The bow tattoo is becoming a popular feminine inked choice. The design, size, colors and locations are being chosen to reflect a variety of personal meanings, depending on where they are being inked. This style is being creatively designed to reflect the meaning or location on the body. Bows have been used culturally in many ways to visually express a sentiment or meaning or practicality. Bows often have a feminine flavor of representation, perhaps one of the reasons why they are being chosen for inking.
The traditional dictionary explanation is that a bow is formed by using a cloth or string, tied in a way that has curved parts on either side with two loose ends. A classic visual example of this is looking at shoe laces after they have been tied. Women have worn bows in their hair both as a decoration and often in securing or tying their hair.
To the gift giver, often a bow is one way of fancying up the presentation and used as a visual acknowledgment to the receiver, that it is a present. A now common visual symbol of a gift.
Bows have been used to represent as a reminder to not leave the past behind, as in the saying “Forget me knot”.
Often yellow ribbons are tied around trees with a big bow, to display a representation that family & friends are waiting and honoring a return of a loved one, from a journey or war.
They are sometimes used to symbolize an accomplishment in life and how it could become untied through circumstances and fragility.
In the clothing fashion industry bows have been used in many different styles from the head to the toe. Some styles incorporate a physical bow and others have used a bow printed material. The classic mens’ formal wear is often represented with a bow tie.
Sometimes cartoon characters are represented with a bow placement, to visually represent that the character is female.
Bow ribbons are often worn or displayed. A pink ribbon for example is known to symbolize or represent a fight against breast cancer. It can be a visual expression of supporting family or friends in a overcoming breast cancer. Or sadly represent a loss of a family member or loved one to breast cancer.
Bow tattoos designs from loud to delicate have been used on the body to represent jewelery on toes and fingers. On the back of legs, where the old style garter clips would have been located, some women are choosing to have a bow inked. Others have chosen to have a ribbon wrapping around their ankle tied in a bow inked.
Feminine twists are being designed that incorporates a bow on traditional skull, cross & bones and designs that were more originally masculine.
Perhaps the appeal of bow tattoos, to the one choosing to have it inked on their body, is the variety and versatility of possible meanings it could have or represent for them, with a feminine creative twist.