Giddle Partridge: The Living Doll

All Photos:  Alan Mercer

I met Giddle Partridge through my dear friend Bebe Buell.  Giddle helped with hair and make-up for my first shoot with Bebe.   I knew then that I wanted to photograph her in a more artistic way.  We both appreciate and enjoy photos from the Golden Hollywood period of the 30's through the 50's so when I wanted to create some images like this I called up Giddle and we got together for fun and to see what we could come up with. 

Giddle Partridge was born in Lakewood, Colorado. Even though she was named Desiree, Giddle became her nick name from her mother when she was very little and it has stuck with her and created the artist and character that she is. She was always involved in dance and theater growing up.  Since the young age of 6 she has been dancing and performing.

Giddle has been a prominent figure on the 'cult scene' for quite some time. She has been in various bands since she was 17 years old, where she sang, played keyboards and go-go danced.  She is good friends with many well known musicians, artists and DJ's like Rodney Bingenheimer, German Singing Star Nina Hagen and countless other LA type hipsters. 

Since moving to Los Angeles in 1999 she has been designing custom made clothes and Victorian lampshades as well as pillows. She has worked doing freelance writing, photography, modeling and hair and make-up for various publications and fashion shoots. She is a strict Vegetarian and a member of the ASPCA.

AM:  I remember when I met you with our dear friend Bebe Buell, all I wanted to do was take some photographs of you since you had such a rare beauty.

GP:  Oh thank you and I was so nervous because I had no make-up on!  I only had on red lipstick.

AM:  Your photogenic beauty came right through.  Why don't you refresh my memory about some of your background?

GP:  I've been around since the beginning of time but let me reintroduce myself!  I like to do any and everything I can.  I don't limit myself to just one thing. 

AM:  You consider yourself an artist don't you?

GP:  I used to not like that term, artist.  Even though I paint and sew I don't consider myself an artist. 

AM:  Who is an artist to you?

GP:  Andy Warhol.

GP:  You are "Andy Warholian" yourself. 

GP:  Thank you.  I totally dig that!  I wish the Silver 60's was the now.  I always try and recreate the past because I love it.  I love pop culture.  I love music.

AM:  What do you think of music today?

GP:  I think music stopped evolving in the early 80's.  Now there's nothing left to do.  I like things from the past.  I do like some new bands that my friend Rodney Bingenheimer turns me on too.  There's something about music that has died out.  There is nothing else to be done. 

AM:  Do you consider yourself a musician first?

GP:  I am a character.  I'm a living doll!  I say this with no sarcasm.  All little kids play dress up but ever since I can remember I loved to perform.

AM:  Did you want the attention?

GP:  I didn't do this for attention.  I did it for pure enjoyment and fulfillment.  I have always been so passionate about performing anything.  So as a kid I was always in musicals and I had my first band when I was seventeen years old.  

AM:  You're known for your clothing choices.

GP:  The clothes that I wear on a daily basis, some would only buy as Halloween costumes.  I dress up everyday year round.  Life is too short.  Why not have fun and look the way you want instead of just saving it for one day a year? 

AM:  Even though you may appear to some to be frivolous, you are really a deep and serious person as well aren't you?

GP:  I do have a seriousness and intensity about me.  I'm very straight forward.  It rubs some people the wrong way and some people understand and accept me.  I'm not a moldable chick.  I've always been who I am. 

AM:  You are fully realized.

GP:  I know exactly who I am. 

AM:  You design clothes too don't you?

GP:  I have a clothing line where I create custom pieces called doll clothes for humans.  That's what I wear.  Not that you won't catch me in a bathrobe, but if you do you will catch me in my pink Jayne Mansfield robe that she once owned, that a friend gave to me as a gift. 

AM:  What are some of your general beliefs?

GP:  I don't believe in restrictions.  I believe everyone should be happy and who they are.  I also really love animals.  I think they are so groovy.  I'm a vegetarian but I don't think everyone should be a vegetarian. 

AM:  You are not judgmental.

PG:  No I'm not and it's because people have always been very judgmental of me.  I know I'm a good person.  I have a groovy soul.  As stupid as it sounds it's about growing up, though I will never fully grow up as I believe in Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.  I will never grow up but I have learned.  Life is a lesson.  I like to take the high road in life.

To learn more about Giddle Partridge visit her web site http://www.gogogiddle.com/