When it comes to highlighting your favorite features (or concealing something you don’t wish to show), your dress and accessories will be your unfailing allies. With this in mind, we’re starting a series on how to use these elements to your favor, and we’re kicking things off with an inky statement. Do you want to highlight your tattoo or do you prefer to keep things understated for your big day? Whatever the case may be, we’ve got you covered (no pun intended).
Scroll down to read our guide for the tattooed bride!
Accentuate Your Ink
Whether you’re the proud wearer of a sleeve tattoo or you’re donning a dainty little ink accent, consider these dress suggestions to artfully showcase your tattoo.
Anomalie bride, Kristen, flaunted her tattooed back with a low-back number. Photo: Mark Tuzman Photography
Annie wore a spaghetti-strapped Anomalie dress that showed her dainty back tattoo. Photo: West End Photography – Bryan and Anh
Low Back & Cutouts
A low-back dress (along with a sophisticated updo) is the perfect way to show your back tattoo. Another daring alternative? Seek cutouts in the back or around your ribs if you happen to have a tattoo in this area.
Nicole twirled in her low-back Anomalie creation—tattoos fully exposed! Photo: Esteban Gil Photography
Rebecca showcased her ink in a laced, low-back Anomalie gown. Photo: Nickel Jane Photography
Plunging Neckline
As if the plunging neckline couldn’t get any flirtier on its own, wearing this with a tattoo that runs down your chest is just sexy at its highest.
Anomalie bride, Paige, boldly donned a plunging neckline to highlight her tattoo. Photo: Lauren Neff
Illusion
Want to highlight your tattoo without actually bearing your skin? Opt for illusion material on your sleeves, chest or anywhere on your torso. It’s ideal for cooler weather and it’s also practical if you want the look of a strapless dress without foregoing the support that sleeves provide.
Casey’s back tattoo was visible thanks to her Anomalie gown featuring an illusion back and sleeves. Photo: Shannon Chavez Production
Hide Your Ink
Not keen on showing you ink? No problem! You can camouflage your tattoo or hide it altogether with these reliable options.
One of our brides strategically placed the lace to hide her tattoo between her shoulders!
Lace & Beading Placement
Intricate details such as lace and beading are the perfect way to add a little something that’ll hide your tattoo whilst putting the spotlight on your lovely dress.
Anomalie bride, Marley, drew attention to other lovely design elements by covering up her arm tattoos with a bolero! Photo: Angela Wingham
Sari designed a winter Anomalie dress with a lovely topper that camouflaged her ink. Photo: Chinook Photography
Bolero/Cover-up
If you don’t need much coverage or only want to cover your tattoo for a portion of the day, a lightweight cover-up or bolero is perfect because you can shed it off as soon as you hit the dancefloor! If your wedding takes place in the wintertime, a faux-fur stole is a no-brainer.
A dress that is fully lined in the front is an effortless way to hide your artwork.
Lined Dresses
It’s simple, chic and sophisticated. A fully lined front and/or back is sure to keep your artwork under wraps (pun totally intended).
Ask Your Makeup Artist
Yes, your makeup artist can cover that, too! This one’s a bit trickier because the makeup could rub against your dress or other surfaces, so use your best judgment (hint: the chest and neck are safe spots to cover!).
Anomalie bride, Samantha, celebrated in traditional Indian style with her henna-tattooed hands. Photo: Wander & Range Photography
Honorable Mention: Henna Tattoos
Henna tattoos are a mainstay component of Indian ceremonies. This temporary type of body art is known as Mehndi and, traditionally, a henna party is held for the bride before the wedding. During the mehndi ceremony, the bride gets the designs applied on her feet and hands—and sometimes, her relatives get henna tattoos, too!
Pro-Stylist Tip: Work with your Anomalie Stylist to design a dress and accessories that will work with your tattoo(s)—whether your goal is to highlight or to camouflage your ink.
—Featured image by Mark Tuzman Photography
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I’d love to see more photos of Anna’s dress! I love the lace cut out panels!
I’m very tatted and proud! I let my stylist know in my consultation that I really wanted to have a dress that showed off my ink! Spaghetti straps and a low back that really accentuate my art is what I’m aiming for! Can’t wait!