When tattoos inspired fashion collections Wearing style on the skin

Tattoos are something universal, whether it is the ancient Roman soldiers, the sailors of the Second World War, Polynesian warriors or the Mayans, decorating one's body with drawings and engravings has always been a way of affirming one's identity, one's beliefs and one's values. Tattoos have been outrageous, provocative, iconic, sacred – and today they are widespread, proving their importance through different cultures and generations. The fashion world has certainly not been immune to their charm and, over the years, there has been no lack of designers who have rethought and reworked the aesthetics of tattoos for their collections. Here are the main ones.

Jean-Paul Gaultier – SS94 Les Tatouages

Perhaps the most iconic Vetements fashion show ever as well as one of the highest moments in Demna's career, Vetements' SS19 was a triumph of post-Soviet aesthetics and featured tattoos associated with Russian crime. A series of flesh-coloured tops walked on the catwalk creating an amazing nude effect that, mixed with oversized tailoring, reconstructed denim and sports track jackets brought a breath of Siberian education to Paris.