STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

RyanJ · Coach

Thinking about a tattoo.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Don't get it done! I hate tattoo's. They are not classy, and seem trashy. Yesterday I saw this old geezer with a huge tatto of a big chested woman on his arm. Looked ridiculous. Probably got it done during WWII!

Metric · Gucci

I completely disagree! I love tattoos, I have 5. I do not, nor have I ever regretted getting any of them. Just make sure you take into consideration why you are doing it...As a means of self espression? Because you love the artistry of tattooing? or because its a cool thing to do or to piss off the folks may not be the best reasons.

Carefully consider what you want and make sure you think about it for a good long time (I would say a couple of months) Find a drawing/picture/sketch of the tattoo you want and look at it everyday, since it will become a part of you and you will have to look at it all the time. Then if it still speaks to you, do it! It does hurt (some places more than others) and people will ask you alot of stupid questions about it. But regardless, I love tattoos. Good Luck!

Escrime · Kate Spade

I also have 2. I got them at 20, and they both have special meaning to me and are in inconspicuous parts. I got them to mark the completion of a milestone (and a freaking hard part) of my life. I sometimes forget I even have them.

I agree with what BrazenCanadian said, carefully think about what you want and realize it may be on your body for the rest of your life (lasering it off is painful and expensive and not always 100% successful). I chose to put mine on areas that I know wouldn't stretch or sag eventually, i.e., bony parts, and that can hurt moreso than other parts.

jacL · Coach

I have two tattooes and I love them! I have a tiny chinese character on the back of my left shoulder and a small pink hibiscus-type flower on the right side of my middle back. I know what you mean about your parents being dissappointed--my mother was very much so. But it is your body and your life, right?

It is good that this is not a spur-of-the-moment thing, because putting a tattoo on your body is very serious (duh!). You have to really want it and it helps if it means something to you. I got the chinese character done on my 18th birthday and that one is very special to me, for many reasons. The other one I got when I was 22 and going thru a hard time; I had wanted another one for awhile and knew what I wanted, so one day I just went and did it. Of course I thought about if I would ever regret them, and sure, someday I might...but I don't think so. Besides they are both small and fairly inconspicous. They get addicting and while I would like to go and get another done, I refuse to let myself and I made my BF promise to not ever let me!

As for your parents, maybe you could try what I did. I told my mother I was going to get a tattoo after school (I was still in high school when I turned 18) and she said "You know how I feel about that. It's gross but you can do whatever you want." Basically, she was pretty disgusted by it, but I felt I was 18 and could do no matter what. I didn't show her though because we had already discussed it and she said she wouldn't want to see it if I ever did it. Well, about six months later she saw it when I had a towel on and freaked out--she thought I didn't go thru with it. Then she actually said since it was so tiny it was kinda cute. I was living away from home for a few years when I got the second, so it was awhile by the time I showed her that one and she still doesn't like it, but realizes that if getting two tattoos is the most dissappointing thing I have done, it's ok. Point being, they may be dissappointed for a short while or forever, but it won't always hang over like a black cloud.

So if you decide that a tattoo is right for you, let us know what you decide to get!

rosie_the_riveter · Gucci

Cortney1982 wrote:

Don't get it done! I hate tattoo's. They are not classy, and seem trashy. Yesterday I saw this old geezer with a huge tatto of a big chested woman on his arm. Looked ridiculous. Probably got it done during WWII!

Whoa! I have 4 tattoos and I don't consider myself in any way trashy. They are all in places where I can cover them up if I want to or I can show them off.

RyanJ, if it's been on your mind for this long and you have something in mind then I say go for it!

honey · Gucci

at one point i wanted a tatoo, i didn't get one. i'm happy with that decision, but also think if i had one i would not regret it. i think you should get one that has meaning to you and is artistic as opposed to getting one of like tweety bird. but if you've thought about it for awhile i'm sure you'll be happy with your decision. as far as you parents --whatever, you have to do what makes you happy. i have a very domineering mom (love her to death, but she has a strong personality) anyway when i got my ears pierced for the 2nd & 3rd time, she didn't notice until almost a year later. at which point she threatened to stop paying my college tuition. in my head i laughed, but i *promised* i would take them out after they healed properly. i never took them out, and she still paid for school, and now, about 5 years later it's a moot issue.

-- Edited by honey at 16:24, 2005-07-09

blubirde · Chanel

RyanJ - I feel you completely. I've wanted various piercings/tattoos almost as long as I knew they existed. My mom has always gone ballistic when I mentioned either (she wouldn't even let me get 2nd holes in my ears while I lived in "her house"). I have a belly ring and she wasn't especially thrilled that I did that but she does admit it's kind of cute now and actually threw around the idea of getting one herself (to which I replied "ew, gross!").

I've wanted a tattoo for about 4 years now but I've refrained because I'm not sure if the tattoo I want is something I'd be happy with 20 years down the road. I want a four-leaf clover with the words for each leaf etched around it on my upper right hip/lower back area.

So... what to do? Should I or shouldn't I? I have the exact same dilemma as you, RyanJ. My mom would be really pissed too but I'm not sure I care what she thinks. Plus I don't intend on her ever seeing it. I say if you want it, and you're sure, go for it. You've thought about it so why not? Where do you want to get it? My only caution is don't put it somewhere you can't hide (like the ankle or something).

Good luck and keep us posted!

Metric · Gucci

BTW my mom has never been keen on my tattoos but she decided to get a tiny one to celebrate her 50th birthday. She liked it so much she got another (to cover a scar on her hip). She has been totally converted to love tattoos too. You never know, your parents might actually appreciated it in time.

jen · Kate Spade

Well, I don't think having a tattoo is trashy at all. I have one and it's on my hip so I can hide it-even when I wear a swimsuit if I wanted to. I did hide it for 4 years from my parents. Anyhow, it's apart of my body now and I love it, it's me, it's who I am and I do not regret it at all. What were you thinking of getting?

juno · Nine West

well i agree with Courtney1982, you should definitely not get a huge breasted woman tattooed on your arm. other than that- decorate your body!

lynnie · Chanel

I've wanted one for years- a mermaid on my ankle, but because the position has always changed (first I wanted it on my front hip but decided i'm not sure i'd want that forever) and because I don't have the design, I haven't gotten it. I'm ok with not having a tatoo- I kind of like having my skin bare, though I doubt I'd regret a mermaid on my ankle- it wouldn't be very big or ostentatious. But some people have some really cool ones! All i have are my ears pierced but I have 8 ear piercings (4 lobes, 2 helix, tragus, rook) and I really like how that is my only body part "decorated." Make sure your tatoo really means something important before you do it!

jacL · Coach

Lynnie, I have the rook and diath piercings, and next I am going to do the tragus. I like piercings, but will only do my ears--I think a body piercing is something I would regret.

-- Edited by jacL at 21:42, 2005-07-09

tri_sarah_tops · Marc Jacobs

rosie_the_riveter wrote:

Cortney1982 wrote:
Don't get it done! I hate tattoo's. They are not classy, and seem trashy. Yesterday I saw this old geezer with a huge tatto of a big chested woman on his arm. Looked ridiculous. Probably got it done during WWII!

Whoa! I have 4 tattoos and I don't consider myself in any way trashy. They are all in places where I can cover them up if I want to or I can show them off.
RyanJ, if it's been on your mind for this long and you have something in mind then I say go for it!

I don't think it's trashy either. I have a large floral piece on my lower back and I'm planning on getting an upper back piece in September or October. My mom is very conservative and she wasn't thrilled, but eventually she told me that she thought it was very pretty. If you know what you want and you've been thinking about, then go for it. I don't regret mine at all and I doubt that I ever will.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I also have ONE tattoo, on my left calf muscle, and like most of you, I have the option of covering it up if I want, and I don't regret it all. I'm also wanting to get maybe 2 or 3 more (near the ankles), it's like body art to me. I think they're great, a lil' painful, but well worth it.

cat · Marc Jacobs

I have a tattoo on my lower back,I have never regretted it.Infact I want to get another one.Just make sure it is of somthing that you love and want on your body the rest of your life.

Marg · Kenneth Cole

Ryan J... here's one 'mom's' opinion! I have a large tattoo on my lower back that I got almost a year ago and I love it - in fact I added to it after the first session. My husband got one on his calf at the same time. Absolutely no regrets, but we really were sure before we committed. Like others have said, they are very permanent.

Our daughter got a tattoo about 3 months ago (she is 18). We talked about it first, and while were were not disagreeing, we wanted her to think about a few things:

. Design - it is something you'll still love when you're 40 or 50

. Place - is it someplace that allows you flexibility - I would not recommend anywhere that you can't cover it up for your first tattoo. Definitely not on your arms or shoulders or even ankles. What if you get married, have a gorgeous dress, and that tattoo doesn't fit in?

My daughter and I are now planning to get matching tattoos on our upper foot (her idea!). IOur daughter got hers on her lower back also and it looks great. I would encourage you to get your mom on your side - who knows... maybe you can get a small one with her so she feels included! We mom's are funny creatures, but usually we can be converted to your way of thinking!

Tati · Chanel

like everyone said, just think about it long and hard and then do it. I have 2 and dont regret them at all. I'm a mom too (if that matters, I dont think so) and I plan on getting one more sometime soon I hope. My brother and I have matching tattoos actually! I have it on the back of my neck and he has it on his lower part of the neck where his shirts can cover it. Aren't you close to your brother? I remember reading in here that one of you are very close to your brother and one of your dumb aunts said something about that......

everyones not going to agree on tattoo's if they are tacky or not. I know some people that think their sexy and others think their a turn off. Hey, they also have their opinions on breast implants, big butts, blondes, burnetts, etc. noone will ever agree! so who cares! if you want one and you love it, that all that matters right?

let us know what you decide on.............

Tati · Chanel

Cortney1982 wrote:

Don't get it done! I hate tattoo's. They are not classy, and seem trashy. Yesterday I saw this old geezer with a huge tatto of a big chested woman on his arm. Looked ridiculous. Probably got it done during WWII!

and I dont mean to start anything here, but when we post we should think of others and watch what we write in here. you pretty much called all of us here with tattoos trashy and that we have no class........im just saying,....