Author Archive
I Heart Valentines Day – Hearts and Piercing Culture
Posted by: | CommentsValentines Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by having a virtual party featuring one of my favorite things: the heart!
Hearts and piercing culture have long been interwoven, especially in the world of pierced retro pinups and fabulously fun scene girls. A symbol of romance, sweetness, and youthful femininity, it’s no wonder that the phrase “we love it,” has been almost entirely replaced by “we heart it.” And just so everyone knows, I happen to heart hearts!
From dermal piercings, shaped and stretched lobes, and sassy circular lip rings, to body art, color tattoos, and everything else involved in alternative culture, one of the most prevalent and universal motifs in the world and the alt world is the heart. So much so that all of us seem to love it, even when it’s broken.
So I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ll definitely be spending this Valentine’s Day having a seriously heart filled celebration. (And a heart shaped box of chocolates might not be so bad either.) ♥
Celebrity Piercing Trend – Dermals and Surface Piercing
Posted by: | CommentsAs the body modification industry grows through the inventions, innovations, and creativity of its proponents and resident artists, dermal implants and surface piercing are headed into the mainstream. And who better to give them that extra little push than our favorite sports stars and movie and music celebrities?
When pop superstar Lady Gaga unveiled her “subdermal implants” about one year ago on the Jay Leno Show, dermal implants and piercings were thrust into the spotlight. Gaga is hardly the first celebrity to choose surface piercings or dermals to express herself creatively, but she did happen to be the most theatrical and high profile. Although her “implants” which consisted of ridges on the forehead, cheekbones, and nose turned out to be nothing more than cleverly applied and convincing prosthetics, the world at large was suddenly taking notice of dermals.
NFL player Stevie Johnson (wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills) has actually had a microdermal piercing for about two years in a very noticeable place: the cheek. And he recently revealed that the piercing itself was a spur of the moment decision while vacationing in Vegas with a cousin, who also got pierced. So how did most of us never notice until now? In order to protect the piercing during rough and tumble game play, Stevie usually covers it with a band aid while on the field.
Another popular celebrity with less conventional piercings is lovely Italian actress Asia Argento. Argento has a large surface piercing at the back of her neck, generally referred to as a nape piercing, and it too has recently caught media attention. Some celebrities have even become famous through social networking for having microdermal and subdermal implants, like Pauly Unstoppable, who has several piercings, dermals, and stretch mods in his face and ears.
Piercing Beauty – the New Evolution of Nail Art
Posted by: | CommentsAll of us ladies are interested in our nails, whether it’s just keeping our natural nails healthy, or going for broke with a set of extremely artsy falsies. It seems like nail art trends speed by like a freight train, shooting from gem encrusted acrylics, to texture focused crackles, press-on ombre enamel strips, and back again. But the newest nail decoration trend might just be the funnest yet, and may be breaking the cycle of here today, gone tomorrow fingernail fancy. I’m talking about pierced nails.
Nail piercing can be done with both fake nails and real nails, and many places that offer it professionally pierce acrylic nails with a drill. The jewelry used can be anything from a small gauge captive ring to a spring-loaded hoop, with some who practice the art at home even designing their own pieces using jump rings and less traditional piercing jewelry. Some of the most popular styles are dangling gems that match color nail art, crystal studs, and regular stainless steel hoops.
There are even how-to designs out there for creating special nail art with piercings for birthdays and holidays. Just check out this sweet set of ultra-femme Valentine’s themed fingertips:
Pretty cute, huh? And since the nail piercing process itself is entirely temporary and painless, there’s no reason that all of us can’t indulge in a little nail-centric alternative beauty.
Celebrity Style – Why We Love Adele
Posted by: | CommentsAdele Adkins. She’s a maverick woman about town, a well of endless beauty across the realms of the visceral and ephemeral, and a force to be reckoned with. Possessed equally of polish and punch, it’s easy to see why the world at large is contentedly doting on our latest crush. She has a voice like a lark and a classically lovely face, but I’ll confess that what has me personally smitten, is her taste in earrings.
Adele’s overall style is undeniably vintage, and in music, maquillage, and general taste, the woman obviously shows a penchant for paired down sixties flare. But it’s what hangs from those petite, pale, and feminine ears that tells the real fashion story. In reality this porcelain princess shows a much more grown up and diverse retro aesthetic than many of her American counterparts, effortlessly incorporating designs that encompass everything from 1940′s to 1970′s, and all gently tweaked with a modern twist.
Perhaps the most empowering aspect of the world’s love affair with the British songstress though, is that in a world where thin is in, she makes no apologies for her vivacious curves, and we couldn’t be more delighted. Fast becoming considered as one of the most beautiful women in music, Adele shows no signs of slowing down, having graced the cover of every magazine imaginable including Cosmo, Vogue, Rolling Stone, More, Out, Glamour, Scarlet, the Gentlewoman, Elle, Q, and more than one issue of Billboard.
So why do we love Adele? Why wouldn’t we?
New Piercing Trends – the Valley Piercing
Posted by: | CommentsYou might be wondering what exactly a valley piercing is, but the second you hear it, the name will automatically make sense to you. This a surface that rests just over the tailbone; basically, right above the center of your derrière.
Much like surface piercings of the hips and abdomen, valley piercing started off relatively slowly before beginning a meteoric rise to the top for one very important reason: function. The piercing itself and the choice of available surface jewelry make the perfect accent to lower back tattoos, just like surface piercing of the stomach accent tattooing or navel piercings. And oh what an accent!
Although the majority of valley piercings are simple and discreet, some choices of gems and coloring will definitely make the lower back stand out in a crowd. Just look at the possibilities!
Because of their location, valleys take slightly longer on average to heal than hip piercings, and the risk of migration or rejection is about on par with piercings meant for corsetry. But aftercare is fairly mundane, and because this piercing hasn’t hit the mainstream yet in the stricter sense of the word, there’s definitely fun to be had when it gets noticed. Generally these are worn as either a movable barbell or a dermal.
Now all we need is needles specially made to pierce the tender flesh above our behinds, and there’ll be no limit to the popularity of this interesting and feminine slice of body modification.
Found – Best Holiday Belly Rings
Posted by: | CommentsSo, everyone wants a little something special and fun to wear for the Holidays that’s unique and different right? And especially in places where the weather remains above freezing all year long, more and more that special and interesting item is a belly button ring. Well, in my search for my own amazing Christmas belly jewelry, I came across some of the cutest, most amazing, and one of a kind new styles, and after my journey was over, If figure, why not share?
This is hands down one of the neatest new navel jewelry styles I have ever seen, and even though it’s pretty neat and new, there’s already enough of a variety out there that you might just want to grab three or four. (I know I did.) It’s called a super spiral, but I called super cute!
The other new style that I came across that was super Christmasy and super fun involves actual jingle bells hanging from the belly ring. Now, I know what you’re thinking. This probably isn’t the most discreet. But the little bit of noise these beauties give off is actual part of their charm. It’s really festive.
And last but not least, here are a few new updates of old standards. Have I mentioned how in love I am with snowflakes? What could be better for Christmas than a touch of crystal, shine, jingle, and a little snow?
Happy Holidays!
Coolest Piercings We’ve Ever Seen – Holiday Edition
Posted by: | CommentsIn this edition of coolest piercings we’ve ever seen: dermals go deer-like, candy canes get repurposed, and fancy Holiday body jewelry gets taken to an entirely new level.
So most of us have seen some weird and interesting things come out of the world of dermal jewelry, but when did horns suddenly go mainstream? That’s right, it’s now not only normal, but actually kind of cute to have microdermal, transdermal, or even subdermal horns. The thing that translates so well into pop culture is that the horns themselves (at least those that have become fairly popular) are less outlandish and frightening, and more innocent and fawn-like. Horns = cute…..who knew?
Next on our list: candy canes become multi-purpose. Okay, so stretching of the ear is nothing new, but the thing that makes this especially cool isn’t the piercing itself, but the choice of jewelry. You might be thinking that this is so much less extreme than what I usually feature, but there’s no denying that everyone who sees this is going to wish that they thought of it. I know I do! Looking cute for the Holidays and having a built in snack? Pretty sweet.
And finally, the best has been saved for last. It’s beautiful, it’s bionic, it’s….really attached? The answer to that question is a resounding yes. The newest and most interesting thing to hit body piercing since the invention of the curved piercing needle gives seriously new meaning to the phrase “body jewelry.” This unique method of body mod uses dermal anchors and surface bars to attach beautiful metal plating to the skin. Most often paired with ink in celestial or tribal designs, this fun and fancy new form of super-piercing lets you go all out when the occasion calls for it, and then remove layers of bling when it’s time to relax.
Now that’s got to be one of the coolest piercings you’ve ever seen, right?
Body Jewelry Parties- Cool Holiday Fun
Posted by: | CommentsThe Holiday season is officially in full swing, and if your family’s like mine, the planning (more like nefarious plotting) of countless Holiday get-togethers has already begun. So where’s your piece of the action? I know mine will probably be with an awesomely fun body jewelry party.
Even if all you have pierced is your ears, a piercing or jewelry party is a cool and interesting way to reconnect with friends you may have lost touch with since last year’s festivities. You’ll hear great stories about piercings and tattoos people have gotten in the past year, get gift ideas from friends and family members who attend, and have the opportunity to save yourself and your pals some green on new items you might want or need. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse for a Holiday hang-out session.
Here’s the idea:
1. Start by playing a few fun games. One of my favorites is The Guess Game, where you basically go from person to person and everyone gets to guess how many piercings and/or tattoos that person has. Whoever guesses each round right or gets closest wins a little goodie bag with cute body jewelry or aftercare products inside. Another fun one is Truth or Lies, where everyone tells an amazing, hilarious, or outlandish story about piercing, tatts, or body mod and you have to guess whether it’s true or not.
2. Use the theme in fun ways. For example, different colored flexible horseshoe rings make adorable stemware charms. That way everyone knows which glass is theirs, and they get to take home a piece of jewelry when they leave.
Other neat ways to incorporate the body modification motif? Use floral cocktail rings as decorations and napkin holders, or use custom earrings with people’s names on them to draw for door prizes or decide who’s turn is next in games. (These adorable stockings are just $8.99 a pair!)
3. Save everyone a little money with a virtual shopping trip. By loading a Paypal account or Visa gift card and then shopping together online, you can save big. Large orders will almost always qualify for free regular shipping and special Holiday deals, and coupon codes can take off up to 20% on top of sale prices. Plus, when buying in groups, you can take advantage of bonus pack deals and then split the pack when it arrives, and by shipping everything to a single location, you have a built in excuse to see everyone who orders again soon.
Another thing that I like to do is provide some adorable gift boxes for people to put the prizes they’ve won in to take home. That way you make sure that noone looses any of those teensy pieces.
Alternative Holiday parties aren’t just fun, they’re fabulous!
11-11-11 – A Centennial Celebration That Rocks
Posted by: | CommentsIs today your lucky day? Whether it is or not it’s time to celebrate one of the funnest unofficial Holidays around: Nigel Tufnel Day.
Nigel Tufnel is the fictional guitarist character from 1984′s rockin mocumentary, “This is Spinal Tap.” More importantly though, he’s the guy who likes to “turn it up to eleven.” Turning it up to eleven is most certainly a music reference, “it” being the amplifier attached to his flying V electric guitar, but in the past few days since the holiday has been firmly established, this fiery catch phrase has taken on a whole new meaning.
Turning it up to eleven means giving it your best and then some, getting louder than loud (literally and figuratively), and just having an awesome time. It’s about taking everything you do and bumping it up that extra notch. And for those of us who have a stereo and like the metal music that drew us to the Spinal Tap movie in the first place, well, lets hope your model is like mine and has a volume knob that goes higher than ten.
For people who are pierced and tattooed, tonight is the once in a lifetime opportunity to party like it’s full of elevens, literally. Since the 11/11/11 date won’t come around again until the year 2111, less than one percent of the people currently alive on the planet will live to see it, and most of those were born in the past two weeks.
So rev it up, bring the noise, overdo all things rock and roll, and don’t forget to riff a slammin solo for your man Nigel Tufnel, as you turn it up to eleven.
Celebrity Piercing Style – Why We Love Rooney Mara
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When newcomer Rooney Mara won the coveted role of Lisbeth Salander in the English Language remake of 2009′s acclaimed Swedish film “the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” nobody could have guessed what was in the cards for alternative fashion at the hands of this twist of fate.
Many people may recognize Rooney, 26, from her roles in the 2010 blockbusters “The Social Network” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and those that do will likely remember her looking a little something like this:
So what’s changed since her days playing a cute, average teenage girl? Well, for starters, this powerhouse actress took the ultimate plunge to delve into her role as the pierced, tattooed, and mohawked character, Lisbeth: she got pierced.
Now, you may be shrugging in that “so what?” kind of way, but when we say “pierced,” we’re actually talking about several rather painful piercings, all at once! That’s right. Miss Mara got over a dozen piercings in all, including four holes in each ear and piercings of the lip, nose, septum, eyebrow, and nipple. And, as aforementioned, most of them were done at the same time. Prior to her transformation, the budding actress didn’t even have her ear lobes pierced.
Rooney also had her eyebrows bleached, lost a few pounds to allow her a more androgynous look as Lisbeth, and got her hair cut, shaved, and dyed stark black. Talk about a new look.
Her real life jewelry style closely mirrors that of her new cinematic persona, except that while the character is often seen in more elaborate and edgy earrings, the actress’s own style is a little more forgiving, often wearing smaller and simpler silver tone hoops.
Although generally not known to show off her lip or nose rings in public, Mara has been seen rocking her eyebrow ring, which again (being more of the same) is a simple curved steel barbell.
As for regular jewelry, scenes from the film show Lisbeth wearing dog tag necklaces and oodles of gorgeous circa-1980-punk style bracelets in everything from nylon, to metals, leather, and a cacophony of studs and spikes.
For the most part, it’s hard to tell where Lisbeth ends and the actress begins in the middle of a promotional media frenzy and countless magazine spreads, but whichever way you slice it, it’s hard at the moment not to have a girl crush on Rooney Mara.