Seems like everyone is looking for an edge nowadays, something to make one stand out from the crowd, from the ordinary, to show one’s uniqueness in a sea of similarity.
I get a lot of compliments on my nose pierce, which I did several years ago, because I always liked it on other women from the time I was in college, but wouldn’t have appropriated the look (from Indian women) when the time wasn’t right for it. And for about 6 mos I glued a crystal on my nose with eyelash glue to see if I really wanted it and liked it on me. So it wasn’t done without thought — and what it might look like if it grew out. I didn’t want it, if I didn’t want it. And I was afraid of the pain (which was pretty much non-existent, which is what I had been told upfront.)
I was surprised one day when a young woman told me she liked my nose pierce because it gave me an edge. She wanted one because she felt everyone thought she was such a good girl (which she felt was a negative.)
Well, I’ve felt I’ve always had an edge, whether anyone else thought so or recognized it or not. In a way it’s a fashion forward kind of thing, which I attribute to my childhood.
Funny, do you have an edge if you are the only one who thinks so? Does a tree make noise when it falls in the woods if no one is there to hear?
I was struck by this statement in USA Weekly yesterday:
When your style statement is permanent, it’s not fashion. That’s why tattoos are shifting from flesh to fabric — shirts, camisoles, even shoes. Michele Meyer
She goes on to quote:
Either way, tattoos look cool and tough. Clothing takes lots less commitment. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York
or this:
Tattooed clothes make people feel stronger and tougher, and we’re living in frightening times. David Wolfe, creative director for fashion forecasting Doneger group
I had to laugh at the appropriation of the word tattoo for clothing. There’s no such thing. Like taking a noun and making it a verb. Gift becomes gifted as I used on purpose the other day.
We are arming ourselves with attitude, says Meyer. And I agree with that. No one wants to be seen as someone without attitude. Ya gotta have it to survive.
I have a friend who thinks tattoos are low class. And she had a fit when one of her kids got a tattoo (or rather, tattooed himself.) Now it’s so common! So is it losing it’s attitude?
My trouble is that I’ve rarely met a tattoo I like. They look too commercial. I want fine art. And those that are tattooed all over — what will they do when there is no more skin, but they find a tattoo they want or a tattoo artist whose work they admire (and now can afford) and there is no more skin?
For a couple of years, I’ve wanted Book Girl, my artist, to do ink tattoos on me that we could change at whim. It would have to be safe to use. I’d like to change my ‘tattoo’ like my bracelets. Henna might be a way to do it. It is 99% off my hand, and still going strong on my leg and foot. There was only one day that it looked like possibly I might have had age spots on my hands. I was glad it wasn’t!
I know the possibilities are endless. And I don’t have to have imagery of skulls, swords, knifes, or angel wings. I wouldn’t mind a Chinese character, but I’d want to know it was done right. And I’m not able to discern that.
Here’s some interesting stats from the article:
36% of Americans 18-25 are or have been tattooed and
40% of those 26-40
That shouldn’t have surprised me. I see a lot of it here, and that’s not counting the ones that are likely hidden.
Did you ever hear the joke about the young woman who gets a rose bud tattooed on her breast, and when she is an old women, it is a long stemmed rose?
Here’s what Steele says, which isn’t that far off:
These images [on clothes] will never sag, stretch or fade.
I don’t ever want to fade. I want to have punch and attitude. And an edge. Keep me new and fresh.
How about you!
Karin
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