Kat Von D is BCBG?

A tattoo: a most dubiously fantastic and personal fashion statement. When I love them, I love them wholly. As a result, I currently have two. When I hate them, I hate them wholly. As a result, I currently only have two. The desire to again go under the needle does not elude me, mind you, but such decisions have lasting image implications. I love the two that I have for all of the right reasons. My husband had a hand in designing both. They are profound symbols of my faith in Christ: A lily on the right side of my lower back (Matthew 5:28-30)

And a dove on my forearm (Matthew 3:16).

Looks a little dark and red...just after a touch up.

Lastly, they embody personal aesthetics I have loved my entire life. They have become a part of me, not a distraction from me. I have several concepts for a potential third, and often these ideas excite me so much, it’s all I can do to restrain myself from dialing up my artist and penciling in my next appointment. I’ve made a conscious decision to wait, though. I think it prudent to take a few years to see how my body reacts to both child bearing and gravity. I’m often struck with exasperation, though, when I consider how oxymoronic a prudent tattoo is.

What a lovely segue into my next thought.

If I don’t want my body to be covered in “imprudent” tattoos, why is Kat Von D slowly morphing into (in my mind’s eye) a bastion of “bon chic, bon genre” fashion appeal? She serves as a rare example of someone who, I think, looks fabulous as well as someone, whom I do not wish to emulate. And I mean RARE. If I watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s one evening, I’ll want to sport an elaborate updo, a sliming black dress, and pointy black heels along with an opera length cigarette holder hanging from my mouth the very next day. Likewise, you’ll find me wearing jewel tones, black boots, and a cropped, chin-length bob the day after watching Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain. I am perpetually inspired by fashion in film as well as other forms of media. When I envision myself covered from head to toe in tats whilst modeling a string bikini top at work…I also envision myself unemployed. I then try to imagine taking this look on the road and perhaps exhibiting it at family reunions. How would my conservative (to say the least), would-be-baptist-but-got-offended-and-decided-to-become-Episcopalian-but-should-just-get-it-over-with-and-convert-to-Catholicism Grandmother and her relatives feel about “the look”? Well, imagining those priceless reactions actually does not inhibit my interest in honing “the look”. But let us reconsider B’s side of the family. What do you think Church of Christ’s stance on Kat Von D and those who cultivate similar exteriors is? Not so much? That consideration is a bit more inhibiting. Alas, my own, long-enduring knowledge of my ultimate image-contentment acts as the greatest deterrent. I simply would not be content to be covered with ink, although I witness daily those who are, and I love to be surprised by some of the beauty conjured up by amazing artists.

A third tattoo in the future: a reverberating “perhaps”. But I’m totally gonna keep dying my hair red. Especially after LA Ink’s season premiere last night. Fo’ Sho’.