Chanel wants to tattoo you, temporarily

By Jeffery Racheff

Nothing says rock ‘n’ roll like a good face tattoo. Just look at . Unfortunately, not everyone can be like Mike. Rock ‘n’ roll (and, in Mike’s case, mild insanity) is only fun in short bursts, because afterward most of us have to return to the real world where tattoos, even face ones, are sometimes deemed inappropriate for the workplace.

Luckily, fake tattoos have been solving this problem ever since they came in packs of bubble gum. Those of us too indecisive to put permanent ink on our skin can pretend to be cool on the weekend, then peel away come Monday morning. And now the fake tattoo is hitting the big time. Starting in March, Chanel, one of the world’s most popular purveyors of perfume and high-end fashion, will make available its own line of temporary tattoos. Packets of the stick-on ink will contain five sheets of various designs and will run for around $75. A trifle compared to the cost of a Chanel surfboard or scooter or fishing rod.

Until now, the temp tat has existed solely in the realm of children and those with an extra quarter or two as they exit the corner store. But with the new Chanel line, removable tattoos are no longer kitsch — they’re bona fide fashion accessories. And why not? Fashionista folk use everything else to complement their outfits, so it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to decorate your skin with cherry blossoms to match your scarf.

Of course, this is exactly not the “rocker” image associated with actual tattoos, but it does tap into a desire to be part of an alternative culture. If anything it’s kind of fitting that a company obsessed with appearance would market fake tattoos, and by extension fake attitude. Then again, Chanel’s faux inks of birds and jewelry don’t really give off the same “je ne sais quoi” like some biker’s tat of a stripper straddling a sword.

To many it will seem strange that Chanel would charge so much for a sticker that will rub off in a couple days anyway, but maybe that’s not the point. Maybe you’re actually paying for the impermanence. Sure, you could probably get a real tattoo for about the same price, but that would be like condemning yourself to a hat you could never take off. Remember, these stick-on tattoos are merely accessories, so who would want a genuine Chanel tattoo that will just go out of style when next Fall’s lineup hits the runways?

And honestly, is there really any difference between wearing a logo on your sleeve and wearing a logo on your skin? Some say at least a T-shirt or blouse provides a service (like, say, keeping your body covered), but if that was the main reason you buy shirts you’d be shopping at Walgreens for your clothes, not from designer labels.

So whether or not you can find good reason to shell out $75 for a fake tattoo, you have to admit it’s about time the little stickers had their big break. Fake tattoos seem ready-made for brands tailored to the style-conscious, where a look is in one minute then out the next. After all, if beauty is really only skin deep, you might as well have some fun moving it around.