Etched into our skin, we are inexorably marked, identified, branded, distinguished and even stigmatised. As inked portraits of artistic orientation, tattoos transgress the terms of cosmetic body-modification and serve as a vessel for visual rebirth and expression via rebellion. Rich in history, they are also creative emblems, personal to their holder, whispering a secret story, admired by many.
But it wasn't always that way...
Once upon a time, Fashion was a club of symptomatic exclusivity whose members were hand-picked by pretence. Unless you were an eighteen year old, 5ft 10, thin as a rake, fair skinned, blonde beauty; your name wasn't down and you weren't getting in.
Nowadays, however, in a developmental era of political correctness, anything goes. Socially cast blemishes have been washed away in a modern rain of acceptance and vast accessibility. Thankfully, our individuality is embraced by virtue of eccentricity and anomaly; whether that be height, weight, race, age, sexuality or whatever.
Although once a common feature on fashion's check-list of disapproval, body modification and tattoos have violated the out-dated restrictions and no longer connote an ethos of unprofessionalism. Instead, they epitomise creative ingenuity and defiant non-conformity in the most positive way.
Rick Genest, aka Zombie Boy, is fashion's latest craze to be plucked from (almost) obscurity and transformed into puppet of style innovation. His intense head-to-toe body art, which mirrors a disintegrating corpse, has led to the conception of his popular "Zombie Boy" public persona, carved to perfection by Nicolas Formichetti. Walking the Mugler catwalks and appearing alongside Lady Gaga in her "Born This Way" music video, Rick Genest has single-handedly begun a mission of reconstructing the fashion fundamentals, with many sure to follow.
But he's not alone, and he's not even the first. Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Angelina, Freja Beha Erichsen and Marc Jacobs are a just select few, within a growing number of tattoo advocates, who have long shunned the possible confinements in favour of expression. Lurking under limbs in covershots and editorials, their permanent inky signatures have finally been spared from the air-brush and found their way into trend-led prevalence, wherein talent burns brighter than outward aesthetic. As the pioneering industry of cultural change, Fashion has flown the flag for others to follow suit, making the unconventional....eh conventional?
Tramp-stamps, slag-tags, war-paint; whether you like them, lump them, regret them or want them, inking is not the enemy (even though it hurts like a mother fucker) and tattoos are crawling under fashion's skin.
marc jacobs
megan fox
lady gaga
Brody Dalle and Josh Homme
But it wasn't always that way...
Once upon a time, Fashion was a club of symptomatic exclusivity whose members were hand-picked by pretence. Unless you were an eighteen year old, 5ft 10, thin as a rake, fair skinned, blonde beauty; your name wasn't down and you weren't getting in.
Nowadays, however, in a developmental era of political correctness, anything goes. Socially cast blemishes have been washed away in a modern rain of acceptance and vast accessibility. Thankfully, our individuality is embraced by virtue of eccentricity and anomaly; whether that be height, weight, race, age, sexuality or whatever.
Although once a common feature on fashion's check-list of disapproval, body modification and tattoos have violated the out-dated restrictions and no longer connote an ethos of unprofessionalism. Instead, they epitomise creative ingenuity and defiant non-conformity in the most positive way.
Rick Genest, aka Zombie Boy, is fashion's latest craze to be plucked from (almost) obscurity and transformed into puppet of style innovation. His intense head-to-toe body art, which mirrors a disintegrating corpse, has led to the conception of his popular "Zombie Boy" public persona, carved to perfection by Nicolas Formichetti. Walking the Mugler catwalks and appearing alongside Lady Gaga in her "Born This Way" music video, Rick Genest has single-handedly begun a mission of reconstructing the fashion fundamentals, with many sure to follow.
But he's not alone, and he's not even the first. Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Angelina, Freja Beha Erichsen and Marc Jacobs are a just select few, within a growing number of tattoo advocates, who have long shunned the possible confinements in favour of expression. Lurking under limbs in covershots and editorials, their permanent inky signatures have finally been spared from the air-brush and found their way into trend-led prevalence, wherein talent burns brighter than outward aesthetic. As the pioneering industry of cultural change, Fashion has flown the flag for others to follow suit, making the unconventional....eh conventional?
Tramp-stamps, slag-tags, war-paint; whether you like them, lump them, regret them or want them, inking is not the enemy (even though it hurts like a mother fucker) and tattoos are crawling under fashion's skin.
marc jacobsmegan fox
lady gaga
Brody Dalle and Josh Homme
I want to do two tattoos :p
ReplyDeleteOne rose in my wrist and one heart in my hand.
I'm following your blog, I hope you FOLLOW mine, to win beautiful goodies in my giveaways <3: http://ladyfashionoui.blogspot.com/
Have a fashionable day
XOXO
IT *
i have a little heart beside my hand too and i will of course follow :)
ReplyDeletexx