With trendsetting pop culture icons like Rihanna and Victoria Beckham sporting a multitude of tattoos, it’s no surprise that body art has taken on a new life in the world of style. No longer is the tattoo a taboo on the runway or in a photoshoot; on the contrary, many fashion houses have deliberately picked models with ink ranging from small script to extensive pieces for their lookbooks and campaigns. Perhaps there’s been no better time to make a statement with your body art, whether you’re an average joe or high-profile fashion mogul, but never underestimate the staying power of any design you may choose. If you have the guts, you may just gravitate toward the newest hotspot for body art--the chest plate--and let your sternum do the talking.
Chest plate tattoos, which span roughly the area from the clavicle to the breastbone from shoulder to shoulder, are ideal choices for those who want to make a statement with their body art. For those who work jobs where tattoos aren’t allowed to be shown, the chest plate can easily be covered up with a button-up shirt or blouse; for those who want to show off their piece, it’s easy to find a strapless or sleeveless garment with a low cut to show the tattoo in its entirety. The relatively taut area of skin that chest plates cover isn’t likely to sag or stretch, hence less likely to morph the tattoo over the test of time, while those concerned about out-of-shape arms and midsections can find solace in the unchanging sternum.
The chest plate is also an ideal choice because of its symmetrical proportions--unlike limb tattoos, the chest plate covers an area that’s symmetrical and lends itself to mirrored designs. We’ve also seen plenty of shields, crests, and other symbols of strength; particularly for men, a sculpted chest carries an especially strong canvas for traditional and contemporary statements on masculinity. Not to be forgotten, the text tattoo has plenty of room to elaborate in a chest plate; whether it be a multi-line poem or four words in large script, the chest plate is a particularly effective messenger for whatever words resonate with you. Below we’ve provided just a few examples of the creative takes on chest plates we’ve seen thus far--we can’t wait to see yours!
If you’re searching for tattoo design ideas, the chances are good that you are overwhelmed right now. There many different designs to choose from, and maybe you just haven’t found the perfect one yet. The problem probably lies within the fact that you aren’t looking in the right places.
Many people fall into the trap of just using any of the free galleries they find online. While this might seem like a great deal, the designs aren’t very unique, and are often of poor quality. There are other ways to find better designs than this.
Your first solution might be to visit your local tattoo artist and have a consultation to figure exactly what you want. They are likely to have design books from past ones they have done, as well as examples of what you can get done. Sometimes it’s best to talk to the artists because they can make suggestions for you based on the answers you give regarding the design you’re looking for.
It’s probably easier, and just as efficient, to join a premium online design gallery. These are filled with thousands of designs from top artists from all over the world. You can really get inspired by searching through the galleries to find exactly what you want. They are broken up into many different categories, with a variety of styles, so you’re sure to find the one that’s right for you.
Some people just use these designs as a jumping off point. They may then take it to their tattoo artist to get it tweaked and add unique style to it. Other people will find exactly what they were looking for amongst the galleries. This makes it easy, because all they need to do is print it out and take it to their artist. However, it’s not a huge deal to get a personalized. In fact, some of the online premium Galleries have a way to tweak it right on the screen!
One of the really neat thing is that some of these galleries are set up as a unique community. You can converse with other people getting a tattoo, and even browse through their personal shots of their tattoos. Sometimes it’s a lot easier find something you like among the shots of tattoos that are actually on someone, than it is to browse through the standard pictures! That way you can see what it looks like on someone else and get inspired for your own tattoo.
