19.10.15
Words by:

With all the negative political and cultural forces trying to crush our self-esteem, it’s no wonder that the empowering spirit of punk is summoned so often.

Skinny Girl Diet are a band who inspire confidence. The North London trio consists of guitarist/vocalist Delilah Holliday, her sister Amelia Cutler, who plays bass, and their cousin Ursula Holliday on the drums. While still in their early teens, the band performed their first gig opening for Viv Albertine of The Slits, who inspired their original name, Typical Girls. By 2013, the band had released two EPs of lo-fi, lyrically potent grunge-punk as Skinny Girl Diet – a sardonic reference to pro-anorexia Tumblr pages.

With the guidance of culturally informed parents and the freedom to explore different eras in a digital age, Skinny Girl Diet’s image is a melting-pot of many influences. In discussion of the style icons that have directly inspired them, Ursula references the radical 90s grunge outfit L7, David Bowie and Sophia Loren; Delilah mentions Marc Bolan, 50s Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield and Frida Kahlo; while Amelia cites actresses such as Lea Seydoux and Winona Ryder.

For our Aesthetic shoot, we styled Skinny Girl Diet with a combination of retro clothing and pieces from labels such as McQ, Moschino, Vivienne Westwood, Versace, MISBHV and Claire Barrow – who happens to be one of the band’s favourite designers. “She was the first person in fashion to reach out to us a couple of years ago,” they tell us. “Her clothes are divine.”

This month, Skinny Girl Diet release their new EP, Reclaim Your Life. Musically, they may have cleaned up their sound a little, but their attitude still exudes righteous ferocity. “Reclaim Your Life stands for so much,” the band declare, “fighting against all oppressors and getting what society doesn’t want you to have – power, self-love and a strong mind.”

Words: Farah Haze
Photographer: Francesca Allen
Stylist: Charlotte James
Stylist Assistant: Susan Daniel
Make up: Sara Argy
Hair: Scarlett Burton

Reclaim Your Life is out now via Fiasco Recordings