Rude Roots: Ella

Hello! Thank you for talking with me I’m so excited to be a part of this. You can call me Ella or El, anything really.

Yeah after many years I finally took the plunge and got the cut. It went well, I managed to find a really good barber local to me. I was so nervous when I first sat in the chair because my hair had always been really long and I’ve never had anything like it but my barber was honestly amazing. My whole life because of personal issues I’ve hated getting haircuts and would sometimes put it off for over a year because of the sensory aspect of it and I’d just never found the right person for me. But as soon as the fringe got chopped and the first bit of hair came off the back I was so excited.

Well I’ve been part of the scene for a few years now and loads of my best pals and close circle are all skinheads and it’s something that’s always been at the back of my mind even before I met them. There’s been many times over the last few years maybe I’ve been going to do it but never have because I don’t like change and it intimidates me. But i hated my long hair and I knew it wasn’t me so I got to the point where I was saying to myself it’s now or never. And to be fair I got to that point last year as well but was told off a stylist I wouldn’t suit it. But the other week I just went f it and went for it it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. It ties in the style, roots ect I’ve already had for years and I finally feel myself.

I do love the feather cut, and I can’t say yet if it’ll be my final form. I’ve got to get used to it. I might get it a bit shorter at the back and maybe dye it, but currently I’m happy with where it’s at. However, the other day it wasn’t as defined around the ears, and I let Terry go at it with the kitchen scissors hahaha. But she did well, and I trusted her expertise.

As soon as I got the cut my pals all said to me “you can finally call yourself a skin now Ella” because for the last year or so they all told me I’d be one if I just cut my hair haha. They told me I won’t have the “baby Skin phase” as I’ve dressed, had the music taste, the morals ect as a skin for years it was just the cut that’s finally tied it all together. I called myself a rude girl for years, and I love how now I can call myself a skingirl it makes me feel like myself finally, but I won’t lie to you it does feel a bit unusual calling myself one after so long.

My next move? I’m unsure, probably just doing what I’m already doing and going out with my pals, getting to gigs, having a dance, and enjoying myself. To learn not to care what others think of me because I look cool as fuck. Should probably polish my boots more regularly than I do as my next move too haha, was in the cadets when I was younger so it feels like a chore even though I know I love them and they look smart, nice and shiny.

The outpouring love and compliments from the community and my pals as soon as I got the chop was honestly overwhelming I don’t think I’ve ever recieved so many compliments it was lovely and genuinely made me so happy. It solidified why I done it and why I’m proud to be part of such an amazing subculture. Cannot thank my friends enough for all the kindness and compliments they’ve shown me. Especially Terry and Lizzy who helped show me how to style it. My family on the other hand, not so happy hahah but I’m sure they’ll get used to it.

I’m over the moon with it. I look in the mirror for the first time in years and I see myself and who I’m meant to be. Not someone hiding behind long hair to please others and to shy away from opinion.

I grew up in a wee coastal town in the west of Scotland called Gourock. But when people ask I usually say greenock as it’s more well known and it’s basically the same place. I had a great childhood. As soon as I hit high school though I always knew i was different and you’d see me walking the corridors in my Oxblood Docs and Harrington filled to the heavens with pins and patches. This subjected me to a lot of bullying however and a school move. But I never stopped being myself for anyone and my love of music got me through. Inverclyde is an amazing place to grow up, you have glasgow 40 mins away on the train and you’re on the coast so you can see the hills for miles on the Clyde and there’s a few lovely beaches. It’s the best of both worlds.

Music was always huge for me. Because I was bullied quite badly music was my escape. I’d be 13 in my bedroom going through YouTube for hours discovering more artists and more genres. I was 13 when I first discovered ska, it was too much too young by the specials and I remember clear as day how much the sound blew my mind and from there the rest is history. I would spend so much time researching and discovering subcultures and their styles and things and I knew that’s where I was meant to be. I just wasn’t sure where til I was a wee bit older. In high school as well I’d always have my music on, I didn’t have many friends so I’d spend breaks and lunches with my headphones in walking the corridors with the likes of bad manners, the specials, northern soul and a bit of britpop blaring through my ears. I remember begging my parents for Fred Perry polos, Harringtons and Docs from that age and very early on it became my uniform.

Not overly, but my dad used to have scooters when I was a wee girl, and he can recite Quadrophenia word for word.

A lot of Northern Soul, when I was wee, my dad would stand me on his feet and hold my hands and play the likes of the snake or do I love you (indeed I do), and soul dance with me around the living room. There was also a lot of the jam, The Who, Small Faces, Style Council and as well as The Doors, The Stone Roses, and The Strokes. All good music has led me to be who I am today.

When I was 14/15 yeah, I used to be in a wee groupchat back in the day with folk from all over the UK the same age as me who liked the same music and style, but we were all too young to ever actually meet and eventually grew apart. Ever since then I knew eventually I’d find myself in subculture again, I guess I never really left I was sort of a lone wolf. But the scene now is amazing and it’s so nice to feel part of something as special as it is, and my pals are class.

How i interpret the word rude is being authentically you, not giving a fuck about what other people think and living your life as authentically as you can and not fitting into societal norms. Simply not giving a fuck. Disobedient to what society wants a young girl to be. Being rebellious. A dedication to the scene.

It means standing out from the crowd and having the bravery to be authentically you and not what others want you to be. It means I won’t be put in a box of what they think a 22 year old woman should be. It’s a family of other alternatives no matter their culture, it’s if you see someone else even if they’re not in your culture and they’re alternative you give them a wee smile. It’s really special and part of who I am.

In Inverclyde? Absolutely not, I can count on one hand the amount of alternative people I’ve seen down here. It’s your standard post industrial Scottish seaside town. There’s no alternative venues or events that I’m aware of. It’s all very grey and normal. However in glasgow it’s fantastic, there’s a great scene and there’s always a gig on or somewhere to go. If you’re ever in Glasgow see if beyond the gap have a show on, those ones are always my favourite and each show supports a good cause.

Well now I’m getting used to calling myself a skingirl. It’s what I’ve wanted to be and what I’ve known deep down I am for years. Just feels surreal finally being able to call myself one. I went by rude girl for a while.

I was bullied in school and spent a lot of time online and watching films and YouTube videos and listening to music. I knew of subcultures as I’d seen the classics such as quadrophenia and this is England, and I was always drawn to the style. I read the skinhead bible and done loads of my own research and decided it was who I was but back then I didn’t know where just yet. Can’t beleive I’m admitting this but I called myself a mod for a bit and when I was 15 hahahaha. But we live and learn. I just done a lot of research on the back of all the well known media favourites.

Probably that we’re racist, but that goes for all Skins, not just Skin girls. People need to learn the difference between a Skinhead and a bonehead and educate themselves.

Both. It sets me apart from what’s maybe considered “normal,” but it connects me to hundreds of people all over the world. The friends and connections I’ve made down to my style is honestly the most special and amazing thing ever. Because of my style, I’ve met people in Austria, Germany, and all over the UK and made some amazing friendships.

As someone who spends a lot of time in Glasgow you can’t not mention Dees of Trongate. It’s a Glasgow institution specialising in subculture fashion. The staff are great and even if you don’t buy anything always up for a chat. McChuills in Glasgow too, you’re always greeted by the staff and the tunes are always banging, I think in Glasgow it’s the main place you’d catch me hanging out as well as other folk involved in subcultures. Beyond the gap also put in some amazing gigs and whenever I attend one it’s like a big family of alternatives from all over scotland it’s great.

I’d love to be able to have a bit more of a local scene in Inverclyde. There’s a bit of a soul scene amongst some of the Older generation who know how to put on a fantastic doo, but it would be nice if there was an alternative space young people could hang out. All the alternative young people I know here we all travel to Glasgow so it would nice if there was more gigs for us locally or a venue that played more alternative music. There’s only one night club down here and it only plays your generic pop 2000s club music. As much as I love Glasgow and it’s my second home, sometimes you just can’t be bothered having to pay train fares and spend near enough and hour each way and sprint for the last train later on while all your pals are still partying.

It changes all the time, but I love my Relco CK48 Jamaica shirt or my Burgundy CK 71 with my white Relco braces and either a black or denim skirt with fishnets and my Oxblood Solovairs. The shirt could also be changed for one of my vintage Fred Perrys.

I love Relco as the quality of their shirts is amazing, and it’s reasonably priced and polished up smart. I love Fred Perry too, as they’re a cult classic and always look amazing, but I mainly get them second-hand these days as their pricing has gotten a bit ridiculous in my opinion for the quality. Most of mine are second-hand or vintage from charity shops or Vinted.

Not a wardrobe as such, but I’d raid dees of trongate they always have such cool stuff in hahaha. And when you’re in there, it feels like a wardrobe with all your dream pieces in. My pals also all have cool clothes. My pal Terry always looks smart, and my pal from Austria too. His wardrobe is unreal. None of it would fit me, though haha.

I don’t know, haha because at the moment, the wardrobe I’ve built is what I dreamed about when I was younger. But I’d love a Fred Perry dress and some more tonic skirts and everything the likes of Relco and Trojan sell. Would probably raid their warehouses haha. You have to pick one!

Boots definitely. But not if I’m soul dancing.

Fred Perry.

Ska.

I genuinely can’t pick one I love them both equally for different reasons.

Smart.

I’d say neither and probably just a wee bit tipsy, I’ve been trying to behave myself recently lol.

I’m unsure haha. I think where I live, especially they all think I’m a bit strange for how I dress, and that which I can be. But at the core I’m just another person.

I dress for myself and to make myself feel good about myself. My self esteem has always been a bit low but when I get my gear on and do my makeup I always know to myself I look cool as fuck.

Probably getting my first Fred Perry, Harrington and pair of Docs for my Christmas when I was younger.

Music guilty pleasure is definitely Harry Styles or something haha. He was my first love when I was a wee girl, and you can’t not love him haha.

Definitely cutting my hair and getting myself out there.

Music, style, my pals, my dogs, my family and Tennents Lager.

Folks who judge folks for being different and folks who are up their backsides. Sambuca also.

Currently Bad Manners, Toots and the Maytals, Amyl and the Sniffers, Blitz, Desmond Dekker. Special mention to Fontaines DC also.

The Specials self-titled titled in Missing Records in Glasgow.

I’ve gotten right into a lot of Punk recently.

The Specials self-titled. It’s the one that changed it all for me.

Bad Manners. Whenever they’ve been in Glasgow I’ve missed them.

Stop caring what other people think and putting yourself down. When you’re 22 you’re going to be cool. Live for yourself, not for other people and their expectations.

Do your research. Learn the history. Enjoy yourself and the music.

My Instagram is @ella003x

If you’ve gotten this far thanks for reading me ramble away. I’m happy to be a part of this community and keep being authentically you.