Fashion Designers Rethink Ink
It wasn’t too long ago when the pages of major fashion magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair wouldn’t dare show tattoos. It was a faux pas. Models that are totally covered in epic ink would have to use tattoo coverup or the photographers would infamously photoshop those amazing pieces of art off their bodies. Why has it taken so long for brands to realize tattooed models can be just as stylish and tasteful if not even more?
Fashion and art go hand-in-hand. Aren’t tattoos art? Isn’t the body the ultimate canvas? Luckily in the past few years the tattoo movement has taken over all industries, including fashion. One of our favorite fashion pioneers, Nicola Formichetti (Lady Gaga’s Stylist and Creative Director of Thierry Mugler at the time) discovered Rick Genest aka Zombie Boy. Genest was a freakshow performer (covered from head to toe in ink) turned Facebook star. Who would have thought high-fashion was next on the career path. After his runway debut in Paris in 2011, we began to see a lot more ink on the catwalks and pages of magazines. It was the dawn of a new age... fashion designers were rethinking ink!
Some (most) of today’s top models are covered in tats. Only recently did fashion houses start embracing them. Chanel, known for their somewhat preppy tweed looks has worked with known rebel and tatted up model Cara Delevingne for numerous campaigns. Giving their conservative brand a very exciting edge. Delevingne can be seen with her lion tattoo on her finger in editorials everywhere. YSL did a campaign featuring a model covered in branded tattoos. Her face, neck and body showcase the YSL logo along with their latest sunglasses. They recognize that tattoos are now apart of the whole look rather than just the clothing and accessories.
Bradley Soileau, a New York based male model doesn’t just have a few tattoos on his arms or back. He has one right across his forehead reading “War Inside my Head.” Since his debut in Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die video, he has been seen strutting the runways at NYFW, starring in editorials like Deux Hommes and in just about every hip magazine you could think of! A face tattoo is a commitment and the fashion industry seems to be all about it (so are we!)
Ever since the dawn of the fashionably tatted (about 2010) we’ve seen the tatted up look hit the scene hard. It’s lasted nine years and we don’t see it going anywhere (thank goodness!) It seems as though tattoo covered models is definitely not a fad and finally a norm.
Who is your favorite tatted up model? What brands do you love that work with ink covered models? We would love to check them out!
(We were so lucky to meet Rick Genest several times during New York Fashion Week. He was incredibly kind and totally inspiring. Rest in peace you beautiful creature, you.)
xx,
The OCDivas
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