Clothing is central to human existence, as unique and defining as art, religion and science, and being the meaning makers that we humans are, it’s no surprise that clothing is often packed with cultural meaning. denim is the fabric of work, while satin and silk are inextricably linked to sensual luxury. however, of all the different textiles, there is no fabric with as much significance and significance as lace.
Lace is unique in the dichotomy it represents: it is a symbol of purity and innocence and, at the same time, a powerful icon of female sexuality. The traditional white, lace-heavy wedding dress has long been a symbol of purity, while at the same time, some of the most provocative lingerie almost always features lace.
This double meaning is why lace is so suitable for tattoos. whether vestal virgin or decadent rake; nothing captures femininity like lace.
lace tattoo ideas for women
This is a fun little design that uses the silhouette of a cat and incorporates lace patterns to create a unique and personal tattoo. While this design is fairly simple, there is more than meets the eye in terms of the thought and planning that went into this piece. First, the artist had to choose an outline that could not be mistaken for anything other than a cat, not as easy as it seems when the inside of the silhouette is full of abstract patterns. The line work on this tattoo is clean and precise, allowing the fine lacework to shine through, completing this one-of-a-kind piece.
This large black and gray leg piece is a good example of how lace-inspired designs can be used to create an interesting tattoo. The whip shading on the roses is excellent, adding texture that helps them stand out from the criss-cross leaves, while the designs reminiscent of brussels lace are detailed and well executed. However, aside from this, perhaps the most impressive aspect of this tattoo is the perfectly uniform square pattern that makes up the background of this piece – repetitive and consistent patterns like this are difficult to apply, and even minor variations and imperfections are noticeable instantly. the detail on this piece is impressive and is a testament to the skill of the artist.
This black and gray tattoo uses lace patterns and a great placement on the thigh to conjure up images of delicate garter belts. the whiplash shading on the flower is great and contrasts well with the solid black line work that makes up the majority of this beautiful tattoo. the well-balanced design perfectly captures the delicate nature of these sensual garments and the ornamental filigree on the top of the piece works well to better frame the flower. the line work is smooth and even, allowing the artist to demonstrate her skill and create a unique feminine tattoo.
This is a great example of how ornamental lace designs can be successfully used to enhance existing tattoos. here, we can see that the rose is an older tattoo that the wearer wanted to add without covering anything, and incorporating lace patterns into the flowers is an interesting option. the line work is clean and precise and the limited use of color adds to the previous tattoo without overpowering the faded colors of the rose. this tattoo shows the versatility of these delicate designs and how they can enhance and augment existing work.
here’s another lace-inspired piece placed on the thigh reminiscent of garter belts. This tattoo incorporates jewels, and the artist uses white ink to successfully capture the shimmering, refracted light of diamonds and pearls. the shading is fairly balanced and consistent; however, some of the line work on the lace suffers from imprecision, although with the well-executed jewel in the center of the piece, these small imperfections will probably go unnoticed. this is a solid piece and a good example of the style.
This tattoo demonstrates how a talented artist can incorporate different styles and still create a cohesive design. here, the contrast between the subtle gradations of color used to create the lotus and the precise fine line work of the lace help create an interesting effect and help this dynamic tattoo stand out. the stippled shading in the line work adds another layer of texture to the design, while the use of lace behind the flower that follows its shape is a smart choice and helps create a more interesting composition.
This is an excellent piece that uses lace and script designs to commemorate the wearer’s love of life. There are many things that go well with this tattoo: the lace patterns are consistent and well applied and the script is almost perfect. Even more interesting in this tattoo is the way the artist kept the angles of shadow and light on the arc precise. the line work is clean and precise and the gradation of tones throughout this piece is smooth enough to give a photo-realistic look. the attention to detail is remarkable and is a testament to the artist’s skill and patience; truly a wonderful tattoo.
This design uses elements of traditional American tattooing to create a unique design that incorporates lace. the bold line work and limited color palette are staples of this tattoo style and are on full display here, which is an interesting contrast to the patterns that are so often applied with delicate, fine line work. The classic nature of an image of a woman sitting on a crescent moon is also worth noting and can serve as an homage to this theme found so frequently in past art and film. Although this tattoo is simple, it is well executed and is a good example of how lace can be incorporated into different designs.
This stunning full back piece is an amazing example of how lace can be used in large tattoos. At the center of this design is a heart-shaped emerald, notable not only for the expert use of color and highlights to capture the different facets of the gem, but also because it is the only color in this piece that is otherwise It’s black and grey. the consistency and attention to detail in the strings of pearls that make up this corset-like design is impressive, especially noticeable in the balance of the rows at the bottom of the tattoo. finally, newer ink is added to this piece in the form of filigree and scroll work that recalls the ornamental designs often carved into marble buildings and the bases of statues. This is a wonderful tattoo and a testament to the wearer’s dedication to her body art.
Lace tattoos are becoming more and more popular, and this design is an example of one of the ornamental pieces that define the style. the different overlapping patterns create a layered effect that successfully uses negative space to increase contrast and produce an interesting tattoo, without the need for color. the line work is clean and precise, with the artist using a variety of shading techniques to imply the unique texture of the lace. the whip shading and stippling are well applied and consistent, and the interesting placement takes advantage of the natural lines of the foot.
This piece successfully uses color and fine line work to create a large tattoo that uses delicate lace patterns. the placement on the wrist is nice and the way the jewels fall onto the hand will give viewers just a hint of the piece when the wearer is wearing long sleeves. the focus of the design is the large pink gem, which is expertly applied using subtle gradation of color and white for highlighting to capture each different facet of the cut stone. the use of black and grey, as well as white for the pearls, is also impressive: the artist perfectly reproduces the rounded surface of these precious jewels. Finally, the line work that makes up the lace patterns is impeccable, using smooth curves and precise lines to successfully represent this delicate fabric.
This large black and gray back piece is a great example of how lace patterns can be used on a grand scale. the composition of this piece is thoughtful and makes good use of the large space while maintaining balance in the small and intricate lace work. using a lotus at the bottom of the piece works well, allowing the detailed line to “bloom” up and along the back. the use of different shading techniques is also great: the stippling shading on the flower is consistent and clean, adding texture, while the whip shading on the tops adds contrast. this piece shows the talent of the artist as well as the dedication of the wearer.
This is a nice piece that uses elements from a couple of different tattoo styles to create an interesting design. At the center of the piece are two pink peonies, flowers that often appear in traditional Japanese tattoo designs, applied in a style that shares several characteristics with Japanese tattoo work. Serving as a backdrop for these colorful flowers, delicate line work is used to create lacy patterns and black and gray shadows that increase contrast with negative space and help the flowers stand out. while this is a nice tattoo, it would benefit from bolder lines in some of the lace that would help it feel a bit more deliberate.
Here’s a lovely little tattoo that uses gray and white wash to complement this fleur-de-lis lace. This iconic and ornamental symbol dates back to French royalty, although it is most often associated with the “Nouvelle-France” cities of Quebec and New Orleans. The line work on this tattoo is clean and precise, with great details like the roses incorporated into the lace pattern. the excellent but limited use of shading as well as the use of white to highlight the jewels are successfully applied and add an extra layer of detail to this interesting design. the stippling on the ornamental thread holding the jewels is consistent and helps to complete this lovely tattoo.
Here’s another great example of a top notch tattoo that features some popular design elements. most notable here is the stippling work. the consistency in the application of the dots is evident, while the variation in density increases the contrast with the negative space and completely black parts of the design. the line work in the lace patterns is precise and consistent, allowing the most fluid design elements to shine through. the design has an organic, balanced feel reminiscent of flowers, but is still abstract enough to keep viewers guessing.
This is a great design that successfully incorporates color into what are often monochrome tattoos. Flowers that grow and spiral out of each other help create a flow in this piece that draws the eye up and down throughout the tattoo, while dangling jewels on the right side help balance the design. the whip shading in parts of the tattoo is well applied and contrasts nicely with the negative space. the color of this piece is well saturated and evokes images of flowers and peacocks, adding a vibrancy not often seen in these lace designs. this great back piece is a great example of how a talented artist thinking outside the box can result in a stunning tattoo.
lace tattoo ideas for men
lace tattoo ideas for men & women
