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Original poster

Tattoos - tacky or stylish? (I'm undecided)

71 replies

TooMuchCaffeine · 04/11/2011 16:30

I'm 46. I'm not a party girl, more quiet family and friend orientated stuff. I'm a self employed client facing professional (no I'm not a hooker).

It might be a mid life crisis, but I am dithering about getting a tattoo. And where to have it? So many people have them now than when I was younger. But who has them now - is it a "chav stamp" as I have heard it called - would I be making a big expensive mistake that would ruin my cred?

I'm undecided. What do you think are tattoos tacky or tasteful?

OP posts:
BelleEnd · 04/11/2011 16:32

Depends on who's wearing them. It tends to look cool on people you wouldn't expect to have one, and uncool on people you know would.

afishcalledmummy · 04/11/2011 16:33

Tacky if visible. I have two (one, unfortunately, on my lower back from eons ago when I was young and they weren't on every tramp from here to the moon) and love one, which is hidden by even the briefest of bikini bottoms. I seem to spend the whole time making sure the one on my back can't be seen by anyone so I'd say that was probably a mistake. Thank goodness for frocks as my lower back can't be accidentally exposed by that.

I'd get rid of the one I dislike, but DH loves it so it's staying for him!

Popbiscuit · 04/11/2011 16:36

My brother in law (46, professional, quiet-ish family man) just got a tattoo. Everyone makes fun of it and the scope for mid-life crisis jokes is seemingly endless... Think carefully. Is there something a bit less, um, permanent that might scratch that itch?

SixStringWidow · 04/11/2011 16:36

I wouldn't if I were you.

You got this far in your life without it.

I got mine very early on in life - underage - and I hate it, but I'm too scared to have it removed.

PessimisticMissPiggy · 04/11/2011 16:40

It's not 'chav stamp' it's 'tramp stamp' according to my DH.

Personally I wouldn't. I thought about it in my early 20's but now when friend's are having their's laser removed I'm considering laser hair removal.

TracyK · 04/11/2011 16:47

Can you get a temporary one put on - maybe that would last 6 months to a year?
I think they are nice on a young, toned, tanned skin - not particulalry on anything else though.
My dh got one last year for his 40ieth - ds initials - but got it in a kind of sepia colour on his shoulder - so not as noticeable. He loves his - but is diff on men as they are covered up most of the time.

BleughCowWonders · 04/11/2011 16:48

Tacky

fluffystabby · 04/11/2011 16:51

If you think you might like one, get a tattoo artist to draw something pretty like it in Sharpie.

It lasts a couple of weeks and you'll know if you really like it or not by the time it wears off.

FrightNight · 04/11/2011 16:51

I think the career of choice in 5 years will be tattoo remover.

Generally I have no real opinion of them, but I saw a girl in the supermarket the other day with an enormous one on her chest. It was hideous, badly done, a very aggressive design and practically impossible to conceal.

I understand it's her body and choice, but I wondered how far to the future she'd thought when having it done. Removing it would surely leave a scar, and how will it look in 30 years when the skin crepes.

To answer your question: almost always tacky.

fluffystabby · 04/11/2011 16:57

I should add. I have two. I love them both but they are personal, private reminders for me and only me and are never on show to the general public iyswim?

The Upgrade likes them though Wink

Actually, someone in uni last week did the Shock face when the youngsters were all discussing tattoos and guessing who would have tattoos and they said I was far too straight laced and sensible I said well actually I have two Grin

moonmother · 04/11/2011 17:10

I have one right at the bottom of my back- lower than a tramp stamp , so not visible. I don't regret it one bit.I was in my early 30's when I got it, and it has sentimental meaning to me.

I would like another one, although rather than going plain black or colour I'm considering having a white one done, I love the way they look and there not so 'blatant'.

I only have them where I can hide them if needed, and a place that's not going to wrinkle too much as I age Grin- nothing worse than a wrinkly tatt Wink

bethelbeth · 04/11/2011 19:14

I have some tattoos that I consider to be beautiful. They were custom drawn for me by some well known alternative artists.

If you fancy a dolphin with a heart I'd say no. Choose something beautiful and graceful and elegant and it will serve you well.

LynetteScavo · 04/11/2011 19:20

Tacky.

I'm, amazed that so many of my middle aged, slightly tubby professional colleagues have them on their lower back....I've glimpsed them when they bend over and their top is too short.

It's not a classy look.

Cheryl Cole can sort of carry it off with the one she has on her hand, but I wonder how long for?

cyb · 04/11/2011 19:20

TACKY . Always tacky

Gasbluewithlavenderbeads · 04/11/2011 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsravelstein · 04/11/2011 19:22

i love tattoos, got mine in my early 30s and have never regretted it, but it is small and only visible if i'm in very small bikini pants, which frankly doesn't happen that often.

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 04/11/2011 19:25

I have a couple but mine are not visible & I really do not look like the kind of person to have them & people if I do tell them are Shock

I paid a lot of money for one of mine,had it designed for me & I love it as it's so different from anything anyone else has

I am mid 40s so no longer wear bikinis as the middle no longer allows it,so the only people that see it are dh & sometimes dc if they are in the room when changing

you have to be entirely sure you want one & are not just jumping on the bandwagon of every person on the planet having them sometimes really badly sometimes not great

crystalglasses · 04/11/2011 19:26

tacky. I recently saw an elderly woman with a large eagle coming our of her very wrinkly cleavage. Dreadful.

TidyDancer · 04/11/2011 19:27

Definitely not always tacky, it depends what they are and where they are. And also how well they are done.

I have some great tattoos, because I chose some beautiful designs and paid a good artist to do them. The tramp stamps are horrible though.

fluffystabby · 04/11/2011 19:28

Thehusbandsatcricketagain - are you me ?? Grin that's exactly the reaction I got and I had mine personally designed and there will never be any others like mine.

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 04/11/2011 19:34

tidydancer that is the key,finding a really good tattoo artist not some run of the mill twat wannabe who does a crap job

fluffy it's great isn't it when you shock people as they see a whole other side yo you :o

RuthChan · 04/11/2011 19:38

If you're not sure, you should definitely NOT get one.
You should only do it if you are 100% certain it is what you want and 100% certain that you love the design.
Can you think of anything you will still love in 20, 30, 40 years time? Can you be that sure?

When I was 18 I got as far as going into a tattoo parlour and flicking through the design books.
I am SO happy that I didn't get one. It's one of the best decisions I ever made.
Not having one is a neutral statement. Having one is rarely cool.

fluffystabby · 04/11/2011 19:40

I'm at uni as a mature student and I'm 42. One of the youngsters got her first tattoo and they were all admiring it and one of them turned to me and said "Bet you hate tattoos" And I said "Why would you think that"

And in as nice a way as possible, they said I was old, dull and boring.

Then I said actually I have two Grin

Was brilliant Grin

jenniec79 · 04/11/2011 19:40

tacky

Andrewofgg · 04/11/2011 19:52

I have seen a tramp-stamp which said YES THIS FUCKING HURT and they don't come trampier than that!