Chanel Bag? Check. Jimmy choo's? Check. Fashionable Tattoo?

The new must have fashion accessory. Would it be that dress seen on the catwalks in Milan? How about the new designer handbag from Miu Miu or the new shoes from Jimmy Choo? How about that bright pink scar left over from having your fashionable tattoo lasered off your skin?

Now I have nothing against tattoos. I mean if you were to ever see me you would see I'm heavily tattooed with them on my hands to my neck. But I know the prejudice that accompany tattoos. As tattoos become more of a fashion statement my life has become easier believe it or not. I am no longer looked upon as the circus freak but more as fashionable and "cool". Great! All I need now is a celebrity girlfriend and I'll be more famous then whoever's on X Factor this week.

Today you would be hard pressed to walk down the road and not see a man or women showing off their brand new tattoos. You can turn on your TV and see a celebrities like Cheryl Cole and David Beckham showing of their individuality and their art displayed across their bodies for all to see. Even a top scientist at NASA has a full sleeve. Tattoos are now part of everyday life and are seen as the ultimate fashion accessory. However, is this trend set to last? Will I ever make it onto the NME Cool list? And would it not just be easier and less painful to have a tiny dog and to be seen carrying it around in a bag?

Going back nearly 100 years ago there was a time when tattoos were rarely ever seen on anyone not associated with the armed services or prison. Anyone who broke this norm was seen as outcasts in normal society, especially women, who found that they had a life career in the Circus freak show rather then a feature in Hello Magazine. Tattoos were taboo.

Tattoo's becoming a fashion statement has become a problem though. Many people now realising that being tattooed can make you seem really cool in some peoples eyes. So they run out and get tattooed without really thinking of what this entails, apart from having a needle stuck in you for over a hour.

To illustrate this point I will tell you of the memories of tattooing I have . I remember seeing a boy of around 19 with a couple of arm tattoos come into book his next tattoo. All very good but his next tattoo was a potential career ending throat/neck tattoo. He then proceeded to show his child like attitude by getting stroppy with the tattooist who refused to do the tattoo that day and until the guy had a few more visible tattoos done before going as far as having a neck tattoo like having the rest of his arm done before making such a committment.

I have also seen people walk into studios having put no though into their tattoo " I would like a tattoo of something and i would like it on my arm or leg or where ever" Brilliant!! You thought long and hard about that!

Lastly, and most funny and cringeworthy, while I was being tattooed a few years ago a lady walked in sporting her new tattoo from the day before. It was a lovely cross being held by a teddy bear. Written above was 'In remembrance of , she went on to tell us her son's name, and his date of birth.' All was fine and looked very nicely done. She then accused the tattooists of not telling her that the tattoo basically meant that the person mentioned was dead. Unfortunately, you see, the name was of her four-year-old son, who was very much alive and with her in the shop. I didn't stick around to see the outcome from laughing to much.

Now, Even though these stories may make you smile, hell they made me laugh remembering them, thinking of these three people who share nothing in common (apart from their inability to use their singular brain cell to think things through.)I can't help thinking that they are all likely to be more then likely sporting a brand new scar from having their really unthought-of tattoos removed.

Celebrities may have them, most people you know may show them off, but people really need to think before having these pieces of work etched on their bodies. Think about what, where and why and who you want this done/for before running down to the nearest studio to have the newest band logo tattooed on you. You may be seen as cool for a while and up with the fashion but before to long you might be sporting the future fashion icon. A lasered off tattoo and deep-fried skin, so just buy the tiny dog, it's alot cheaper. Or go to rehab, Its what all the cool kids do.

Ian Mccreery