Tattoo WhoDoo?

While taking a shirt off my 18 month old grandson, I was amazed and amused to find a skull and crossbones tattoo decal on his arm.  He was quite proud of his “dadoo” put there by his aunt, a rather conservative woman! Back in those Mötley Crüe days when teens were sneaking off to tattoo parlors in forbidden parts of town getting itty-bitty hearts and smiley faces placed in discreet places mom wouldn’t see, this would have been unthinkable. http://gossip.whyfame.com/brooklyn-beckham-has-a-tattoo-7691

I used to discuss tattoos with my FMM student as a “fad.” As it turns out this could not have been a fad- it didn’t go away. In fact, there’s an entire segment of all ages, coast to coast, country to country whose bodies serve as a billboard for unbelievable complex tattoo designs. So what’s up, if it isn’t a fad and it isn’t mainstream? Plus the celeb roster now has a Celebrity Tattoo Artist category. http://www.styleite.com/media/scott-campbell-marc-jacobs-tattoos/

I asked an FIT colleague; Norma Campbell who sports an Edo inspired geisha girl on her leg that I have to admit is “to die for.” Norma says tattooing is now a recognized art form meticulously practiced by serious gifted artists who have chosen the body as their canvas. Wow!

To learn more I talked to Michele Savoia, a high profile menswear designer and custom tailor who teaches for us.  He’s a walking authority on men’s dressing, be it career or social, Michele can be trusted to give you the very best advice on what to wear from the highest brow event to an interview.  Industry gala? State Department dinner? going to Ascot? Call Michele, oh and by the way, he’s “inked” on every body part you can see and probably more places we haven’t. Michele says that not only is this an emerging art form but tattoo artists must have a fine and or graphics art background with knowledge of how to design their concepts to transfer to the human body- a shifting elastic platform. The best parlors serve as art galleries for custom design.

What about that old fear about fading and aging?

Both Norma and Michele say no fear as the ink process is so advanced with tattoos being a balance of art and science including hypoallergenic slim needles and state of the art ink that come in a wide range of colors.  The designs are very personal according to Michele.  Tattoos are a reference to one’s personal life experiences meaning “This is my story” be it Goth, tribal, old school flash, sailor Jerry or Japanese style.  Fascinating and deep.  Should Hot Topics do a series on tattoo culture-what do you think?

Oh and one other tip from Michele. He says “women go crazy for heavily tattooed men- It’s that bad boy thing!” Oo quick let me get my grandson’s shirt back on-

Michele Savoia teaches SXF 325: Men’s Image Consulting with Style

13 thoughts on “Tattoo WhoDoo?

  1. I love this conversation! I’ve had a tattoo for many years and have always cherished it. I think the ink is a very personal choice and it can be used ceremoniously to commemorate important milestones in one’s life or as a way to customize the body. I believe that the process also is a right of passage….both my husband and I have tattoos and are planning on more!

  2. Thanks. I am going to comment some more in the next week as I see more and more press coverage about tatoos.
    Joan

  3. I love it. Tattoos used to be just for the bad boys, and now days people from all walks of life proudly display their body art. I am sure it is not a fad!
    Tattoo Me Now

    1. Thanks, Todd – hope you saw the picture of the woman at the elegant Polo match in Jersey Shore Redux – early July. We are planning to do more on this topic on the Blog and in the college.

  4. I and most of my friends have tattoos and it’s true, more and more people are getting them for various reasons. A website I entered has a bunch of them. Found my last one there!

  5. Yes, please keep the tattoo articles coming.
    Both informative AND funny 🙂

    Btw, I find tattoos hot… but that’s just me 🙂

  6. Hey Joan, I am too a tattoo-lover. and love to read more about it. Wish to see more tattoo images. Going to bookmark your blog to explore more on tattoos.

  7. I love tattoos. For me the tattoo design is an art. At first it was scary getting a tattoo, but after the first tattoo I could not stop. It’s the best feeling anyone can feel.

    1. As we get into Spring I expect to have more on this topic to report. but i wonder- is there an age where tattoos just should cut off. How about Baby boomers or your mothers, how do you feel about that?

  8. Yeah, nowadays more and more people want to have a tattoo on their body, especially teenagers, because they think it’s a very good form of expressing one’s characteristics.

  9. Im glad to see that this form of expression is getting more accepted by the day. Tattoos have gotten a bad rep in it’s first steps. It was considered a mark for criminals and prostitutes, but now a mark of creativity en eccentricity.

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