Today’s post is written by the lovely and very eloquent Sally from daily style and body image blog, Already Pretty. Sally is a blogger, freelance journalist and communications professional who sports her body art with style. I asked Sally to write about how she incorporates her tattoos into her daily looks, and how her body art is perceived in the workplace.

As a Minnesota resident, I spend a large portion of every year encased in clothing from top to tail. Scarves, turtlenecks, sweaters, heavy wool skirts, tights, and tall boots shield me from the elements, and from September till early May I trundle through my life bundled. But once the weather warms up, out comes my skin. And with it, my tattoos. And with my tattoos, come the comments.

Many, many times, I’ve had people tell me, “Wow, I never pegged you as the tattoo type!” Now, I’ve lived in San Francisco and Minneapolis – both cities where people under 40 who DON’T have tattoos are relatively uncommon – so I inevitably giggle a little. In this day and age, what exactly is “the tattoo type”? On the other hand, I’m a bubbly, mild-mannered, goody-two-shoes in a lot of ways, so I can see what they’re driving at. And I feel a little surge of pride that I’m expanding the views of someone who believes tattoos are the exclusive purview of bikers, criminals, and slackers. (And that my Badass Quotient just went up.)

But I also have been very mindful of the placement of my body art. I have five pieces, and all can be easily covered by clothing, accessories, or shoes. Many consider their tattoos to be integral to personal style and visual identity, and want them seen as often as possible by as many as possible. I don’t. My tattoos are deeply, deeply personal and I don’t actually care if anyone sees them. Which gives me the freedom to hide them whenever I wish without feeling like I’m purposely masking part of my public identity.

I have never shown any of my tattoos during a job interview, and typically keep them under wraps for a couple of weeks whenever I start working in a new office. I allow my coworkers to observe and accept me before introducing my colorful ankle, bright red neck, and star-stamped foot because, although the offices I’ve worked in have always been relaxed and liberal, I accept that some people still think tattoos are trashy, ugly, weird, stupid. And I’d rather surprise them by being that sweet, capable new girl who just happens to have a giant green swirly thing on her calf, than give them the opportunity to form tattoo-centric prejudices. It’s unfair to judge someone with tattoos as a ne’er-do-well or a freak, just as it’s unfair to judge someone who dyes her hair or pierces her ears or otherwise alters her body for cosmetic reasons. But the bald fact is that some people just hate tattoos and the people who sport them. So I’ve always found it easier and more effective to lay some groundwork first before exposing the ink.

I’m lucky to have avoided public heckling, and have only received compliments on my tattoos from strangers. The green guy seems to enchant elderly women, and it’s always fun to see how surprised and delighted they are to actually ADMIRE a tattoo. I don’t generally go out of my way to expose or conceal my ink when I’m going about my business. I never feel slighted that no one can see the two on my back, or worried that the exposed abstract designs will alarm or offend passersby. I can imagine taking pains to disguise my tattoos if I ever attend a fancy dress ball, receive a public honor, or find myself in a situation where they might be more distracting than decorative. But those situations are yet to arise.

I am quite sure that I will get more tattoos in the future, but I can’t say when. I CAN say that I’ll confine them to areas of my bod that are easily covered. Ink is intensely personal, and I respect everyone’s right to expose and be proud. But my tattoos are mine and mine alone, so I’ll always keep them to myself when I feel the situation warrants.

Do you have tattoos? If not, ever considered getting one? Those who have ink, do you feel comfortable showing it at all times, and to all audiences? When you chose placement, did you consider concealment?

Anyone who thinks all tattoos are awful? Or that anyone who masks them is being dishonest? Let’s hear it!

Photos from Sally’s blog, Already Pretty. Be sure to check it out.

Occasionally when I’m browsing through the clothing and accessory areas of Target, something grabs my attention from a design and quality point of view. Last week I found a daring canary yellow checked design that screamed fab Spring chic. The lined Chanel-esque jacket is well made and the fit is not bad at all. The bag is not quite as well made, but perfectly acceptable.

There are better ways of styling this jacket than what you see in the picture. For starters, pair the look with blue or white jeans and a black top. Try it over a black sheath dress and slouch boots. Pair it with a denim skirt, black and white graphic T, and ballet flats. Add the bag to any black and white ensemble for extra pop. Think of how delicious this yellow checked design would look with black and white polka dots! Bold, but beautiful.

I believe in age-appropriate dressing. After a certain age, some styles and looks just don’t work, irrespective of body type. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always go down well. Women often feel unfairly judged and even insulted by the suggestion that they are too old to wear certain things.

For me, adapting your style to your age is no different to dressing for your body type, or your fashion persona, or your lifestyle. Like it or not, things do change as we get older. But perhaps my immersion in fashion and style has desensitized me personally to the factors that make this such a touchy subject for many women.

So recently I have been thinking about why the topic is so sensitive. Here are a few ideas:

• People don’t like to be labeled: Judging people as groups instead of individuals poses problems. People prefer to be judged by their own unique set of attributes as opposed to being lumped into the same box as everyone else. For example, saying that “women over 40 should not wear miniskirts” is far too general. How short is the skirt? What about hose? Are you 41 or 85? And how great are your legs?
• The discrepancy between body and mind: The physical signs of aging start to kick in during our late thirties and early forties. Yet it’s precisely at this age where our intellect and experience really come into their own. Generally, we are happier in our own skin when we become middle aged. We’re more accepting of ourselves, and more crisp in our thoughts and goals. So just as we are becoming more confident, our bodies start to let us down.
• A sense of loss: We can’t get back the years that have passed and realizing that they’re gone is a little sad. In some instances, we’re trying to hold on to our youth by wearing what ladies much younger than us wear.

A further complication is that people have very different points of view on the definition of age appropriate. For me it certainly doesn’t mean that women need to become more conservative and less adventurous as they get older. I love, love, love to encourage women in their 40’s and older to dress youthfully, adopt suitable fashion trends and stay looking hip and cool until they’re 100.

No need to look frumpy at 40 and beyond. In fact, it’s probably the time to look your very best, along with the acceptance that you probably shouldn’t wear things as low, tight and short as you used too.

Why do you think the question of age-appropriate dressing evokes such emotive responses in women?

Batwing sleeves are an interesting, breezy look, and they are comfortable to wear. Perhaps surprisingly, they will work for many body types. Whether you are well endowed or small chested, broad shouldered or narrow shouldered, short-waisted or long-waisted, apple shaped or pear shaped, the batwing can be flattering.

So they get a big fat 80’s yay from me, but with two aesthetic conditions attached:

1. The fabric must be drapey so that the volume collapses softly along the contour of the body.
2. The bottom half of the top and the hems of the sleeves need to taper back into a sleek silhouette.

Without these specific style details you might look like you’re actually going to take off and fly. Not so fab.

Batwing styling works well  in soft modal and rayon knit fabrications, fine gauge knitwear, and woven silky blouses. It’s also rather sweet in a banded tunic style, dress or jacket. It looks wonderful both on its own, and when belted at the natural waist.

The only real drawback is that you can’t layer anything tailored over the top. The sleeves scrunch up under the arm and the bulk is uncomfortable.

So what do you say? Yay or nay.