You know how vintage Barbie dolls of 1960s fame all had the word “JAPAN” stamped across the bottom of their right foot? (No? Just us participating in too many virtual trivia nights?) Back then, it was merely a nod to manufacturing. Now, perhaps thanks to the surge in interest around the Barbiecore aesthetic, the surreptitious placement is getting a long-overdue — and infinitely more modern — resurgence with the latest trend blowing up on Instagram: sole tattoos.
Etched along the arch in the space between your heel and the ball of your foot, these designs are easy enough to hide with a pair of sneakers or boots . . . but are so damn cool, we guarantee you won’t want to. Exhibit A: Cara Delevingne has not one but two sole tattoos: the first that reads “BACON” (naturally) on one foot, and “Made in England” on the other. (Oh, and she also got matching “solemates” ink with friend Kaia Gerber back in 2020, just in case you questioned her dedication to the foot tattoo.) Even Madison Beer got in on the fun, getting “Castle Rock” etched on her right sole in the summer of 2023. And there’s plenty more where that came from.
Sole Tattoos: Balloon
Single-line tattoos — like in the case of this balloon design — look especially elegant on the sole area.
Sole Tattoos: “Made in [Insert Country Here]”
The most popular design of sole tattoos is the “Made in [insert location]” format, as seen here.
Sole Tattoos: [Insert Name]
Be it your name or someone else’s, there’s no better location for a personal tattoo than the sole.
Sole Tattoos: “Andy”
Give a nod to your love of “Toy Story” growing up with this “Andy” design.
Sole Tattoos: Lines
“Fine line tattoos” take on a whole new meaning when placed on the soles of your feet.
Sole Tattoos: Matching Initials
A new spin on matching ink are these sole tattoos, which include each other’s initials.