As Margot Mifflin writes in Bodies of Subversion (2013), “women artists brought a new sensitivity to tattoo placement” during the late 1980s and 1990s. The tramp stamp wasn’t always the tramp stamp, though. Much like the celebrities who wore them, tramp stamps were excessively sexualised by the media and then their owners were shamed because of them. But, as their derogative nickname confirms, even in their heyday they were the target of sexist ridicule. And one Y2K aesthetic suffered more than any other: the lower-back tattoo aka the so-called ‘tramp stamp’.įrom Britney’s fairy to Brandy Norwood’s flower, Christina Aguilera’s romantic quote to Drew Barrymore’s angels, Nicole Richie’s cross to Jessica Alba’s bow, these cute bits of body art peeked out from backless dresses and Juicy Couture sweatpants, earning their place in the noughties hall of fame. Body-judging, slut-shaming and impossible double standards were rife, all perpetuated by the tabloid press. Through rhinestones, velour and distressed denim, fashion became supercharged with a clashy, trashy glamour that feels fun, flirty and free.īut amidst all the rose-tinted romanticisation of Y2K culture, it is all too easy to gloss over the time’s rampant misogyny, as pervasive as the flip phone. Ushered in by a desire for a sparklier, more hedonistic time, this wave of nostalgia brought back all the trademarks of feminine late 1990s and early 2000s style: low-rise jeans, tiny handbags, baby tees, butterfly clips, acrylic nails, and embellished belts chunkier than the mini skirts they hold in place. Belly button piercings and ‘whale tail’ thongs are optional.As the 2020s dawned, the Y2K Renaissance began. Today, these aesthetics are reclaimed against the sexism of the era. The tattoo’s resurgence also goes hand-in-hand with the resurrection of the bimbo aesthetic, a misogynistic stereotype once used to describe hot but dumb blondes. Plus, removed from the sexist (and sexual) connotations, the lower back is prime real estate. Given that tattoos generally are more acceptable than ever before, the triumphant return of the tramp stamp makes a lot of sense, especially for a generation of youth who’ve spent the last few years cooped up indoors, and are now desperate to show some skin (see: the ye-ssification of Julia Fox ). Paloma Wool released a capsule collection that nodded to lower-back tattoos of the 90s, while Collina Strada debuted belts inspired by the trend for its spring 2022 collection. Miley Cyrus revealed a fresh lower-back tattoo last summer, while fashion influencer María Bernad flaunted a flaming butterfly. Like the return of the 90s tribal tatt, this wave of tramp stamps are less clunky and more abstract than previous iterations, evoking both the trashy exuberance of noughties style and Grimes’ post-human ‘alien scars’. But now the tramp stamp is back, reimagined for a fresh generation of trendy youth.
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