When esoteric actress Tina Fey was heard remarking on the Golden Globes red carpet, ‘It’s raining a lot – I’m worried that my tattoos are going to start showing,’ it became clear just how prolific tattoos and body art have become in mainstream culture.
Unlike Tina, most of the celebs wore their star and stripes proudly with their finery. Nichole Richie walked the walk at the Academy Awards in a full gown that dipped away at the back low to reveal most of her back and her angel wing tattoos. George Clooney’s girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis sported a satin gown with her ink on full show – a fully encompassing arm tribal band. I know what you’re saying: body art is older than the hills, so why is this trend continuing to gain momentum with celebs and civilians alike?
The obvious point is that regular tattoos and piercings are rapidly growing in popularity and are therefore increasingly becoming more accepted. Where employers used to balk at body art they’re now relaxing their dress codes because it’s becoming difficult to find employees sans tatts and piercings! The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology tells us 24 percent of Americans between 18 and 50 have at least one tattoo, and 36 per cent of Americans aged 18 to 29 are tatted up.
It’s also a topic that fascinates both the adorned and unadorned. The search engine fount of eternal knowledge reflects this in that the word ‘tattoo’ hit a four-year high in Google search hits in 2009.
This, paired with the fact there are different ways to individualise our bodies popping up everyday, means the partakers and the followers are increasing day by day.
And secondly, there are a zillion different creative ways to express yourself as we have more than just tattoos and piercings.
Besides traditional gun-drawn tattoos, laser tattoos, scalpel-drawn tattoos (scarification), fingernail tattoos, branding and even dental tattoos are on the offer. Tooth jewels thankfully do not look like they’re skyrocketing.
If you’re not into the permanent methods, body painting has been taking off in a big way. Festivals and competitions are springing up on an international stage for the art form.
And, while they may have been considered naff in the past, temporary tatts have been brought fashion forward thanks to iconic fashion house Chanel. From the runway to the moment Sarah Jessica Parker hit the red carpet at the Oscars wearing their new temporary tattoos, we knew they were bound to make a splash. The Sex and The City star teamed her stunning gold Chanel Couture dress, glam updo and sexy eye makeup with Peter Philip’s new, limited-edition transfers, from Chanel’s spring collection – that appear to imitate jewellery and chains.
Fashionistas Lilly Allen and Daisy Lowe have also been seen sporting these beauties, and closer to home Lara Bingle was seen wearing them with an ivory cowl-necked gown at the Allan Border Medal do.
So not only is body art now accepted, it is even fashionable to indulge and sport them with abandon. On that note, just a word to the wise: fashions come and go but tattoos do not!
