attempt to stop, what was called by Tipurita as 'exploitation of their own children, living in fear of not making the income they are told to'.

I found the film amazingly done and carefully treaded on negative connotations to Romani people as a race, but simply relaying the facts. One moment in the film is so powerful - a shot of a man using an ATM physically fighting off persuasive kids attacking and distracting him, whilst trying to access his money. Compassion and anger fly, because in truth - these are only children. It is a helpless situation but it's an informative look at today's world we live in.

Children are the future. Is this the future? If these kids were blonde and blue eyed, would the audience seeing the film think differently? 

Romani mother holding her child

Hippie family labeled as gypsies by society

A mini Om Shanti moment at a hippie festival 

GYPSYFICATION OF THE NATIONS

It’s 10.30 on a sunny Saturday morning. I sit perched up on a stool in a trendy coffee shop in Shoreditch. I sip ridiculously expensive drip coffee served by ridiculously gorgeous guy surrounded by equally ridiculously cool people. I feel at once a cast out (with no tattoos I’m way too “mainstream”) and a square (my trainers are old Nikes I use for jogging). But as i look around, I feel like I’ve been here before. Like years before. In childhood. Or in generations lost before. Way way before. Before the modern world. 

When nomad was a way of life. When men wore beards and women wore their hair loose wild. When people tied bright cloth around their heads and sang and danced in fields. When music was a cry of human soul, instinctive and primeval. When dancing was at once expression of desire and violence and life. When there were Nomad tribes. Then Romani wanderers. Then Gypsies. Then Flamenco music. Then the mass migration to Americas. Then the blend of cultures. Then the Balkan jazz. Then Gypsy Punk. Then the Hipster beards, and Boho gypsy prints, and music festivals among the fields. 

I am a Gypsy. Gypsy blood runs through my veins. Growing up as a shy kid in Moscow, mum took me to a Romani theatre. The passion, the guitars, the raw sensual energy of dancers blew my mind. This was self-expression unconfined by Soviet ideology. Unrestrained by social norms. Persecuted through history, ostracised and secretly desired, the Gypsies managed to preserve their music, language and identity. Only to get popularised across the globe some decades later through Gypsy Punk - a hybrid of the Balkan rhythms and Punk Rock. Today, most people know who Gogol Bordello, Beirut, DeVotchka are. 

But what strikes me is that Gypsy influence is all around us. It’s in what we wear - the boho prints, the colours, the freedom of the current fashion. It’s what we strive to eat - organic, raw, straight from the fields. It’s how we live - nomadic wanderers, we travel through our life, change jobs, career paths, relationships. We’re no more static like our grandparents used to be. We move from place to place, the world is ours to discover, we search for spiritual awakening and self-expression. 

So as I sit in Shoreditch on a sun-soaked morning, with beautiful diversity of faces, cultures, accents all around me, I feel it: “Gypsyfication” of the world. And I am proud of us all. Because through physical and spiritual wanderings, through quitted jobs and failed relationships, through broken social norms and parents’ disappointment, we carry something that’s our own. Identity. 

Today we all are Gypsies in this world. 

GYPSY GENTLEMEN

We have, perhaps finally reached the time when the epitome of  a gypsy-esque, bohemian, hippie mens fashion is soaring high. 

Pop outside your door to Camden's Lock in London or New York's Williamsburg and all you will see are your original plaid, benies and beards, but something more has been added. From looking utterly sexily 'a hot mess', the 'rolled out of bed' look is developing.

First came the 'man bun'. Well, actually first came Johnny Depp.

Johnny Depp

I always thought as all the other ladies swooned Johnny was borrowing from old traditional gypsy-traveler style and some hippie tendencies of John Lennon from the 70's.

Or were all of the above merely just following the most looked upon and ridiculed man in history there was? Jesus? We mistake this as 'our saviour', 'our prince' and instead end up without his phone number the next day.

Russell Brand has catapulted the 'gypsy' look successfully and perhaps is somewhat responsible for many English young lads buying one way tickets to India and Thailand. These men no longer travel and come back 'sexually experienced and spiritual', these are now young flock of guys serving you coffee at Starbucks and standing next to you at a music festival where you wear your 'Kate moss's best replica' outfits.

Who can complain though? The gypsy peasant traveler look is definitely working on the ladies. From high street to high fashion. It goes from damn right dusty road barefoot to Italian glamourous.

The upside? Not bothering with wearing any underwear, it makes it easy to never have to wash it for them. Not that we even do nowadays.

The downside? The slightly pungent smelly dreadlocks and general absence of personal hygiene. I would be the first to say: go get a shave, wash your face! In truth, there is some sort of mystery to this man, 'on his own path, in his own head'. Proud to the fact you, as a woman are able to hold down the man so many ladies love. Extremes of clean shaven and well groomed man and a laid back smouldering bearded stranger. It's all in his confidence borderline cockiness - able to carry off any style with such ease.

Our Gypsy Souls salutes the 'gypsy gentlemen'.

Traditional gypsy traveling gentlemen

Creative, bohemian, carefree man template

Jason Momoa perfected smouldering look

A mix of dreads and tailoring

Pirate like boyish charm

Latin inspired gypsy rose lover-crooner-traveler

Urban meets Gypsy with gems 

Bold and bright embroidery

Yannick Leconte

High fashion glamour coolhour.com

GYPSY VISUAL TREAT 

I came across an online documentary series 'Gypsy Gentleman' follows tattooists in US, combining travel, tattoos, music and, of course - gypsy gentleman style at its finest. I think it's a nice insight on hustle and bustle of the city and also a good look into hardworking gypsy city life inspired gentlemen. Enjoy!

WHEN DRAG MEETS GYPSY, SHOW OFF

Hello Alyssa Edwards! You didn’t win on RuPaul’s  Drag Race. You didn’t get the final Shantay, you stay. But you have won in our gypsy minds and we hope you Shastay around and get your own show..because that's what we're hearing!!

In many of Alyssa’s looks, we see headbands, bangles, and lace which all warrant that high fashion gypsy style. Reminding us that Sophia Loren in ‘Boccaccio 70’, Marylin Monroe in ‘Some Like It Hot’ and Natalie Wood in ‘Gypsy’ is still  stunning, we just can’t get enough.

Miss Edwards, could you style us one of these days??? We don’t get cute, we get drop-dead gorgeous.

Alyssa on RuPaul's Drag Race

We see you RuPaul and gypsy

Sporting the big earrings

More gypsy drag

Natalie Wood in 'Gypsy'

Sophia Loren in Boccaccio '70

Marilyn Monroe in 'Some Like it Hot'

POST BY: KIM TANK 

AMERICAN GYPSY, A STRANGER IN EVERYBODY'S LAND

Gypsies reside all over the world. It said to be more than one million in America alone. I watched the award winning documentary "American Gypsy" by filmmaker Jasmine Dellal and for me, I thought it provided great insight. Curious about what other people thought, I read through the comments on the PBS site where it once aired and was taken aback a bit by the length of ignorance and negativity, though I can't say I was surprised.

Gypsies have always seemingly had a bad rep. Stealing, panhandling, exploiting...but doesn't every culture have all that somewhere? It must not be forgotten that Gypsies have been ostracized and prosecuted, and have never really had a home. Some have stayed as close to the culture as possible, some have assimilated into others. The documentary explains assimilation in America specifically.

Here's where Our Gypsy Souls rest. Gypsy is a race. Gypsy is a lifestyle. Gypsy is a style. It is all of the above and Gypsy has influenced music such as Johannes Brahm (yes, classical!),  Gogol Bodello, and our own Angelina 'Jipse' Roz. We embrace the positives in this blog. We love to travel and live bohemian. We call ourselves Gypsyters. The modern day hipster gypsies.  Get in on it :-)

 

Traveling back in the day

Jimi Hendrix influenced by dem gypsy eyes

Gypsters, Jipse and Kim Tank on the road, again

Cause we can't wait to get on the road again, with gypsy dog, Mr. Fox!

COMING TO GYPSY!

Gypsters!

We have been busy shooting and starting to edit our lovely Our Gypsy Souls video travel segments entitled "Coming to Gypsy" straight from our Gypsy cab. Naturally.

Here are some lovely fresh shots for you to get you going ... The fun, the gypsyness, the greatness.

l-r- JIPSE, MR FOX, KIM TANK on set in Gypsy Cab in New York

Jipse and Kim Tank somewhere in LA. Caught.

Angelina 'Jipse' Roz and Kim Tank running late on set in LA

l-r Kim Tank, Mr Fox, Angelina 'Jipse' Roz popping champagne bottles

Hey Girl Hey!! - seeing some talent on streets of LA whilst filming 'Coming to Gypsy' 

The silliness in between shots! Mr Fox and Angelina 'Jipse' Roz

Angelina 'Jipse' Roz getting her nails did at Chi, Beverly Hills

NATIVE AMERICAN TATTOOS, ON A GYPSY

Hey there Gypster,

You know you love them tatts, so take a look at my work done at Adorned NYC by the super awesome and talented Bart Bingham.  Inspired by the Native American heritage, I got a Dream Catcher to catch all my dreams and a Headdress to remind myself that I'm boss of my own destiny.  That's what I call linking the past with the future to always and forever be in the present.

Gypsies are of many different backgrounds from all over the world. Rep some Roots with some Ink.

Peek A boo tattoo

A closer look at my amazing DREAMCATCHER

Native American HEADDRESS, done at Adorned NYC

Send us pics of your tattoos to be featured in our gypsy tattoo forthcoming article to blog@ourgypsysouls.com and title your email as GYPSY TATTOO SUBMISSIONS

BIGGER FATTER GYPSIER ... WRONG!!

We were shocked to see this poster that Channel 4 were going to use for 'Big Fat Gypsy Weddings' advert. Not big fans of the show, where,  in our opinion it shows a negative side of Irish Traveller Life, rather than a Gypsy life. Major difference between a traveler lifestyle and a Gypsy cultural background. With ignorance toward this fact, UK audience is miseducated. But it makes for good TV, so what do they care?

We also received much criticism of our blog also saying we should know the difference between Gypsy style fashion and culture. We do know, thank you very much. Guess it's a matter of opinion on what each individual finds offensive. We are showing Gypsy culture which includes history, fashion, music in a very positive light. So where is the harm?

Stop taking this blog so seriously and take this poster and that TV show seriously. It caused bullying and upset to a lot of families of the show, especially the children.

GYPSY SUMMER TRENDS

So Summer 2012 almost over. Almost. But not yet!

Last few days have been very sunny in London for Angelina, hot as ever in New York for Kim, and, as you can imagine crazy baking scorching in Dubai for Sophie.
Yet fashion wise we were all united in our Gypsy, NOT necessarily Bohemian gear. Gypsy cos it's more authentic and not pretentious.
So forget those flip flops - switch to chunky edgy boots and combine flowing skirts with rock tops and wife beaters.
You got it! Summer 2012. Still going on hopefully into an Indian Summer!

Our notes this season
For high street go to: Topshop Ragged Priest Range
For up scale go to: Emilio Pucci

Ragged Priest for Topshop

Emilio Pucci Spring/Summer 2012 

New York Street Style showcases simple clean flowing dress with chunky military style boots

Chillaxing. Or should that be Gypsylaxing.

Angelina Roz does London Town Gypsy Best

Wear those pop up shorts whilst you still got time before you have to wear  tights underneath

Lovebox festival madness. You can still get away with this, just change the flip flops for boots! Genius!