Designer Tattoos - Getting a Logo Inked on Your Body
Filed under: Fashion, Runway Report
A call to arms. Fashion lover D'Mitri Agnés-Capone shows off his Lanvin ink. Photo: Courtesy of D'Mitri Agnés-Capone
But some true brand loyalists really, really love their designers, and are having fashion logos implanted right on their skin.
Opting for permanent brand loyalty, especially the Nike swoosh or Louis Vuitton logo, is a growing trend. Just ask the anonymous New York fashionista and blogger who made a rather cheeky choice when he tattooed the interlocking Chanel Cs on his buttock.
"It was 1994, and I was 17 and I lived for the Chanel advertising at that time," he confesses. The glossy photos of Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington draped in Karl Lagerfeld designs, each page embossed with the fashion house's iconic logo, were enough to make him enamored forever. "I pulled into a 7-Eleven, picked up a Vogue, where I knew I'd for sure find the logo, and headed over the parlor." Eighteen years later, he still loves it. "The tattoo was to be mine and mine alone. I didn't want it exposed, so I put it on my upper buttocks."
He made a smart choice – the Chanel logo is one of the most popular fashion tattoos, and with good reason, according to Stephanie Tamez, who runs inking headquarters at Brooklyn Adorned. "I love the Chanel C," she says. "I don't know if it's that it typographically appeals to me so much or if it's that, growing up, it was the epitome of classic."
Tamez has seen a rise in logo inking over the past decade; certainly, when she started work 15 years ago, no one was asking for Polo or Coco permanently on his or her body. Tamez believes that origin of this trend begins with military emblems and extends to the band logos that were popular throughout the 70s and 80s. She understands the allure of the fashion obsession. After all, these are some of the best designed - and most iconic – logos in the world now.
"I recently did a rhinoceros, the Ecko logo, and the girl told me 'I love it – the design, everything they stand for as a company, I'm totally all about them.'"
(Clearly, Chanel has no copyright anxiety, either – when that anonymous New York fashionista landed a job in its office stateside, the head of Pret-a-Porter pinned a Polaroid of his inked bottom to her wall.) Though Tamez is hands-off with clients when it comes to choosing designs she does always have one warning when a client mulls a designer marque forever. "Are you sure you real love it that much," she laughs, "and it's not going to be out of season next year?"
-- By Mark Ellwood
Designer Tattoos
Lanvin Lover "I decided to get the tattoo for a couple of reasons," says Boston-based fashion-lover D'Mitri Agnés-Capone about his iconic ink.
"I have been an avid collector of LANVIN for a long time but wanted to memorialize the brand in a way that was really personal and unique. I believe that, in their designs, Alber Elbaz and his predecessors have epitomized what fashion aims to be: glamorous, fantasied, larger-than-life ... Who wouldn't want a little part of that?"
Courtesy of D'Mitri Agnés-Capone
Cuckoo for Coco "I pulled into a 7-Eleven, picked up a Vogue, where I knew I'd find the logo, and headed over the parlor," says an anonymous NYC-based fashion blogger and man-about-town.
Eighteen years later, he still loves it. "The tattoo was to be mine and mine alone. I didn't want it exposed, so I put it on my upper buttocks."
Cheeky choice!
Mad for Marc In March of 2006, Marc Jacobs' then paramour Jason Preston famously had his boyfriend's logo tattooed on his arm. While the ink remains, the relationship was over long ago.
Getty Images
Living la Vida Vuitton It looks like Preston isn't the only dude loving Marc Jacobs' iconic creations. At a party for the French fashion house in May 2007, party-goer Ned Karlovich showed off his loyalty for the brand...on his arm.
PatrickMcMullan.com
Sweet Tweet After Coogi owner Daymond John offered $5,000 dollars worth of clothing to the next person who followed him on Twitter, fan Natalie Mangum responded with high hopes. In a separate tweet to a friend wrote that she would tattoo the Coogi logo on her body if she won.
John saw that exchange and doubled the offer if Mangum went through with it.
"I love the line," she says. "I got it tattooed and sent him a pic plus a video of it happening!"
John flew Mangum to New York to pick out the well-earned clothing and star in an exclusive photo shoot. "Now I'm like a walking billboard for Coogi," she says. "I love my tattoo...I wouldn't change a thing."
Courtesy of Natalie Mangum
Air Jordan Believe it or not, the Coogi tattoo isn't Natalie Mangum's only branded ink. She also has the Michael Jordan "jump man" logo on her right shoulder blade.
"I got this when I was 19 because I believed - and still do - that he is the best NBA player that ever lived," she says.
Courtesy of Natalie Mangum
What a Croc! An Izod-loving hipster shows off his branded chest featuring the iconic crocodile logo.
JOE M500, flickr
kllyocr 9-10-2009 @ 1:08PM
I always associate tattoos with lowlifes and would never hire anyone with tattoos for my business. These designer tattoos are especially stupid because today's dumb 19 year old probably won't even remember why she got a tattoo of a particular designer when she is 60 and her grandkids want to know what that was all about.
As a parent the things that matter most to me is that my daughters don't get pregnant before they get married, don't become druggies, don't smoke, and don't get any tattoos. Then I will know that I did a great job
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Tiffany 9-10-2009 @ 2:36PM
You do realize that not everyone w/a tattoo is a lowlife as you put it.
What about military tattoos?
Are they lowlifes b/c they have one?
What about the people who have them as a memorial to a loved one?
Ryan 9-10-2009 @ 2:27PM
Some people make stupid comments on here - I think these tattoos are stupid but not other ones - I am a buisness man who you can say has 2 commas after my name and I have tattoos. I also know other workers that have them and to say they are for lowlifes shows your status. Most places people have them you wouldnt notice them anyway so you would not know if you hired them
Baffled 9-10-2009 @ 2:33PM
No need to worry about which (pathetic) logo it was when it was installed. Just tell the grandkids you were studying to be psychotherapist....and the tattoo was from infamous Rohrshach test.....by the time these dim bulbs are 60, that's what it'll look like...a smudgy inkblot....not unlike their brains.
dave 9-10-2009 @ 2:31PM
are they nice and young, you dick.
kris 9-10-2009 @ 2:40PM
your an idiot tattoos do not make someone a low life.. tattoos have been apart of society for almost as long as people have been on this earth.. a tattoo does not make someones worth any less than someone without one.. I can't stand people like you who believe there way is the only right way.. Every person has value no matter what.. I hope your children have a more open mind than you do and run like hell as soon as there old enough..
really? 9-10-2009 @ 2:47PM
If you won't hire people because they have tattoos you are seriously misguided and discrimanatory!!!! Just because a person has a few tats does not mean they cannot be a good employee or professional!!! Personally, I have 4 tattoos and work as a legal assistant in a very successful law firm. My husband has 5 tattoos and works as an account manager.
I just have to ask.... REALLY?
vsf 9-10-2009 @ 2:46PM
wow you are an idiot! and so judgemental! you are the low life! hahaha
Josh 9-10-2009 @ 2:46PM
im sorry but i believe your wrong in todays society tattoos does not mean DRUGS okay all before religion was tribal and quite frankly its fashion bc of media! and believe it or not when your kid turns 18 or older they might have a tattoo that sybolizes them srry for my misspells but im in a hurry and yes if you are wondering i am a supporter of NORML i am pro marijuana however hate and stomp on anything else including booze and am currently in college and am making A's and B's!!
Karen 9-10-2009 @ 2:48PM
WOW! in this day and age...you really are ignorant. My daughters, when they turned 18, designed our family tattoo...like a family crest, and we each sport it on our scapula. It has deep significance for us, and since the same artist who helped us design it, tattooed it, it is magnificent. I never thought I would get tattooed over 40 (since I am not a lowlife), but I get so many compliments on its beauty, never mind when people understand the significance, that I believe it is one of the better decisions I made, as well as for family solidarity. The girls were going to get tats anyway (as well as have sex, get pregnant, and all that!)....if you can't beat them, join them. None of us is going into a nunnery soon. Good luck with yours, though. We need more priests and nuns!
imacrzy1 9-10-2009 @ 2:49PM
So many people want to label those with tatoos as lowlifes. That's fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have many tatoos and work in a high profile business where I deal with clients daily. Not a one of them or my co-workers even know I have the tatoos, nor would you know if you interviewed me for "your business". I have tatoos because I like them, not because I want someone else to like them. They in no way affect how I work or how my job is done. Sometimes you just cant judge a book by its cover! You never know the secrets that may lay beneath!
Mindy 9-10-2009 @ 3:00PM
My grandfather (who has passed away) was in WWII and had tattoo's from that time in his life, My husband (who was a Marine in Vietnam) also has tattoo's from his time in the service. Both of these people are true American hero's and for you to refer to them as lowlifes simply because of a little ink on their skin is extremely offensive. But just keep in mind that you are only allowed to speak your ridiculous opinions because of the people that you refer to as lowlifes fought and died for your freedom.
amex 9-10-2009 @ 2:53PM
How about teaching them to make a proper decisions for themselves...and to be a litttle less judgmental...attitude is everything, and with yours i would prefer not to hire someone with one such as yourself. Im not saying those tattoos are great and wonderful, nor do they make you more or less of a person... but there are just as many people without them that are not great "poster Americans" ether. If you work hard and are honest, who cares what someone looks like...
Nick 9-10-2009 @ 2:57PM
You are an idiot.
JB 9-10-2009 @ 3:00PM
Many, many, smart and intelligent people have tattoos. Your comment only show ignorance and the below level IQ you have because of your closed minded perception of people. You're the type of individual who wouldn't hire someone because of their skin color, nonetheless you're the typical person who loves to stereotype people instead of getting to know them and hiring them based on experience and work ethic.
Chris 9-10-2009 @ 3:00PM
"As a parent the things that matter most to me is that my daughters don't get pregnant before they get married, don't become druggies, don't smoke, and don't get any tattoos. Then I will know that I did a great job."
WHO CARES if they dont treat people with the respect they deserve. Who cares if they dont love someone regardless of their religion and culture. Who cares if they even turn out to be good people.... as long as they look the part right?
You have seriously got to be one of the biggest lowlifes around. Now in regards to getting LOGO's tattooed... get something that MEANS something. If its a logo... so be it... mine represent a tough time in my life and my religion. They mean something to me and I'm reminded of it every day when i look at them, and finally, as someone with two big visible tattoo's, I wouldnt work for you if my life depended on it closeminded b*tch.
jen 9-10-2009 @ 3:02PM
what about holocaust survivors with numbers tattooed on their arms? are they lowlifes?