Tattoos were once the literal mark of all things “bad”—from criminals and gangs, to gritty downtown streets, tattoos used to be associated with all the things your mom warned you about.

These days, however, the permanent ink is officially mainstream, and within the fashion industry, ink can be a valuable accessory!

This phenomenon can be seen with the rise of alternative models on social media, who are often heavily inked with tattoos, or may just have a few big pieces. 

Essentially, these young women and men are advertising an article of clothing, though what captures the eye is what’s decorating their skin… from large, colorful tattoos, to dark, black-and-grey sleeves, these pieces can draw attention to various parts of the body. This, of course, depends on the placement of the tattoo, which is up to the artist and the client. 

This aspect of tattoos, IMO, can benefit the fashion industry, depending on how heavily inked a model might be. Since tattoos tend to draw the eye, this can prove to be beneficial when wanting to show off a dress, a pair of pants, shoes… the possibilities are endless! 

Especially with fashion designers like Marc Jacobs sporting a few tattoos of their own, tats are quickly becoming acceptable not only in fashion magazines, but also on the runway.

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How I Rock My Tattoos Without Overpowering Them

Now the fun part—styling tattoos in an outfit:

When it comes to styling an outfit, if someone has tattoos, this can prove to be difficult—especially if you’re a fashionista! 

The struggle truly comes from the kind of tattoos a person has: small quotes and black ink are easy to style, while large, colorful pieces require more thought.