Thinking about a tattoo, but is it what good girls did in the 1940's?

[Amy Jeanne]

No one ever asks me about my tattoos

I wish they would. I'd be happy to tell them. I've got plenty to talk about lol

It's just tattoos aren't that big of a deal here. I like that they are more acceptable.

 

[Rudie]

For the longest time I was looking to get an old school, Sailor Jerry type sleeve but through all my tattoo research I had a dream a few months ago (I know, mumbo jumbo). In this dream I was in the shower and could see my back. On my shoulder blade was a tattoo of a red robin sat in a gilded, intricate, open cage with the words, "Cages or wings, which do you prefer?" incorporated. This dream has finally erased doubts of not being about to get used to me with a tattoo or it not looking right. I saw it, didn't I? And it looked awesome. Later on I realised that my subconscious turned one of my favourite songs into a tattoo for me. Nifty!

I wouldn't be surprised if your subconscious was trying to convey something totally unrelated to tattoos. Subconscious reasoning is hardly logical and quite irrational. Food for thought.

 

[TheSacredFemme]

I wouldn't be surprised if your subconscious was trying to convey something totally unrelated to tattoos. Subconscious reasoning is hardly logical and quite irrational. Food for thought.

Maybe so, but I was genuinely just happy to see myself with a tattoo and see that it didn't feel alien.

 

[dearmrrabbit]

I have three tattoos currently, and will definitely be adding more once I have the funds!

I don't think I can post photos yet, but here's links to them:

http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/IMG_4629_zps1051a77f.jpg
My first tattoo - I wanted something small because I am a wimp when it comes to pain, so I spent months looking for a nice font to write out "au contraire" below the inside of my elbow. The pain was obviously not too bad because since then I've gotten this one;

http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/IMG_4544_zps2e7d9c33.jpg
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/IMG_2415_zps4e1986ab.jpg

A hot air balloon on my upper arm and also;

http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/kittybagclose_zpsfa1a5324.jpg

A beautiful old fashioned dress form with various sewing paraphernalia around it (I sew).

The last two were done by the same artist who is FANTASTIC - she really knew exactly what to do and even when I was incredible vague about what colours I wanted she was so helpful and they both ended up looking fabulous. Sadly she has now moved to the US

I've always been into vintage and thrifting, but when I got my tattoos I was still very new to the whole authentic vintage thing (still am). I don't think they take anything away from the look, however, like someone said in the previous pages we're not actually living in the 40's (or 30's, 50's etc) and I don't think it's such a big deal if your look isn't 100% strictly spot on period correctness... Obviously each to their own (and if you can manage that, I am in awe of you!), but I've never had anyone say "oh I love your vintage look, too bad those tattoo's ruin it". Most of the comments I get are "I love your tattoos/look" or people asking what they mean.

I say go for it! I know the number one way people like to warn you about tattoos is by reminding you they're for life (you don't say!), but honestly once you get one it becomes just a part of yourself as a beauty spot or freckles. I hardly notice mine a lot of the time! So long as you love the design you're getting you'll be fine

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Only people on the Internet say "I love your vintage look, but tattoos ruin it" lol I've had nothing but compliments about my tattoos and how they "go" with my vintage look!

A few more of mine:

Ode to silent movies!

Slightly altered Houtkamp design on the back of my calves.

Archie!!!!

 

[rjb1]

In person most people are polite enough not to say anything negative about tattoos or anything else.
What they are really thinking may be totally a different thing.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

And who cares what others think? lol I know I don't. Only a few people's thoughts matter to me. Random person on the street I'll never see again or clown on the Internet -- not my issue. Those who let others' "thoughts" run their lives are sad. I used to be that way. Let myself be free. This encompasses my entire style and being, not just tattoos.

 

[dearmrrabbit]

Amy Jeanne, your calf tattoos are beautiful!! Well, they all are but I love those ones in particular!

I've had random people say "you are so pretty, please don't get any more tattoos!!" which I thought was rather odd haha, I'm not sure why they would think I would stop getting tattoos because they, whom I have never seen before, asked me to!

 

[Miss Slapstick]

Here is one of my tattoos.
It's the signature and a quote of my hero, Al St. John - "Yours For Fun", something he would write when he signed autographs (both signature and quote is in his "handwriting", plus his date of birth and death.
I am a film historian, my mission in life, so to speak, is to restore and correct the history and legacy of Al. I'm writing a bio on him and the first DVD of a series is now in production through my own company.
So..Al is absolutely worthy of some skin-space

Please do excuse the mess, I am in the process of moving.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Nice, Miss Slapstick!


The only people who give me grief for my tattoos are my grandmother and my dad...lol. But they can! When I get a new one my grandmother just gives me the "Why, you!" face. lol My dad always asks me if they are real. lol They don't love me any less, though, and aren't "angry" that I have them. My grandmother is 82 and my dad is 72 so they are both old school lol

 

[Miss Slapstick]

My parents do not like the tattoos, but that's fine, I didn't ink my skin for them
As for reasons behind them and if they are "nobody else's business"..well..people get them for various reasons and we all feel different about them. I don't mind talking about them but I didn't put ink on my body for anyone else or to get attention. It is personal but I might talk if I feel like it. I guess it takes getting tattooed to understand.

 

[pineapplefruitcake]

I definitely agree that the best idea is to wait until you're 100% sure what you want, I've known roughly what I wanted for a tattoo for the past 2 years (in terms of design) and have been working on a specific design with an artist friend of mine for the past year and a half - now it's finally finished It'll be my first tattoo but the design incorporates symbols of a whole bunch of things that are really precious to me and the whole thing is to remember a trip i took last year which was my first time away from home fro so long and my first time working in my chosen career (albeit as an internship) which is as a zoologist. It's also meaningful as I've been suffering depression and anxiety for the past 5 years and that trip was the first time i felt like I had it under control enough to come back and get help which has been such a positive thing for me. I wouldn't have a problem explaining it to people if they asked but it's always going to mean so much more than I can easily express to people and I like that it will have both obvious parts to it as well as private things which are just for me. I emailed the place I'm hoping to get it done about a consultation and should hear back tomorrow but I probably wont be able to get it done until november (which is my 21st birthday ) My parents aren't thrilled about it but I think they realise that its important to me and are ok with it as long as it isn't too big and i'm sure i wont regret having a tattoo (which I am!) Covering it up for work isnt a problem for me but Im getting it done on my shoulder blade so it will be easily covered if i need to for whatever reason. This is the design....

 

[Alice Blue]

I'm going to have occasion to regret my ankle tattoo twice in one weekend: my uncle's memorial service on Saturday and a World War II event on Sunday. I suppose I'll look into tattoo makeup for these occasions. I didn't get one until I was in my forties, but now I'm worried that I'm "outgrowing" it. People change.

 

[pineapplefruitcake]

Booked in for the 21st of December so I'll post a photo when it's done

 

[fgradowski]

My tattoo isn't really an old school tattoo. I really don't care for that style, yet that seemed to be what most of the tattoo artists in town specialize in! I got this tattoo last January. It was seriously the most painful experience of my life. This is my first and only tattoo and he started at my ribs! Ouch. Anyways, I got it because I love giraffes. Everyone that knows me even the slightest bit knows that I love giraffes. The lettering is a circus print that I felt looked sort of vintage. I've been toying with the idea to add a heart shaped balloon that curves around my back for a while now, but I'm scared of the pain again!

 

[TheSacredFemme]

Oh boy, I think the tattoo bug has bitten me once again. I just need to get up the courage and make 2014 the year I go for it. I keep forgetting that my shoulder blades are hardly ever exposed anyway, so it won't affect my work, the way I'm viewed etc

 

[TimeWarpWife]

To answer the original question whether women in the 1940s had tattoos - no, "nice" women and men did not have tattoos. Even as late as the 1970s when I was growing up, "decent" people didn't get tattoos, only bikers, sailors, and women of "ill repute", shall we say, had them. I would never get one, nor would I ever encourage anyone else to get one because, frankly, I think they look trashy. I don't mean to offend anyone, perhaps it's because of the era I was raised in, but I just don't get why anyone would want to mark up their body like this. I regularly watch The Voice and I think Adam Levine is a very handsome man, but when he's wearing a short sleeve shirt that shows all those tattoos, it just really takes away from his looks to me. Guess I'm an old fashioned girl.

 

[vintageTink]

fftopic:
C-dot... Not tattoo related but I saw this and thought of you.

http://www.unique-vintage.com/images/unique-vintage/8218larger.jpg

Ooh, I have that apron pattern! Adorable fabric.

Nice, Miss Slapstick!


The only people who give me grief for my tattoos are my grandmother and my dad...lol. But they can! When I get a new one my grandmother just gives me the "Why, you!" face. lol My dad always asks me if they are real. lol They don't love me any less, though, and aren't "angry" that I have them. My grandmother is 82 and my dad is 72 so they are both old school lol

Your grandmother and dad are only 10 years apart?

 

[TheSacredFemme]

To answer the original question whether women in the 1940s had tattoos - no, "nice" women and men did not have tattoos. Even as late as the 1970s when I was growing up, "decent" people didn't get tattoos, only bikers, sailors, and women of "ill repute", shall we say, had them. I would never get one, nor would I ever encourage anyone else to get one because, frankly, I think they look trashy. I don't mean to offend anyone, perhaps it's because of the era I was raised in, but I just don't get why anyone would want to mark up their body like this. I regularly watch The Voice and I think Adam Levine is a very handsome man, but when he's wearing a short sleeve shirt that shows all those tattoos, it just really takes away from his looks to me. Guess I'm an old fashioned girl.

Well, plenty of "nice" and "decent" ladies and gentlemen do these days. Don't judge a book by its cover. I think what helps many people who don't "get" tattoos is to simply think of them as modern pieces of art. Granted I don't believe every tattoo can be considered artistic, but I believe the people who frequent the fedora lounge have a specific, special aesthetic and they know how to find a tattoo that is not only one of a kind, but also eclectic and well crafted.

 

[Dorota]

Here author, while describing Juanita Carberry mentions 'In 1946, Carberry became one of a handful of women to join the merchant navy, remaining for 17 years. It was during this period, (...), that she started acquiring tattoos.' I wish I looked as good as she does in this picture, when I'm her age.