Wishful Inking...

It's that time again (not Halloween, though I've got my costume, carved a pumpkin and made cupcakes...not that I'm exited or anything.) It's midweek, or as I refer to it "that crappy in between time of the week where it's not quite awful enough to be Monday, but nowhere near good enough to be Friday"... Anyway, another day has passed where I've resisted the urge to get inked, but another day I'll spend thinking of what will decorate my body next.

So, to continue my theme of tattoos don't make us reprobate thugs with half a brain cell, I give you my next witness (who's so good looking it's not even funny) Mr David Beckham.

"Beckham was not merely an athlete; he was an international brand that smartly fused a handsomeness that bordered on beauty with athleticism, marketing savvy and an eager embrace of the role of pop idol."- New York Times

                                                              Beckham for H&M underwear range 2013

                                                                          Image from: http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery

                           

In case you've been living under a rock for the past 11 years: David Beckham: Former footballer for Man United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy to mention a few... Don't worry ladies this is not a football lecture for those of you who can't bear the game, though I don't know why, hot guys + tight shirts....I'm getting sidetracked...BACK to reality! Mr Beckham now can be seen in all his tatted glory as the face (or crotch) of H&M's men's underwear campaign, much to the happiness of myself and all of those missing the days of Becks' Calvin Klein modelling. 

In addition to being incredibly hot and athletic, (I'll stop now) Becks' is even a successful businessman. From 2007 he has had agreements with Adidas, Gilette, Pepsi, Walt Disney, Giorgio Armani, Sharpie, Yahoo, Electronic Arts, Samsung, Sainsbury's and Breitling. Even the fragrance world has been conquered by him and his beautiful wife Victoria, as they share their successful fragrance label "Intimately Beckham" for all you guys and dolls.

Despite his talents, riches and fame, David Beckham is the epitome of a family man, and It'd be rude not to mention the beautiful Mrs B a.k.a "Posh." Fellow tattoo enthusiast, model, fashion designer, business woman and SPICE GIRL, Victoria has long been a fashion icon featuring on the cover of Vogue, the runway of Roberto Cavalli and former face of Marc Jacobs. Since then she has moved on to bigger things, forming her own brand Victoria Beckham offering ready to wear dresses, handbags, eye wear and denim.

Get a load of this, even Posh and Becks' children are fashion icons, with 10 year old son Romeo working with high fashion brand Burberry.

                                                 David with wife Victoria and sons Brooklyn,Romeo and Cruz

                                                                 Image from: dailymail.co.uk

I'll revert to my previous statement: Tattoos don't make us reprobate thugs with half a brain cell.
David Beckham he is a young child's idol and a model father. To top it off he is a man of many philanthropic interests. One of the founding members of "Malaria No More," supporter of "Help for Heroes" UNICEF ambassador and co-founder of Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust. This is just the beginning of his charity efforts.

Yes, David Beckham is covered in tattoos, but yes he is an amazing aspirational figure. I know I'd rather have my children aim to be like him over a deceptive suit wearing politician just because their skin isn't tattooed. 

Lauren x

Check out Victoria Beckham's fashion line @http://www.victoriabeckham.com

David's H&M underwear collection @http://www.hm.com

The latest news and charity events  @http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/david-beckham

   Body Art, or Body Violation?

“I am a canvas of my experiences, my story is etched in lines and shading, and you can read it on my arms, my legs, my shoulders, and my stomach.” - Kat Von D

So, in case you didn't catch it the first or even second time, tattoo's are kind of my favourite things ever. They're beautifully unique, creative, personal and expressive. People like to tell me that I'll live in regret of such things when I'm older, and I like to tell them that when I'm old, wrinkled and most likely struggling with mobility, my first thought won't be "damn, I shouldn't have got those tattoos." Instead, I'll look back on them and and think "those were the days!"

         

It has only been very recently that tattoos have become socially acceptable through pop culture, and seen on more and more young individuals rather than the naval tattoos we're used to seeing on our grandparents. I myself am pretty happy about this, but with the likes of Harry Styles and Justin Bieber getting inked every other week, I can see why tattoos on young individuals have become a massively controversial topic. Some argue that tattoos are a form of attention seeking and even a form of "self-mutilation." (Lawrence Rubin, PHD) While I'm aware ink isn't for everyone, I'm a firm believer of the whole "your body is a temple so decorate the walls" thing. So, to demonstrate the beauty of body art, I've enlisted the help of some tatted up celebrities and fashion icons (Not for real, I actually just stole some pictures of them, hope they don't mind...) 

My first post is dedicated to none other than the queen of ink herself, Miss Katherine von Drachenberg a.k.a Kat von D. Decorated literally head to toe in portraits and symbols, the L.A ink babe creates permanent fine art in her "High Voltage Tattoo" studio: a task I believe needs massive amounts of skill and concentration. However, if you're not convinced how about juggling writing, modelling and making music too? 
(Bet you didn't know: Von D is the creator of MusInk Tattoo Convention and Music Festival!)

 Von D rocking the LBD at Art of Elysium's 6th Annual 

  Black-tie Gala "Heaven" at 2nd Street Tunnel

   Image from:David Livingston/Getty Images North America

If, like me, you're also into fashion and make up, Miss V Don will not disappoint! Fashion range KVD Los Angeles (now international) includes tops, dresses, outerwear, bags and shoes for women. These pieces are so affordable and are priced at around $18-$85 (or £11-£53 for those of you who don't have a calculator or foreign currency exchange rate for that matter.) Not to exclude her male fans, Von D even has a menswear range of shoes, t-shirts and hoodies!

Finally, (have I sold her to you enough yet?) Von D has her own make up range for French cosmetics company Sephora! (superwoman, right?) sadly guys this range doesn't cater to you...unless you're into that sorta thing...anyway, Von D's Sephora range includes fragrances, lipsticks, foundations, liners and palettes all at around £12, so if you, like me, will sadly never have her permanently decorate your skin...have her products temporarily decorate your face!

So, if you're a hater of tats, you'll now see that we're not all wasters and thugs, a lot of us are intelligent and successful
Still not convinced? Stick around then, I'd be happy to convert you with even more tatted success stories!

Lauren x

Check out Kat Von D's Sephora range @ http://www.sephora.com/kat-von-d
and clothing range @ http://www.wonderlandla.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_29

                  Welcome to my Blog!

My name is Lauren, a second year Fashion Management student at Robert Gordon University. As blogging is now a massive part of the fashion industry, (and also my coursework) It's pretty important that I crawl out of my comfort zone and get involved with the whole blogging scene. Bare with me through my lack of technological skills, because right now describing me as a "novice"would be understatement of the century.

         So when i'm not studying, (har har) working or enjoying the Aberdeen nightlife, my days are spent shopping for clothes my "hard earned" student loan will supply me with, crying over spending my student loan on clothes, and reading fashion magazines full of clothes my student loan will now no longer give me because I spent it...
          But despite my fashion addiction and inability to spend money on essentials (the LBD was an essential!) I do take the time to enjoy other things such as Sushi, Tim Burton films and anything with Jack Daniels in it, (strange combination, I know.) In case you hadn't already guessed I also have a massive tattoo infatuation, (I will be covered one day) hence my total rip off of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as my blog title. 

          So here it is, my favourite thing in the world, my owl Tattoo!

My Tattoo beautifully done by Kev and photographed by the Team at Draconian Tattoo and Piercing Aberdeen.