Incongruencies of body art?

[Amy Jeanne]

but I was curious as to if you all like to mix and match.

I'm torn between wanting to be from the 50s and wanted to be myself now. It's a little tricky to balance the two at times!

Just be yourself! Wear what YOU like, even if it is a mix of vintage and modern. That's pretty much how I dress on a daily basis. Mixing and matching is fun! I couldn't imagine having a strict set of rules to dress by. *shudder*

I'm more into the 20s and 30s when it comes to the way I dress. Women didn't really have visable tattoos during those decades unless they were in a circus or something I like to take the conventional and unconventional and put them together. An elegant vintage gown, a perfectly coiffed Marcel wave, and lots of tattoos = REALLY SEXY! Sometimes I wish someone like Jean Harlow had had a lot of tattoos.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Just be yourself! Wear what YOU like, even if it is a mix of vintage and modern. That's pretty much how I dress on a daily basis. Mixing and matching is fun! I couldn't imagine having a strict set of rules to dress by. *shudder*

Exactly, me too! I have always been a non-conformist, so conforming to one particular decade is impossible for me to do! I wear 50s glasses with 40s hair and vintage skirt with modern sweater and shoes etc etc. I want to be different and unusual, and body mods are just a part of it for me.

 

[GoldLeaf]

Why thank you *blushes*
I surprise people in a lot of ways. Especially interests. What can I say, Strong Bad rules lol

LD

Trogdor!

Burninating the countryside,
Burninating the peasants
Burninating all the peoples
And their thatched-roof cottages!

And the Trogdor comes in the night . . . lol lol

Oh, Strong Bad makes me laugh so hard that I think I will pass out from oxygen deprivation!

My great-grandmother had a butterfly tatt on the inside of her thigh. She also ran a bathtub gin "corporation"/speakeasy out of her house in San Pedro. Whatta broad, eh?

How cool! Brave and feisty woman! I bet she has/had some amazing stories to tell!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Exactly, me too! I have always been a non-conformist, so conforming to one particular decade is impossible for me to do! I wear 50s glasses with 40s hair and vintage skirt with modern sweater and shoes etc etc. I want to be different and unusual, and body mods are just a part of it for me.

I think we might be the same person! I've got a bit of 20s, 30s, 50s, 80s, and modern all mixed up in my style. No 40s, though, because the cuts of the clothes look horrid on me and I can't do any of the hairstyles. I'll wear my hair in a Marcel wave with a spitcurl on my forehead, thin 30s eyebrows, 50s glasses, 20s lips, a strand of pearls, rockabilly style tattoos, and all this is worn with a modern skirt and top with a "vintage" flair, then I'll top it off with an "old lady" cardigan.

And I don't look like a Christmas Tree, either. It all comes together if you know how to wear it and feel comfortable in it.

 

[Elaina]

Well, most of my piercings have been removed (either my mom ripping them out, or I outgrew them) and aside from one hole in my ear, it's totally covered and no one knows I have it, aside from my husband.

My brother is a tattoo artist, and while their not my thing, he's a walking coloring book, so it's a to each their own. Folks can look or not.

 

[goldwyn girl]

True. My great-grandmother had a butterfly tatt on the inside of her thigh. She also ran a bathtub gin "corporation"/speakeasy out of her house in San Pedro. Whatta broad, eh? :eusa_clap

I would love to hear some of her stories........

 

[Clara Noir]

Wow! I'm surprised that so many of you have so many tattoos! I feel a lot more comfortable now.

I think the old school tattoos work best with vintage (like Bernie Dexter's). While it makes me shudder to say it, mine are easiest described as tribal. Cliched as it is. They are my own designs with deeper meanings etc, but also began life as sophisticated doodles.

The exception was a band tattoo I got, of a cartoon tiger from The Boy Least Likely To's album sleeve, and when I showed them it (I'd asked permission, so chatting to them after a gig was a natural way to show them!) they promised me a guest list place or life.
Over the moon, I was!

I just wanted to avoid looking too "rockabilly"; not that I dislike it, it just isn't me. But some of you lovely ladies seem so refined I'd never have placed you among the modded community

 

[Amber DeCadence]

I recently had a tattoo done on my lower back, it was something I had considered getting for a long time and when i had it done it helped me to heal a few things I have no regrets whatsoever (even if everyone goes OMG thats really big for a first one lol )

and Hi Clara, where abouts are you?

 

[NicolettaRose]

My view of people wearing vintage clothing is people can do whatever they want, because everyone has thier own personal style.

 

[Shearer]

I would love to hear some of her stories........

Actually so would I. It's a little hard to pry stories out of my grandmother. I guess while it sounds great nowadays, my great-grandmother wasn't so easy to live with

My grandma did tell me that she used to sit out on the porch of her mom's house when she was little and that she used to be able to identify the ships that came into San Pedro by sight.

My great-grandma was kinda wild and when my grandma was born, she gave her to a foundling home for almost two years before she came back and collected her again My grandma only has guesses to who her father was.

Anyway, I guess her whole "speakeasy" operation lasted until after Prohibition ended, so it makes me wonder what else my great-grandma was offering besides liquor

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

My view of people wearing vintage clothing is people can do whatever they want, because everyone has thier own personal style.

Yes, that is true, people can do whatever they want.
However I don't think that "everyone has their own personal style" If that were true we wouldn't have a bunch of young people emulating people like Brittany Spears or other famous people.
Besides, this statement really doesn't answer the question being asked. It's fine to show that you respect people for dressing different, but this thread is about incorporating tattoos, piercings and other (considered) non-vintage body differences into ones vintage style. So, what do you think about people who dress vintage yet have body modifications? After all, that is what this thread is about. I'm assuming that you must have some strong feeling about it. I mean, you won't wear vintage reproduction shoes with a vintage dress, I think you said "it's not kosher". So I'm thinking that you are pretty straight edged when you wear vintage, wearing nothing modern with it.

My personal opinion. I like dressing vintage, but if I had any type of body modification I'd want to show it off. What's the point of going through all that pain if nobody's gonna see it!!! I had some piercings (tongue and belly) but had to take them out when I got sick. I really want a tattoo, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I'm a little nervous because I do have immune problems. I'm worried about bad reactions. But, I've been doing some research on them and playing around with henna to get ideas of where and what I want. If and when I do get one it will be a source of meaning and pride, and even though it might not be the most vintage thing to do, I wouldn't try to conceal it when I dress vintage. I think that there is something cool about mixing the old with the new. I know, tattoos are far from a new phenomonom but they weren't all that popular for ladies in the Golden Era, as far as I know. We do live in the 21st century, and IMO its not a horrible thing to take part in things that happen in said century.

 

[pretty faythe]

Basically, my tats are hidable, except for the one on my ankle. My first was a dolphin, on my breast bone and unless my blouse or shirt is a little lower cut, most people don't it's there. My 3rd tat is the zodiac signs of my children and myself, thats on my upper right arm, once again, unless I happen to be sleeveless or mysleves work themselves up, noone knows its there. Now, the second one must everyone sees. Its a silhoutte of a cat sitting on a crescent moon, that is located on the outside of my left ankle. And since basically the only time I wear jeans is at work, the other times I am usually in capris or rolled up jeans, and wear loafers, its open to the world.

So, basically, when I am dressed vintage the one tatoo is there for the world too see. Which is just fine and dandy for me. It's part of me, another way to express myself, such as the vintage style.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

My tattoo is concealed, but it has nothing to do with vintage dressing and much more to do with the industries in which I would work.

Its on my upper back, which is generally not visible while at work. Yet if i wear a tank top or a scoop neck shirt out and about, it is at least partially visible.

I also waited a long time to get mine, it was a 10 year idea and 'nerve working up' process. I got mine as a 35th birthday present to myself. And like Amber, its large for a 'first' tattoo....

I also have several piercings in ears, most of which I do take out for vintage or formal occaisions. The one exception being my tragus piercing which requires pliers to remove, so that never comes out. And again, that was a present to myself for completing my masters degree, so has meaning to me and represents a particular time in my life and the accomplishment.

 

[Kim_B]

I would be fascinated to see some of your designs, ladies (obviously if you're willing to share and if they are in an appropriate place)! I know that some can be very personal, and I understand that. I just love looking at them, though!

Has any one watched the show "Inked?" I caught one episode and it made me cry! A man was getting a portrait of his fianc?© tattooed on his upper arm...the story behind it is that shortly after they were engaged, she found out she had a terminal illness (cancer of some kind). She passed away before they could be married. He had a photo of her where she was looking up and had it positioned in such a way that when he looked down, she was looking back at him. When asked what would happen should he find some one else to marry, he said they'd just have to accept the fact that this woman is a very important part of his life. Between the story and the artwork, it was just so beautiful! The tattoo was brilliantly done - it looked so life-like!

 

[RetroModelSari]

I have two tattoos, but those are at places where I can choose if I want to show them off or not. I have no problem with showin them of in my every day life or when I dress vintage. You hardly get to see them on my photos though cause they are neither that big nor on places where they jump in your face

 

[TheKitschGoth]

I would be fascinated to see some of your designs, ladies (obviously if you're willing to share and if they are in an appropriate place)! I know that some can be very personal, and I understand that. I just love looking at them, though!

'Scuse the arty shots, here's 3 of mine..

Two on my wrists
Cat paws - My name's Kat, I have a cat obsession. These were originally going to be based on my pet cats pawprints, but she wouldn't let me get prints off her paws. She's no longer around unfortunately

Face thing - From a film called Hedwig and the Angry Inch, this is tattooed on the main character and is symbolic of their search for their "other half" Lyrics here

3rd Tattoo
Cat on chest - I drew this one. Like I say.. cat obsession

My last tattoo is a pentacle, and was traced from a necklace given to me by my first serious boyfriend. It was tattooed years after we split up, and we are still good friends.

My piercings are probably not appropriate for this forum, but my very first one was a lip piercing.

I'm planning on a new tattoo, which is more meaningful than the others. I'm not comfortable discussing it on the forum, but if anyone is really curious I'm ok to say in PM's.

I should have mentioned that I can talk/type about tattoos/piercings for hours. lol

 

[Kim_B]

Ooh, Kat, thanks for sharing! I really like the little cat on your chest.

If I ever did get a tattoo, I think I'd get one of these...I love Amy Brown's artwork. Her faeries are breathtaking, IMO.

 

[Elaina]

If I ever get a tattoo (like after my mother dies, because she would cut it off) I'd get one that my ex boyfriend designed for me: aisian inspired 2 tulips. And get my brother to do them free.

Since I'll be in my 40's or 50's when my mom goes, I doubt I will get them, so I stick to the piercings.

 

[Amber DeCadence]

this is the one I had done, I wanted something Pin Up esque and now I have someone watching my back (I had this done after seperating from my hubby)

sorry about the rotten pic but its a self portrait of my lower back, not the easiest to get lol

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Here's one of my tattoos. The last one I had done and also my favourite. She looks a bit bumpy and rough here because this was immediately after I got her done.

http://myspace-942.vo.llnwd.net/01333/24/96/1333916942_l.jpg

People are always commenting about how it looks like it's from the side of a WWII plane.