To ask what a classy tattoo is?

[Confussedandoutoftouch]

Ok, please don’t shoot me down this is an honest question from an obviously out of touch person. ( name changed obviously)
But what the hell do people mean when they say that a tattoo is classy or amazing art work??
I see them everywhere but have never seen anything that I would say was attaractive on flesh.
They are various degrees of quality of art work yes but classy nope.
On another thread people were saying they had high quality tattoos but what does that even look like? Surely to anyone judging a tattoo is a tattoo I e a permanent mark on your body?
I would assume people like David beckham and Robbie Williams must have the higher quality tattoos? Basic As they have the money ? But to many people they would be judged poorly in a few real life settings. I would not personally say I like the look.
Sorry but pondering the consequences of not being aware of a difference and wondering if judgments are being made on artwork quality Within the tattooed population and the non tattooed are just judging any tattoo?
Explane probably photos required here.
Sorry about typos struggling with iPad tonight

I think that it might mean just one tattoo, well done, possibly unique or unusual, and in a thoughtful place for that person (ie enhancing their appearance, not detracting from it). The sort you sometimes see on the lead character in a film because they have been painstakingly added by a makeup artist to express the character’s inner turmoil/ brilliance/ feyness.

The opposite is common/stock image pictures (eg. roses, skulls, butterflies), gothic script, names/dates of loved ones, or jumbled masses of tattoos in different styles from different sessions, often in a random selection of places (back of neck AND sleeve AND wrist AND thigh etc).

I have several friends who had the former and as young beautiful 20-somethings looked amazing. Now we are 40s they look less so, not because of the oft-cited but meaningless problem of ageing with tattoos, but simply because they have tried to re-capture that amazingness by having more and more done and now look more jumbled and meaningless.

I should add that i am in the “no tattoos for me, ever” camp, but i have seen some amazing ones over the years on other people before they add too much.

I don’t know but these are pretty

The irony of a bunch of mums hating on something expensive and permanent that forever changes your body

I've just had my first tattoo in my 40s to cover the scars from my double mastectomy. It is a huge tattoo which took 4 sessions but has given me an enormous amount of confidence back and I think it is classy, even though I have never been a "tattoo person". It is a beautiful Japanese style design and rather than avoiding the mirror, I now like what i see.

Nice bait OP!

Isn't the concept of "classy" a bit outraged? What does it even mean? Something to do with perceived social standing? Meaningless. Do what makes you happy in and with your own skin.

I don't have a tattoo so I am unique!

*outdated not outraged, obvs..

No such thing

No such thing.

I don’t think any are classy, and I’m covered in them

I think it’s like warm ice. And I’ve got two of them.

I've just googled classy tattoo

And this came up 😂

Classy is a pretty meaningless word. An artistic and well-executed tattoo can be beautiful and eye-catching and also tell you a lot about who somebody is and what they like and value. People of all “classes”, social standings, professions and income brackets have tattoos nowadays, I thought the ridiculous judgement about them went out with my grandparents.

Tattoos are not 'classy' , they were never intended to be. They are now so mainstream, they are possibly even less so. That does not mean they cannot be meaningful or beautiful, but a 'classy' (dreadful word by the way) tattoo is not a thing.

A "B" on each buttock 😬

No such thing despite them being currently fashionable.

What's the opposite of "classy"? Would it be trashy? So all tattoos are trashy because they can't be classy? Or are there other ways that you would describe them?

I have one. As a PP listed, it is small (tiny), easily hidden, and is a little reminder of the baby I lost.

And the reason I got it? Because as another PP pointed out, had I carried the baby to term and given birth to it at full gestation and then nursed and raised it, it would have had a pretty lasting effect on my body! So why not a tattoo in their memory? My body isn't more precious to me than the lasting effects of having my kids.

I can't get worked up about people doing something "not classy" to their body if it makes them happy. People smoke, people drink to excess, people over-eat, people make dubious fashion choices, people screech in public - I'd wager every one of us could be labelled "not classy" for one sin or other

Many would argue there's no such thing, but I think there are definitely skillfully done tattoos and really naff ones.

I don't know about 'classy' (I hate that word and it's connotations. Nobody is better because there interests are more socially acceptable) but I think my tattoos are beautiful. Well most of them anyway. I think a well executed tattoo that is done by a talented artist is a thing of beauty and not cheap, so I don't know where the snobbish attitude comes from.

Tattoos are not classy - although most people who have one will think theirs is/are classy. I think David Beckham looks desperate, though I'm fairly certain he doesn't give a shit what I think.

They're just not classy - but that's not to say they're bad at all - each to their own, etc.

I'm in NZ where you're a pure oddity if you don't have one (I don't), and everyone freely displays them, even in professional environments (in summer at least, when more skin is inevitably exposed).

I'm middle-aged and surrounded by them and I can think of one woman who possibly qualifies as having some classy tattoos. Just one, out of the myriad people sporting them.

However, I fully support anyone's right to have them. DH has one.

I don't like the word classy anyway - it doesn't tend to fit with tattoos either

To me a good/nice tattoo is one that is nicely done - so drawn well, suits you, and fits on your body as a whole.

DH has had one covered (new bigger tattoo over the top), aside from the fact that the original one was one he disliked - had done when he was 18 and wasn't sure exactly what he wanted - all others have been long term planned in advance (It wasn't badly drawn but apparently he went in and had it done that day there and then - his others were all done in a place where you have several months waiting list and he said he'd never have one done in a place where you could go in and be done there and there - you need at least a 24 hour cooling off period) - the new one fits with the rest of them - they are now all black and although have different themes they 'go'

David Beckham and Robbie Williams - I don't like their tattoos at all, or find them attractive - but I assume they themselves love them and thats what counts

Personally all tattoos need to be somewhere they can be covered - currently trying to embed that into the 17year olds mind - as she wants one on her wrist - as she's wanted the same one for 18 months now I suspect she'll do it as soon as she's 18 - I'd rather it be somewhere it can be covered more easily

and not cheap, so I don't know where the snobbish attitude comes from.

Well, you know what Dolly Parton says...

IfItIsntYerManRobert that is true