Russian Prison Tattoos

So, I'm secretly obsessed with Russian prison tattoos: Is that weird?! We have these new tees that feature Russian prison tattoos, and I'm hoping some of you ladies are into them too!! One of the cool things about this artwork is the symbols all have secret meanings. Check out this handy guide, so if you find yourself locked up in a Moscow prison you'll know about your cell mate! These styles of tattoos are usually identifiable by a more bluish color then American tattoo ink and the lines are more blurry then what we are familiar with. Remember, though, not all Russian tattoos a sign of pride- some tattoos are doled out as a punishment. See our selection of Russian Tattoo inspired T's: HERE.
Russian Prison Tattoo Meanings:
Spades - The "suit of thieves" (particularly where the symbol appears upside down)
Clubs - Another "criminal" suit
Diamonds - The "chummy suit" (i.e. stool-pigeons, rats, & informers); this suit is usually forcibly applied.
Hearts - a sexual symbol; it may mark the wearer out as a "passive homosexual" within the prison
Cross - A cross worn on the chest signifies a "Prince of Thieves," the highest possible rank.
'Grins' - Humorous tattoos usually incorporating a grinning face and are often accompanied by text
Snakes - Snakes have a particular symbolism and are usually worn by high ranking gang members Tigers - Sign of an 'Enforcer'
Cats - The cat is associated with the characteristics needed by a criminal.
Skulls - These are usually worn by high ranking gang members.
Eyes - These are forcibly placed on lower backside to show that the prisoner is used for sexual gratification.
Barbed Wire - A barbed wire across ones forehead usually indicates a life-term in prison.
Swastika - Is forcibly applied to forehead and marks one for death.
Stars - Stars commonly represent time served. Each point indicates a year served in jail.
Churches - Like stars, but for Christian prisoners, the number of dome towers indicate the amount of years that the prisoner has been sentenced to.

Sourpuss Featured on Buy-Unlike.com

Check out these amazing photos featuring the Sourpuss Dainty Dress, Sourpuss Tuesday Top and the Ramones tubetop.   Buy-Unlike is one of our German retailers coming up with fun and interesting photoshoots and representing Sourpuss right!
  Buy-Unlike.com

 

Lucky 13 Motorcycle Helmets...

Now in stock (while they last) we have a 3 new helmets to protect that precious brain bucket of yours while cruising on your garage built cafe racer or custom bobber, from Lucky 13 and Felon. Whether you're ready to ride with the Devil, rock the Lucky 13, or just want to really tell the Factories what you think about 'em, we've got that noggin covered. Literally. Available is sizes S-XL.

New Lux De Ville Gambler Totes

Lux Deville gives you a little bit of shimmer & sparkle when you get your hands on a new Gambler purse! This sparkle vinyl purse feature "Lux De Ville" hardware, tuck & roll details, magnetic snap closures, small metal cone feet, removable shoulder straps & red lining. Don't miss the custom dice embellishments, you'll be the highest roller in these glamorous bags! Available in pink, seafoam green, red, champagne, black, and, of course, classic leopard print.

Click any of the photos below to grab a Lux De Ville purse today!

Sourpuss Socks: Back in Stock!

Your favorite socks are back in stock; 

Chose from the Octopus, Cupcakes or Galley Ho! 

and for the rocker kid in your life Ac/dc and Kiss 3-pack socks are here!

Ramones Lace Tunic Top

Gabba gabba hey! For all you Ramones fans out there we have a cute top for you! This Sourpuss Ramones top features a one of a kind lace detail around the neckline and a classic print.  Katie was photographed with the Sourpuss Classy Dame vinyl stud purse- this bag is big enough to pack for a week and the handy mirror on the inside flap will help keep you looking good on your trip. 

Auxiliary Magazine Giveaway!

Last week Auxiliary Magazine launched a contest to win one of our Sugar Ink bathroom sets, a combination of items perfectly suited to redo your bathroom with some skull-ish touches just in time for both Halloween and the Day of the Dead.  Tomorrow is the last day to enter for your chance to enter to win. From their post:

"We (Auxiliary Magazine) are giving away a Sourpuss Sugar Ink Shower Curtain and a Sourpuss Sugar Ink Bath Set just in time for Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead! Sourpuss has recently launched tons of new home decor items, making it easy to decorate your home the way you want!"

To Enter: Visit their contest page at this link: Auxiliary Magazine Sugar Ink Giveaway.

To see more of our sugar skull-tastic bathroom goodies, click either of the photos above, or visit our Housewares section for even more great ghoulish home goods.

Catch Up with Black Market Art Company

This past week I had the pleasure of catching up with long time friend Alex from Black Market Art. I wanted to share the knitty-gritty on Black Market/Lowbrow Art company. Sourpuss carries a variety of the collection of their tattoo tees.

 
•Sourpuss (SP): How did Black Market art develop? 
•Black Market Art (BMA):  Black Market Art started back in 2005. We started selling t-shirts from three different tattoo artists They were Mr. Lucky, Jake Underwood and Bucky Crispin As of today we are working with 175 different artists!
 •SP:What's your role at Black Market?
•BMA:  I try to focus on my role as team spirit leader, but find myself taking out the trash and handing out our daily beatings. The beatings are good for moral, you get beat if you do well and you get beat if you do badly, everybody is an equal here.
•SP:Do you personally have an artist’s background? 
•BMA: Actually I do not have an artists background, I always thought of myself as a visionary, like I in vision myself doing art, it’s kind of like the same thing.

•SP:What is the difference between Black Market and Lowbrow? And do you favor one over the other?
•BMA: Black Market art is more of a tattoo inspired art style lowbrow art is an underground art movement with origins in hot-rod street culture, punk rock music, underground commix and other subcultures. The roots of lowbrow art can be traced back decades to Southern California hotrods “Kustom Kars” and surf culture. Ed “Big Daddy” Roth is frequently credited with getting the Lowbrow art movement underway by creating Rat Fink in the late 1950’s.

While Lowbrow art grew in the 1960’s as a product of its political and social times, as a revolt against academic conceptualism, it has negotiated and thrived into the 21st century. It remains an unassuming mix of possibilities open to flux and dedicated to beautifully polished works.
Lowbrow art captures our imaginations and jump starts journeys into wide eyed, candy colored and sometimes darkly disturbing worlds of artful madness.

•SP:Tell us about the art shows that you are involved with...
•BMA: We do a lot of art shows, it’s mainly an excuse for us to go out to the bar get drunk and party with our friends.

•SP:Working with so many artists do you decide ahead of time what type of artwork you are looking for or do you work with what the artists already has completed? 
•BMA: We usually just work with what the artist completes, if they are backing it then so are we.

•SP:Over the last few years tattoo culture has become pretty popular, how do you feel about that?
•BMA: We think it’s great. It’s about time that these tattoo artists get the recognition that they deserve as artist. Their art form is gaining legitimacy in the main stream and we think that is down right awesome!

•SP:Is there a specific artist that you were doing flips with excitement to be working with?
•BMA:   Yea three jump to my head right away : Daniel Esparza, Abril Andrade, and Dave Sanchez

•SP:If you could chose 3 things to only eat or drink for a whole year, what would those survival treats be?
•BMA:  That’s easy Beer, Pizza, and broccoli.

•SP:Lastly, for fun- can you sketch us a self portrait? 

Shop Sourpuss for the latest Iron Fist products

Have you seen all the latest Iron Fist items? Lot's of new items were added including Iron Fist fug boots, Unicornicopia leggings and sequin tanktop and new Tiger and Bunny wedges.

Behind the scenes at Sourpuss...

I'm sure some of you are curious about the folks behind the scenes of our little operation. If you've ever called the Sourpuss office, chances are you've spoken to a gal named Calyn. Behind that sweet voice is a rad chick with a thin lined paint brush in hand in her spare time. Visit the website The Raven and Black Cat: They are featuring an art print from Calyn for a contest giveaway. Follow the link to enter to win this brilliant cat skull print.

Have a look at these other prints available for purchase through Vignette Noir

New Live Fast cardigan and Siren skirt

New for Fall, the Sourpuss Live Fast cardigan features skull and crossbones embroidery on the front chest and the embroidered words Live Fast on the back, perfectly paired with the new gray leopard Siren skirt.

New Arrival: Sourpuss Mary Lu dress

New Arrival from Sourpuss- I love the new Mary Lu dress! Available in teal blue or black. Shown here with the Bettie Page Teaserama purse and Glitter Octo hair clips.

Getting Nautical with Sourpuss Viva Tops

Look like a nautical knockout in the Sourpuss Viva tops! These 3/4 sleeve, striped tops feature contrasting, colored trim, a keyhole back & an embroidered detail on the chest. We have the classically seaworthy Hold Fast with a blue anchor, the Knot-ical Rope Bow in red, and the one that'll always steer you straight with the Ships Wheel featuring a black embroidered skull in the center.

An Interview with Lisa from Switchblade Stiletto

Sourpuss (SP): How did Switchblade Stiletto come about?
Switchblade Stiletto (SBS): From the Blondie Book "Making Tracks The Rise of Blondie" when she was in the band The Stilettos there was a photo in it with a Switchblade rammed through it as the heel. So I guess I have Blondie to thank for naming my company. I was like that is awesome! First it was a design we featured for the company I worked for. Later I thought what a great name for a clothing company.

SP: How did you get into designing?
SBS: I have been making clothes since I was a kid, before I could even drive. I grew up in an upper class neighborhood but we weren't upper class at all. So to keep up with the my classmates I would sew my own clothes and from there the other kids like my designs so I started selling them to my classmates and eventually I hit up the local boutiques in town and sold them my crafty little pieces. I started hustling at a young age.


SP:What did you do before you started Switchblade Stiletto?
SBS:I worked for Lucky 13 as a designer.



SP:What is your favorite item from your current collection?
SBS:I like my line cause it caters to the more curvy girl but to pick a favorite would be hard. I like the High Waisted Skirt and Pant cause it keeps you sucked in, the Marilyn dress cause it is fun to wear, the Annabella dress cause it is sexy.

 
SP:Looking back through out the years of running Switchblade Stiletto- do you have a moment that you were the most excited? (maybe a favorite style that you made or a special VIP that wore Switchblade?


SBS:It's all exciting! Working for yourself is truly the best feeling and making it 10 years with the line has made me feel accomplished with all the ups and downs, the errors and rewards. Meeting cool people and traveling. I am grateful that I have the courage to follow my dreams!





 SP:While repping the line- how many times did you drive cross country? Any desires to do that again?
SBS:I did 3 trips back and fourth from the Pacific to the Atlantic. It is rough being on the road and not knowing where you will be sleeping and only knowing a couple days before what town you will be in. I have done countless min trips up the west coast, along the dirty south, and east coast. I would love to get back on the road again I love being out there exploring the earth.

SP:Tell us about your latest project- Gypsy Treasures.

SBS:Well it is a retail location I just opened in November. If you know me I am not your pin up girl so this is way for me to kind of express my self a little more. I have taken the road and brought it into the store. I have the desert feel with cowboys & Indians, a forest with gypsy mystical fairyland, the beach with pirate sailorette voyage, and pin up Spanish harlot religious section I call a piece of Mexico or Spain. I want to bring more cultures into the store like Hindu, Buddha, Roman, Celtic, Egyptian, and so one. I want to promote peace we are all souls and our bodies are just our shells. I know it all sounds very hippie and a far cry from the pinup world.


But I am not 21 anymore and putting on those heels and strutting around doesn't do it for me. Thoughts of exploring more land and cultures is what keeps me inspired.

SP:Has it been difficult to balance Switchblade Stiletto and Gypsy Treasures?
SBS:Having the store is way more work than I thought it would be. The shop has taken my time away from Switchblade. My life was pretty easy going before and now I never have a day off. I am sure there will the pay off but everything that is worth anything is hard work and it will make me appreciate it more. Blood sweat and tears!

SP:If we were to make a movie about your life who would play you?
SBS:Oh geez that is a hard question. I had to ask some friend and this is what they said; Wicked Witch of the East, Jennifer Connely, Oprah, Milas Kunis, Zoe Deschanel, Juliette Lewis, Lucy Lawless from Xena warrior, and Angelina Jolie. If we are talking about looks wise I think Milas Kunis cause we look the most alike.

SP:With your plate being really full- what do you do when it comes time to relax?
SBS:Yoga, the beach, gardening, and meditation.

Sailor Jerry for Fall

 

Sourpuss is gearing up for the weather change heading to the east coast. Good thing we received in a nice warm clothing shipment from Sailor Jerry. Guys are going to be stoked on the new well crafted buffalo plaid button up shirts,  simple one color tattoo sweatshirts and premium classic flash tees.

No worries ladies- we have new hoodies for you too. In addition we have the new Capistrano tee in the perfect color blue. Search SAILOR JERRY on our website to view all styles available.