Hot Bodies, Cool Styles

Style guru Ted Polhemus shows how the global wave of enthusiasm for new body decoration is rooted in our past and examines its future direction. Colour photography by young photography duo UZi Part B illustrates what's happening today - people creating their own style from a mixture of techniques. The book is structured as follows: general introduction; then Ted analyses specific forms - the painted body, the tattooed, scarred, ornamented and hairy body. The final three chapters explore and define the main trends - the exotic body (Far East and tribal); artificial/natural (cosmetic looks, plastic surgery) and, finally, the DIY body (creating one's own style). Betti Marenko provides a practical advice section for anyone considering having a tattoo or piercing.