For this Gilroy Newcomer, Punk Rock is an Attitude, not a Fashion Statement

One of Gilroy's newest residents, 46-year-old Nina Stapleton, hangs out at Sue's Coffee Roasting Company, loves punk rock and can't wait to get involved with the small town's growing community. 

Gilroy Patch: How is it living in Gilroy?

Nina Stapleton: Oh, well, it's just been kind of interesting. Unemployment actually brought me out here, just because it's a cheaper place to live and it's easier to function. I've been out here for about two and a half weeks, and I wasn't sure if I was going to stay or not, or if I was going to pursue better employment in San Jose and go back. But the longer I'm here, the longer I want to stay. I'm falling in love with it. 

Patch: How different is style in San Jose than in Gilroy?

Stapleton: Well San Jose is a big city, so they have that ... but can I say this? I find a lack of style here. A lack of diversity, personal diversity. I'm not talking racial diversity, but personal diversity—uniqueness. People are generally cookie cutter, and if it's not just plain Jane, it's more biker girl kind of stuff. In the small time that I've been here, that's what I've seen.

Patch: Where do you think you might find personal diversity in this town?

Stapleton: Well, I'm trying to integrate into the community here, so I am going to listen to music tonight down here (at Sue's) for a bit, and then movie in the park; maybe I'll see some more diversity there and get back to you.

Patch: Can you explain what you are wearing today?

Stapleton: I actually dressed for my job interview at the winery today. Skinny jeans, black flip flops and a shirt that I wouldn't be caught dead in if I didn't have this interview.

Patch: Where do you like to shop?

Stapleton: I'm a bargain-basement Betty! I love DD's discounts, 23 Skidoo in downtown Campbell ... my daughter used to work there.  

Patch: How would you describe your look?

Stapleton: I don't have any one particular look. So many people may look at me and say it's the whole Bettie Page thing; some people can see right through me down to my punk roots. I also like to play around with some goth fun. I love my 20-eyed Doc Martens. I almost hate summer, because they aren't appropriate. They will make you sweat from the foot up. But yeah, I don't like getting locked into one thing. 

Patch: You don't like getting locked into one thing? Can you elaborate?

Stapleton: I like to play dress-up! It's my favorite thing in the world to do! I have these little leopard print pumps with a red heel. They are just the most adorable things in the world. And I will dress around them shoes!

Patch: Maybe Gilroyans lacking style should try that out?

Stapleton: I think Gilroy could use a little pizzazz. I think that probably living out here, you are a slave to the outlets and Walmart. And I've been to the Goodwill, and it's not really that fun down here. 

Patch: How is shopping in San Jose compared with Gilroy?

Stapleton: San Jose is even better than San Francisco for that. San Francisco has gone trendy, and San Jose has kept its roots in real, cheap, vintage clothing. I got a black tutu for, like, $2 in San Jose, not too long ago, actually! 

Patch: Tell us about growing up a punk rocker?

Stapleton: I'm just an old-school punk girl, '70s punk. Just raw, dirty, scummy, piss on the floor, punk rock. You can't go wrong with it!

Patch: You understand now I have to ask the obligatory, "How do you feel about fashion and its place in punk culture?" question, right?

Stapleton: Yeah, well, it's kind of a shame that here and now you can ask some punk-looking kid walking down the street if they got their outfit at—what's that place in the mall called, Hot Topic—they will probably say yes. We made all of our stuff, or it just wore out 'til it looked cool, and it worked! My clothes were just old and holey. My boots were never shiny; they were a disaster, you know? We just made fashion out of all of that. 

Patch: How do you feel about trying to get a job looking and dressing the way you do?

Stapleton: You know, I'm really just looking for a job that doesn't care about my piercings and tattoos. I am 46 years old and I will always wear Converse high-tops. I will be 80 years old wearing my Converse. And now that they have the soft leather Doc Martens, I will wear those, too. They are good ankle suport for old people.

Patch: And what about our generation? We are more tattooed than you; how do you think it will be for us when we hit the job market?

Stapleton: Who are you going to hire, people? Look at this new generation; everybody is tattooed. So if companies are picky about that, who is going to work for them?

Patch: Do you have any final advice for your new fellow Gilroyan fashionistas?

Stapleton: Just ... do not fear other people's opinions. You know, the very thing that makes people fearful of bringing out their own unique style could be a boyfriend saying something about a girl that looks like you or me walking down the street and saying, "Oh, God, look at that girl's hair; don't ever do that!" and the girlfriend is standing there going, "OK, well, I guess I won't, even though I really want to!" Just stand up for yourself, stand up and be creative; everybody has it in them. Most of the people that knock it are the people who are just too afraid to try it. You know, everybody has color, and everybody's color is different.