Tattoo's always seem to be an ongoing subject, filled with mixed opinions and ideas. I think it is very much down to personal taste.Tattoo's often conjure up images of bearded bikers, jail birds and rock stars, but we forget that most of today's modern fashion icons all boast some ink of their own - think Victoria Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Sienna and Kate just for starters!
In my case - I got a tattoo when I was 16 (I borrowed my sisters clothes to look 18 - call it teenage rebellion okay?!) and chose a Celtic symbol for my lower left abdomen. I loved it at the time and it represented the kind of girl I was, living for the moment - to hell with tomorrow!!
8 years later I find myself looking down at it, ruined by 2008's key hole surgery, and looking a little sorry for itself. In hind sight it is not an image I would pick should I do it all over again, yet I cannot bring myself to detest it. Why?
Because it's a symbol of my 16 year old self - and I liked her. She was feisty and in control and I'm a little ashamed to say I want to re introduce her into my life mid-twenties! So instead - I am going to have it redesigned into something a little more feminine, funky and be proud!
Having researched the incredible art work of tattoo designs I came across Kat Von D - a celebrity in the tattoo neighbourhood.She reminds me of Dita Von Teese, Katy Perry and Amy Winehouse squashed into one artistic canvas of a body - pretty cool in my books! She has become quite the pin up for the industry and has many celebrity clients.
Kat has been inking since she was 15 years old! She also has her own line of cosmetics, a reality TV show (Miami / LA ink ) and a new book out now called High Voltage Tattoo. I'm liking her alot!
So - this begs the question, what is your take on tattoos? Love 'em or hate 'em? On men, or women? Do you have one, or would you ever get one? Tell me, tell me......
I absolutely love them!!! On the right person of course.
ReplyDeletei'm no way near that cool to carry of a tattoo but they look fab on some people!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually not a very big fan of them but I don't mind them on other people.
ReplyDeleteCan't say I love them and I would lose it if any one of my sons got one before they turned 18 but on the other hand everyone has to express themselves somehow - some people blog, others get tatoos, others do both.
ReplyDeleteI love tattoos. I have one and I think it's awesome. It's only 2 years old, so I suppose things could still change. Everyone said I was an idiot, but my tattoo really means something to me and it's definitely a lot less stupid than some tattoos out there!
ReplyDelete♥ xtine
http://stuffbyxtine.blogspot.com
P.S. Love your blog. Had to follow it!
i certainly respect people who get them for expression and whatnot. in your case, i think it's so admirable that you're going to redesign it into something even more special. what i can't stand are people who tat gf/bf names on them...it's just so permanent. make it a symbol of self-expression not devotion or promise.
ReplyDeleteyour comment on my blog led me to yours, am enjoying checking it out!
ReplyDeleteI like them as long as they're well thought-out and meaningful. I don't get why someone would get a tattoo if it doesn't mean something to that person, but that's just me I guess.
ReplyDeleteIf I were ever going to get a tattoo, it would be around the time I get married and I'd get my maiden name tattooed somewhere in small cursive.
I love tattoos! I have a toast tattoo on my left forearm and am saving for another one on my right arm. I agree with Michelle, tattoos should be meaningful and reflect you. In my case, all my tattoos have to be designed either by me or a friend. It just feels more personal that way. I can't wait till you show us your redesigned work! xo
ReplyDeleteI do NOT like those tattoos... I'd rather ahve one smaller than these ones!
ReplyDeletekat looks cool, and i pass by her shop almost every day on my way to work. it is kind of weird that she is dating nikki sixx (last i heard, at least), as he has about 20+ years on her.
ReplyDeletep.s. i am tattoo free.
I LOVE really well thought out, artistic/imaginitive tattoos! I don't like really cliched ones though, ie. skulls & roses etc.(unless incorporated into an original design with a sense of irony!)
ReplyDeleteIt also makes me sad to see people who've obviously tried to save money by going to the cheapest dodgiest tattoo parlour...I don't think a tattoo is something you can compromise on like that- it's going to be there FOREVER, so you may as well go all out and get it done by somebody incredible, who can make it look perfect.
I must say though, it shits me when people say "Oh, but think how horrible it will look when you're 75 and wrinkly!". Jeeeeeezus. I'm pretty sure none of us are going to look like catwalk models by that stage-tattooed or not!!! People miss the point,like you say; you can look back at your tatt and remember your carefree 16 yr old self. Like a snapshot of who you were at the time. But unlike a photo, you'll never misplace it, because it's a PART of you. I like that idea :)
I'm not really sure where I stand on tattoos (at least for myself). Every now & again I toy around with the idea of getting one, but never really materialize the thought. I do enjoy seeing other people's and hearing the stories behind them. And as for Kat Von D - she is beautiful and LA Ink is extremely addicting! I haven't watched it in a while though.
ReplyDeleteShe's super cool and I like tattoos, but good Lord she's got a lot of em. A few too many for my taste... But if anyone can pull it off, she can.
ReplyDeleteI love it when my on and off line worlds collide. Yesterday, after reading your tattoo post I was in the car listening to CBC and who was being interviewed? None other than KatVonD. You can listen to the podcast at cbc.ca/q. She has a new book out if anyone wants to see even more of her.
ReplyDeletei love them. both my husband and i have them- i have my kids names.
ReplyDeletei've waited almost 20 years to finally get a tat i love, love, love. in college, we all talked about getting them and a little piglet right at my hip/pelvis bone would have been the result had i gone thru with it. thank g-d, i didn't.
ReplyDeletefinally, just last spring, i had a little tat, in my friends cursive handwriting, say "let go" on my fore-arm. i look at it every day and am so happy... i'm ready for the next one!
oh, i've posted about tattoos a couple of times, i am a big fan, i even did my dissertation at university on body art! i'm also a kat fan :p
ReplyDeleteKat Von D is my favorite celeb! I've always looked up to her "no rules" kind of live life attitude. I recently opened her newly released book at the bookstore and I could not put it down! Its a good coffee table kinda book. Oh and she also drives the most insane car- its a blacked out Chevy Avenger it is sooo hottt omg I want her car!
ReplyDelete& I really like your blog! yayyy!