Can We Talk About Tramp Stamps?

There are a few '90s and '00s trends that come to mind when the words "provocative" or "controversial" come into play, but nothing rings bells like the notorious tramp stamp. It rose to mainstream fame stamped on the lower backs of Britney Spears, Nicole Richie and Christina Aguilera, to name a few, right above their low-rise jeans.

The tattoo trend initially was either loved or hated by the masses, quickly gaining divided opinions, being dubbed "sexy" and a sign of feminine power on one end and seen as "trashy" or a "bull's eye" on the other. Regardless of either stance, the iconic tattoo trend made its mark on '00s beauty and fashion trends. Now, Gen Z is set on reclaiming it.

A search through TikTok shows several Gen Z creators showing off their new lower back art, vlogging the tattoo process, and sharing their personal and stylistic reasoning behind their choice. Tattoo artist Slyvie Pyne says, "I think the new generation of tramp stamp huns wear them with pride and a nod to the past, but with a fun and creative twist—from simple butterflies or bold botanicals, the tramp stamp is well and truly no longer a tattoo to hide."

In fact, they're putting their own touch on the stamp by adding colorful ink to the traditional bold black text, butterfly and heart designs. They're also opting for smaller "barely there" designs and words written in a thin script font for an added sense of mystique.

 

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